Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ soccer teams in action Thursday. CB East/CB West photos courtesy of Tracy Valko, UD/Wissahickon photos courtesy of Geanine Jamison Photography, and Lower Moreland/Springfield Twp phots courtesy of Greg Zesinger. Check back for galleries of all three games.
SOL COLONIAL
Central Bucks West 2, Central Bucks East 1
No matter the year, the date, the records, whatever else there is to consider, it doesn’t matter when Central Bucks East plays Central Bucks West.
Thursday marked the first of two scheduled meetings between the archrivals and true to form, it was a battle.
“The rivalry is just awesome between the two schools, and no matter how good one of us is, and whoever is supposed to win – you can throw all that out the window because people who don’t go to East and West just don’t get how crazy this rivalry is,” West coach Mike Moyer said.
The Bucks have had an odd start to the season. After playing North Penn on the first day of the schedule, they didn’t play again until Thursday. The Patriots, on the other hand, have gotten all four scheduled games in even though they were playing for a second straight day on Thursday.
“Any time we play West, we know it is going to be a very tough, physical game and it was just that,” East coach Jake Nesteruk said.
Moyer felt the gap in the schedule had a part in his team coming out flat to open the game, and it led to the Bucks losing ground in the midfield.
“We had a specific plan to try to beat them in the back, but we were really flat in the midfield, and we couldn’t get anything going. Between our backs, our midfield and our forwards, everybody was on a different page tonight. We ended up 0-0 at half,” Moyer said. “In the second half, we did come out with some kind of fight in us, but we just couldn’t get that penetrating ball through. East did a (heck) of a job defending us. Also, their midfielders wanted the game more than we did. Riley Corona made a great individual effort, put a shot on goal that probably shouldn’t have gone in, and we got lucky.”
Corona’s goal gave West a lead 15 minutes into the half and it held until the final 10 minutes of play.
“After making some adjustments in formation to attack more, we were able to score a tying goal with Camryn Williams’ second of the year with less than ten left,” Nesteruk said.
Moyer knew that going up a goal didn’t mean all that much given who was on the other side of the field.
“It was back and forth. East never gave up. They got a corner kick with about six minutes left and put one away on us,” the Bucks’ coach said. “I give their coach so much credit for what he’s doing over there with that program. He’s making it his own. They’re so disciplined.”
The rivals went to the end of regulation tied, then slugged 10 minutes of scoreless overtime soccer before heading into the final period of play. While soccer allows for teams to draw, that’s not really an acceptable outcome in a rivalry game.
“In the second overtime, we just decided that we wanted to win,” Moyer said. “We pushed an extra player up top. Maeve Shiffler made a great turn and a great pass to Taylor (Moyer). Taylor controlled the ball and half volleyed it left foot side net to win it from 18 yards out. Somehow we managed a win that we shouldn’t have got with the way that we played, but we hung in there and we grinded it out.”
Taylor Moyer’s finishing strike came with less than five minutes on the clock.
“I give West credit, they are very tough, fit, and defensively organized and it showed,” Nesteruk said. “Our girls played their hearts out and it’s tough to swallow the result, but took some major positives from the game.”
Nesteruk cited the play of his back line as well, notably Meredith Black. Additionally, Chloe Strawn, Elise Duffy, Liv Portner and Katie Volans were active and dangerous in the attack for the Patriots.
“I am really proud of our girls and honestly just to be a part of this game,” Nesteruk said.
West, despite some uneven play, had its share of standouts as well.
“Courtney Moylan played really well, Keely McGlone played really well in the back, and Kate Weyer played really well in the back for us,” Moyer said.
CB West (2-0) will host CB South at 2pm Saturday. CB East (2-2) will host North Penn on Tuesday Oct. 6.
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 0 1 0 1 – 2
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 0 1 0 0 – 1
Goals: CBW – Riley Corona, Taylor Moyer; CBE – Camryn Williams
Pennridge 2, Souderton 1
In a match that featured a little bit of everything, a goal and an assist from Rams freshman Liv Grenda helped Pennridge stay unbeaten.
The two rivals spent the afternoon trading runs up and down the field, tough tackles, big saves and plenty of scoring chances. Souderton came out with aggressive high pressure that had the young Rams a little rattled at times while Pennridge’s forwards battled the Indians’ defenders to put shots on goal.
“I feel like the team chemistry this year with such a young team is really, really good,” Rams coach Audrey Anderson said. “They’re willing to play for each other and not having to feel like they need to do it all themselves.”
