Souderton and Pennridge advanced to the PIAA 4A Elite Eight. Souderton/Easton photos provided courtesy of Sharon Shipe. CLICK HERE to go to the photo gallery. Pennridge/Central photos provided courtesy of Sharin Harbeck.
#1-2 SOUDERTON 2, #11-2 EASTON 0
(Submitted article by Souderton girls’ soccer)
Souderton and Easton met under a dense fog at Upper Perkiomen High School Tuesday evening for the first round of state playoffs.
Easton got off on the front foot early, unleashing a shot from just outside the 18 that missed the net, which provided the warning Souderton needed to get into the game. Over the first 15 minutes, the two teams shared possession, but Souderton slowly created more and more chances, with a shot from sophomore Taylor Yoder deflecting wide of the net. Shortly after, senior Campbell Power unleashed a free kick through the fog and just wide of the top corner of the net.
With 25 minutes left in the half, senior goalkeeper Lindsey Pazdziorko was called into action when an Easton free kick was hit towards the top corner of her net. Pazdziorko was able to tip the ball over the bar and out for a corner. Souderton was able to defend the corner and retain possession. As the ball worked upfield, Power sent a searching ball in behind the Easton defense to the onrushing sophomore Hannah Alderfer, who beat both the defender and goalkeeper to put Souderton up 1-0.
Souderton grew more comfortable with the lead and began to take control of possession. Power was on the ball again with 10 minutes left as she picked up her head from about 35 yards out and spotted the Easton keeper well off her line. Power went for the long distance chip, which found the top corner of the net, but the goal was called back. The referee had blown the whistle before allowing advantage, awarding Souderton a free kick rather than the goal. Souderton was unable to capitalize on the set piece, but looked dangerous for the remainder of the half.
Souderton looked hungry at the start of the second half; after the disallowed goal, the Indians sensed they were getting closer to extending their lead. With 34 minutes left in the second half, Yoder got on the end of a cross from sophomore Averie Doughty, but her shot was deflected wide.
With 18 minutes left, Alderfer, who was finding more and more space down the left wing, was able to turn her defender and send in a dangerous cross through the six-yard box. A frantic mix of attacking and defending players saw the ball stopped on the line, but the ball went out for a corner. Souderton was able to continue the pressure by winning three consecutive corners but still lacked a finishing touch for their second goal.
The Indians finally broke free with 14 minutes left, as Yoder sent in a cross to Alderfer who was able to knock home a looping one-time finish over the goalkeeper. Despite extending their lead, Souderton continued to press for the remainder of the match, as Yoder forced Easton’s keeper into another tough save and senior Sara Readinger struck the crossbar from distance.
In the end, the Indian’s won 2-0, advancing to the state quarterfinals.
*****
The Souderton girls’ soccer team continued to make history on Tuesday night, and sparked by the two-goal effort of sophomore Hannah Alderfer, the Indians won the program’s first state playoff game in memory and advanced to the elite eight.
“I did not think we would be here, but it’s very exciting,” junior Darby Kramer said. “The secret was always sticking together and never getting frustrated even when we were struggling.”
The Indians’ struggle this season was scoring goals. Keeping the Indians afloat in those early games was a defense that posted 16 shutouts – four of those 16 shutouts were scoreless ties and five were 1-0 wins.
“’We’ve had a lot of 0-0 ties,” said Kramer, a key player on the back line. “And even if we’re up 1-0, it’s still nerveracking in the back because you can’t let one goal in or else it’s tied.
“We were able to handle the pressure and learn how to adapt to it and adjust to it.”
These days, the Indians are playing a complete game, excelling at both ends of the field.
“I love the way we’re playing right now,” coach Lindsy Jones said. “We’re organized, we pass the ball well. That is one of our strengths – our composure on the ball, looking for those runs, seeing it and creating things.”
According to Alderfer, there’s a different look and feel to the Indians’ approach to games.
“I think it’s our intensity,” she said. “In the beginning of the games, we’re really riled up to play, and we’re more excited to play the whole game, and we really want to get a goal in.”
Alderfer’s left-footed crosses regularly create opportunities, and in soccer’s version of the Fog Bowl at Upper Perkiomen High School on Tuesday, it was Alderfer who was doing the finishing.
Her goal midway through the first half – using a Campbell Power assist – gave the Indians a lead they would not lose.
“Campbell played a very nice ball to me,” Alderfer said. “She was in the middle of the field, and she played a through ball between the defenders, and I ran up to it and hit it.”
The Indians controlled play and saw a goal by Power waved off, the result of a blown whistle that negated the play and instead gave the Indians a direct kick. They did not capitalize, and it was a 1-0 game at halftime.