Souderton had plenty of good efforts but none rose to the level of senior goalkeeper Morgan Molyneaux, who put on a clinic of how to stop shots. The senior co-captain turned in 14 saves but also roamed the box with authority.
“She absolutely commands from the back, and I think that’s something so crucial to the goalkeeping position,” Indians coach Ian Smith said. “That type of aura and commanding presence is so important to our team and I think it bleeds through to her play. She’s always been a great shot-stopper and to add that next dimension as a leader and a captain, it’s really great and she’s stepped up in her senior year.”
After a scoreless half that didn’t lack for chances, Souderton struck first after halftime. Hannah Alderfer sprang senior Averie Doughty with a quality pass and Doughty rewarded it with a beautiful strike on the run four minutes into the half.
Facing their first deficit of the season, the Rams recovered and found a next level of play. Eight minutes later, Grenda found herself alone in space and buried a rocket of a deep shot to tie the score.
“We talked about how important it is to learn those types of things about us, especially in a short season,” Anderson said. “We didn’t panic and almost scored right out of the gate just after they scored on us. I wish we had played like that the whole game, but it is a learning process.”
Gianna Natale and Taylor Yoder played solid defensively for Souderton while Doughty was all over in a strong two-way effort. Molyneaux continued her heroics in goal in the second half, including a superb point-blank stuff of a Pennridge shot to keep the game tied.
With less than eight minutes to play, the Rams struck again with Grenda in the middle of it. Casey Malone fired a quick throw-in right to Grenda in the box, who managed to keep possession and fired off a tight-angled ball that Emily Kriney tapped in for the winner.
“I feel like she has no fear,” Anderson said of Grenda. “I don’t know this, it’s just how it looks to me, but she doesn’t look at herself as a freshman but just as a soccer player. I do like that about her and I think the girls respect that she’s the player going up in the air, trying to win tackles and is willing to shoot.”
Kriney and Leah Malone were active at forward, Lindsey DeHaven and Riley Hepler played at center mid and Anna Croyle, Kera Dam and Zoe Sabol helped the Rams win challenges on the back line.
“We’re still trying to sort things out,” Anderson said. “They did well, I’m super-critical, so there’s things we’ll clean up and learn from but I thought the four backs did a nice job today.”
The Rams (4-0, 3-0 SOL) will visit CB South on Tuesday. Souderton (2-2) visits CB West on Tuesday night.
PENNRIDGE 0 2 – 2
SOUDERTON 0 1 – 1
Goals: P – Liv Grenda, Emily Kriney; S – Averie Doughty
Central Bucks South 1, North Penn 1 (OT)
The start of the season hasn’t brought the success the Titans and Knights had hoped for, but they hope Thursday’s draw could be the start of something better.
“Today, the girls were really geared up for the win, and they needed to play their game with lots of possession, quality passes and communication on and off the field to do so,” first-year Titans coach Amy Moriarity said. “We moved the ball around really nicely.”
CB South struck first, drawing a penalty kick 10 minutes into the game. Senior captain Bridget Curtis, a center back, stepped up to the spot and buried the chance.
North Penn, which has trailed in every game this season, found itself in unwanted familiar territory.
“Tough goal to give up early but the girls definitely rebounded. It’s been a rough start to the season and the results haven’t been going the way we would have liked,” North Penn co-head coach Mike Rio said. “But I’m proud of the way the girls battled back to draw even and continued to push for the lead.”
Injuries have hampered the Knights through the first two weeks of the shortened season, but Rio said the team’s reserves have stepped up and the entire group showed a lot of fight on Thursday.
“I think when we started to find some rhythms, we started to knock the ball around a bit and string some passes together which allowed us to maintain some offensive pressure,” Rio said. “We scored off a fantastic run and cross from Kayla Balisalisa that Alli Lindsay put away on a header.”
The Knights fought back to tie the game late in the first half, and neither team would be able to find a winning goal.
South’s connectivity was strong throughout, as Moriarity noted, Curtis and center back Maddy Tantum were consistently able to play to midfielders Janessa Watson and Colby Roach. The midfield also did well moving the ball out wide or up top to Brooke Edwards and Ally Cutter.
“I think we definitely dominated the possession game and had several threatening counter attacks that led to five shots that either hit the crossbar or post from Mary Nangle, Brooke Edwards, Alison Sauers, Janessa Watson and Ally Cutter,” Moriarity said.
Rio felt his team’s back line had its best game of the season and keeper Anna Fiore again made crucial saves. The next goal is getting the offense going as the Knights haven’t scored multiple goals in any match this season.
“South played a great game as well and I was glad we could limit their opportunities,” Rio said. “But they were working hard to do the same to us.”
The Titans are in the same boat, hoping some strong defensive performances so far can help spark the offense to put some chances away.
“The girls were so hungry to score, and it just got more and more frustrating when we couldn’t get it in the back of the net,” Moriarity said.
North Penn (0-2-1) will visit CB East on Tuesday Oct. 6. CB South (0-2-1) will travel to CB West for a 2 p.m. start on Saturday.
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 1 0 0 0 – 1
NORTH PENN 1 0 0 0 – 1
Goals: CBS – Bridget Curtis, NP – Alli Lindsay
SOL LIBERTY
Wissahickon 2, Upper Dublin 0
Trojans coach Chris McDaniels frankly assessed that his team wasn’t ready in its season-opening loss to Hatboro-Horsham.
So, he and his captains talked it out and made some changes in the lineup. Since then, Wissahickon has won twice and tied another game including Thursday’s win over next-door neighbor and rival Upper Dublin..jpg)
“Defensively, since our first game against Hatboro where we weren’t ready, we’ve done a nice job back there,” McDaniels said. “Our center backs tonight, Peyton Weber and Margot Kasenchar, they’re big, strong, competent and good on the ball. They play very smart and we worked in a few players like Sage Stelzer, Elaina Bailey, Serena Harris and Lindsey Schmidt at fullbacks, and I didn’t think we gave up many chances.”
Upper Dublin played just its second game of the season after losing two games to unplanned postponements. So while Wiss was playing for the fourth time, UD showed signs of a team that has talent but not a lot of time together on the field.
The Cardinals’ young attackers like Alex Devers, Regan Rubin and Olivia Hoffman had moments, but the Trojans’ back line and midfield kept them from connecting regularly.
“The back line has done a nice job limiting chances and the few times our goalie, Caroline Hassall had to come off her line and grab something, she did that well,” McDaniels said. “When you limit chances, you put yourself in a really good spot.”
Part of the changes after the season-opening loss was moving Natalie Ryan and Anna May into center midfield spots. The two, usually wingers, are strong on the ball and have played well as a shield in front of the back line.
Ryan is also the team’s set-piece specialist, and it was her free kick midway through the first half that led to a save and rebound with Sage Stelzer right there to poke home the second chance.
Ryan iced the game with an excellent goal off a free kick, driving her service from the left side into the upper 90 on the far post with about a minute and a half left in the match.
“She’s good for anywhere from four or five of those hits right into the back of the net a year and a couple assists off them as well,” McDaniels said. “She’s good at hitting a dead ball and she hits a million of them.”
UD keeper Rachel Adelman turned away 10 shots, several of them difficult, in a strong performance.
There’s a lot of season left, but the Trojans feel like they’re going to be better suited to the coming challenges thanks to the changes they’ve already made.
“The team has a really good chemistry,” McDaniels said. “We have good leadership, three really good captains and they really like each other. They go out after practice to get food together and they’re a pleasant group to be around so I feel like when you get on the field, that helps you up your game up.”
Wissahickon (2-1-1, 1-1-1 SOL) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh Tuesday, and Upper Dublin (0-2) will host Abington on Friday (3:45 pm).
WISSAHICKON 1 1 – 2
UPPER DUBLIN 0 0 – 0
Goals: W – Sage Stelzer, Natalie Ryan
Abington 3, Plymouth Whitemarsh 2 (OT)
The Ghosts have wasted little time getting going this fall.
After having their first week of the season postponed, Abington has come of the gate with results over Hatboro-Horsham and now the Colonials after a tough-earned overtime victory Thursday. Senior Casey Touey scored twice, including the winner as the Ghosts edged out PW.
“She basically tight-roped and tip-toed down the far right sideline, beat a defender and slipped the ball into the goal,” Abington coach Rick Tompkins said. “It was ridiculous, the angle she hit it off. She does some special things.”
PW honored its 13 seniors pregame and fielded an entire starting lineup worth of them. Whether it was the jolt of some usual nonstarters being out for the first whistle or the energy of Senior Night, the Colonials cashed in with the game’s first goal.
Tompkins said a mistake by his back line left PW’s Max Leszczynski alone on a breakaway and the senior forward didn’t waste the chance.