The second half was more of the same. Midway through the half, goalie Lindsey Pazdziorko came up with a stop on a rare Easton shot. Two minutes later, Alderfer turned a cross by Taylor Yoder into a goal and a 2-0 Souderton lead.
“We talk a lot about timing with our outside mids, and she came through today,” Jones said of Alderfer. “The first goal came as the result of just 100 percent pure effort – just going to the ball and not giving up.
“The second one was what I’ve been asking them to do – when we get a cross in, just get a body part on the ball, get a touch on it. She got a nice beautiful touch right over the goalkeeper. The finish was very, very nice.”
The Red Rovers never really threatened, and another shutout was in the books for the stingy Indians’ defense.
“They didn’t have the intense pressure on our defense today, and that was to our advantage,” Jones said. “It was probably a nice relief for them, but either way, they’re organized and they talk well. They do have a system, and it works well.”
Souderton (14-3-6, 5-2-5 SOL) will face District 7 champion Seneca Valley in Saturday’s quarterfinal round at a site and time to be determined.
“It’s really exciting,” Alderfer said. “We haven’t gone this far in a long time, so it’s really awesome to be part of a team that goes this far.
“Everyone is so pumped up and excited about being part of the team.”
The Indians started their day Tuesday with breakfast at the home of their coach.
“I’ve talked a lot about having that unity off the field that brings us closer on the field,” Jones said. “As the season has gone on, we’re getting more used to each other. The girls know how each other play, we’ve been more familiar with our movements, definitely our attacking movements. Our defense continues to progress in their communication, their read of the long balls, even their delivery of the ball out – they’re doing that very well. I think we’re fine tuning a lot of things we needed fine tuning on.”
EASTON 0-0 0
SOUDERTON 1-1 2
#1-3 PENNRIDGE 8, #12-1 CENTRAL 0
The Rams rolled to a win in their state playoff opener over District 12 champion Central.
Pennridge led 6-0 at the half and two underclassmen – freshman Leah Malone and sophomore Liv Lowery, accounted for half the scoring. Lauren McIntyre opened the scoring off a Molly Groff corner, Abby Groff assisted by Nicolette Harrison made it 2-0 and Malone notched the next two goals, the first aided by Ashley Groeber.
Another Molly Groff corner led to a Chance Hendricks goal and Brielle Tasher added the final goal of the first half, assisted by Raina Adelman.
Lowery notched both her goals in the second half.
Pennridge will face District 11 champion Parkland in Saturday’s second round.
PENNRIDGE 6 2 – 8
CENTRAL 0 0 – 0
Goals: P – Leah Malone 2, Liv Lowery 2, Abby Groff, Lauren McIntyre, Brielle Tasher, Chance Hendricks
#3-1 CUMBERLAND VALLEY 1, #1-6 PENNSBURY 0
Cumberland Valley’s only loss this season came to Neshaminy but despite a valiant effort, the Falcons weren’t able to notch another SOL National victory over the District III champions.
Playing at the wide expanse of HersheyPark Stadium, the Falcons gave up a first half goal but not much else.
“They gave us everything they had for the final 40 minutes,” Pennsbury coach Kaitlyn Battiste said of her players. “We had a decent first half but got spread out of our shape on that big field and CV finished a great opportunity.”
Pennsbury senior keeper Alyssa O’Driscoll, who missed the team’s last game, played through a lingering hand injury and made two crucial saves late in the first half.
“They kept us alive,” Battiste noted of the senior’s stops.
Even against a senior-laden and very talented roster, the Falcons felt they were in the game, working through and talking through some adjustments they hoped to apply in the second half.
“Did they ever. We stayed aggressive and active on all parts of the field,” Battiste said. “We had numerous chances but unfortunately couldn’t find the back of the net. I’m very proud of the effort and heart tonight.”
The Falcons threw everything they had into finding a goal, but also balanced their defense to not give up another to Cumberland Valley.
“Christine Cataldo-Smith and Evie Ciaccia were relentless up top. CV has talented defenders and those two had them under pressure for most of the second half,” Battiste said. “Rosie Bostian, Gabby Zalot and Darrien Furiness took over the middle of the field and worked really well together. On defense, Taylor Mueller and Ella Palmieri settled in and didn’t allow any more dangerous opportunities. They helped keep us on the defensive for a majority of the second half.”
Pennsbury finishes the season with a 17-5-1 mark. The Falcons won their fifth straight SOL National title, with a senior class that was able to keep the high standard from previous years day in and day out.
“They represented Pennsbury with all the class and character that these seniors have displayed since they first joined the program,” Battiste said. “It’s a very special group of seniors who have left quite a legacy behind.”
PENNSBURY 0-0 0
CUMBERLAND VALLEY 1-0 1
About the Author