“You hate to say this as a coach, but that actually was a good thing,” Tompkins said. “It was like ‘okay, let’s see what we’re made of.'”
Abington came back and answered with a goal off a corner when defender Ally Holden was able to rise up and head home Lesha Karaba’s service to tie it 1-1.
After taking the tie to the break, Abington tallied again in the second half off another restart. Tompkins said he moved Touey to the wing to try and keep PW from double or triple-teaming the scoring threat and it paid off when a long throw by Lanae Wilson-Mattson found the striker for a flick-in goal.
“They play very hard, they’re defensively very sound,” Tompkins said. “The outside backs are strong and their center backs are very, very tough. They had a girl on the outside who basically matched up with Touey and it ended up being a really good battle.”
PW tied the match in the final five minutes. A scramble around the net allowed Bella McNew to set up Angelina Balcer for the equalizer.
“It was opportunistic, we had two or three chances to get rid of it and didn’t. They capitalized and you give them credit,” Tompkins said. “PW is well-coached, they play a hard brand of ball and they never give up. I know they’re banged up a bit too but they stayed after us.”
Tompkins lauded the play of junior Talitha Cheng off the bench. The midfielder just worked hard and distributed the ball well, giving Abington just what it needed.
“She’s tiny but she’s quick and her touch is impeccable,” Tompkins said. “We’re also getting good production out of the flanks with Lesha Karaba and Camille Muginer. They understand what needs to get done.”
Abington put pressure early in overtime and their senior made sure they went home happy.
“Touey did what Touey does,” Tompkins said.
Abington (2-0) will visit Upper Dublin on Friday afternoon. PW (1-1) visits Wissahickon on Tuesday afternoon.
ABINGTON 1 1 1 – 3
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 1 1 0 – 2
Goals: A – Casey Touey 2, Ally Holden; PW – Max Leszczynski, Angelina Balcer
Hatboro-Horsham 1, Quakertown 0
The Hatters celebrated a senior class that has had a major impact on the program’s winning ways the last two seasons with a victory on Thursday.
Naturally, one of those seniors provided the only goal as Maggie O’Neill put away a helper from Mia Malofiy.
“All of the seniors got some time tonight that resulted in the win,” Hatboro-Horsham coach Kelsey Daley said. “It was a team win for us tonight.”
Hatboro-Horsham won the ball about 35 yards away from the goal and sent it up to O’Neill, who then found Malofiy. Malofiy laid the ball off for a trailing O’Neill, who one-timed a shot from 25 yards out that found its mark.
The Hatters had 11 seniors see time on Thursday with O’Neill, Emma Brown, Izzy de la Torre, Hannah Gurt, Emily Gurt, Catherine Portelli, Grace Murwin, Aly Yankanich, Liv Walker, Erin Walsh and Sarah Shegogue chipping in.
However, the upperclassmen weren’t the only contributors as freshman Emma Levin turned in a standout effort.
“She had an unbelievable game. Whenever she gets the ball, she is so calm and always knows where to play the perfect ball,” Daley said. “She has really stepped up for us this year and knows how to control the game.”
Sam Hollish recorded the shutout in goal.
Hatboro-Horsham (2-1) will travel to Upper Dublin on Tuesday while Quakertown (1-3-1, 1-2-1 SOL) will host Abington.
HATBORO-HORSHAM 1 0 – 1
QUAKERTOWN 0 0 – 0
Goals: HH – Maggie O’Neill
SOL PATRIOT
Council Rock South 2, Bensalem 0
The Golden Hawks got their first win Tuesday but wanted to leave the past in the past.
Luckily for them, Aubrey Hondros carried over her scoring touch as CR South went to 2-0 on the week behind a brace from the senior.
“Before the game, we talked about letting Tuesday’s win stay with Tuesday and we needed to make sure we didn’t have a letdown after a solid win,” Hawks coach Nick Heim said. “The girls really answered the first whistle strong and set the tone early.”
Heim said Bensalem’s defensive effort was just as strong early in the match, and as a result, the Hawks couldn’t capitalize on their early energy.
Hondros was able to settle things down when she cleaned up off a scramble in the box following a set piece late in the first half. The forward wasn’t just a scorer despite being the only one to put a shot in the net.
“She was all over the field for us today creating chances for us. She was actually much more a facilitator today than the score line would show,” Heim said.
In the second half, Hondros helped put the match away, thanks to some teamwork on the offensive end.
“We had some good movement on the end line and a ball got played a bit behind Maddie McDowell,” Heim said. “Instead of trying to force something, Maddie had a great lay-off to Aubrey coming forward for a composed finish.”
Sydney Mandel tallied her third shutout of the season.
Heim cited Lauren Smith, Kimmie Herritt and Carley Irvin for setting the tone in the midfield.
“Emily Davis and Kim Speiser both had really good games, not just defensively but also helping generate offense going forward,” Heim said.
The Golden Hawks (2-1-1) will visit Lower Moreland on Monday. Bensalem (0-4, 0-3 SOL) hosts Neshaminy on Tuesday.
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 1 1 – 2
BENSALEM 0 0 – 0
Goals: CRS – Aubrey Hondros 2
SOL FREEDOM
Lower Moreland 2, Springfield Twp 1 (OT)
The Lions have had a lot to deal with two weeks into their SOL tenure.
Already shorthanded, Lower Moreland lost senior captain Phoebe Lynch over the weekend but banded together to top a tough Springfield side in overtime on Thursday.
“We opened the game with freshman Morgan Pennisi basically scoring right off the tap,” Lions coach Mike Gould said. “I liked our team’s resilience and composure through adversity.”
Without Lynch, who scored both goals in last week’s win over New Hope-Solebury, Lower Moreland had to change formations. The Lions have five freshmen and three sophomores starting and have three seniors out with season-ending injury.
“With it being a young team, their response to losing three starters to season-ending injury has been exceptional,” Gould said. “It shows in games how when we go through moments where we’re losing control of the game, we stay organized and recover.”
The Spartans drew a penalty kick in the second half with Hannah Potocki stepping up and converting from the spot.
Gould lauded his three healthy seniors – Amy Zesinger, Paige Malpezzi and Maggie McGarry – for their leadership and the two starting freshman on the back line in Abbie Wasserstrom and Amelia Brown for making huge strides early.
In overtime, the Lions earned a free kick just outside the box on the left side. Pennisi stood over the ball and drilled into the opposite side for the game-winner and her second of the day.
“I think her confidence, maturity and work rate are what helped her today,” Gould said. “She actually got hit really hard in the second half and had to leave the game. I was impressed how a freshman playing on a yellow card in a highly emotional game was able to contribute as much as she did.”
Lower Moreland (2-0-1) will host Council Rock South on Monday. Springfield Twp (0-4) is off until Thursday Oct 8 when the Spartans host New Hope-Solebury.
LOWER MORELAND 1 0 1 – 2
SPRINGFIELD TWP 0 1 0 – 1
Goals: LM – Morgan Pennisi 2; ST – Hannah Potocki
William Tennent 3, Upper Moreland 0
While the Panthers scored early, it was anything but an ideal start.
“We were very lucky to get a 1-0 lead with the way Upper Moreland came and outplayed us,” Tennent coach Bill Hontz said. “Ava DeGeorge had a nice chip shot from about 25 yards out. Caroline Weir was able to take us to 2-0 on a perfect pass from Ava DeGeorge. They were our only two chances we had in the first half and capitalized on them.”
Hontz said the Golden Bears were the more creative team in the first half with more chances, but they weren’t able to put them away.
“The score was 3-0 but it was very deceiving with the flow of the game,” Hontz said. “Upper Moreland is a very good team that threatened to score the entire game, especially with their outstanding freshman Kyra Favors up top.”
The Panthers needed to move Weir, one of their top offensive players, to the back to help defend and keep the lead.
DeGeorge made the move possible, as the freshman scored a goal and assisted the two others for Tennent.
“She is very coachable and listens to what you want and need her to do,” Hontz said. “She enjoys delivering the ball to someone’s feet in stride and sees the field very well. She is also not afraid to shoot when it’s appropriate.”
For Upper Moreland, it was a classic case of a frustrating afternoon.
“We certainly had our opportunities today, but we just couldn’t capitalize on them. Both teams generated 10 shots on goal, and the play was evenly matched,” UM coach Lisa Benvenuto said. “Today is one of those games where we will recollect, look at what we have learned as a team, and move forward.”
Sarah Hart, who had standout effort on defense, tallied the Panthers’ third goal off a DeGeorge helper. Sarah Sanson was also important in the back while sophomore keeper Kayla Kulp was up to task in posting the clean sheet.
“We have a nice mix of young and experienced players with the older players respecting the younger players and what they can do,” Hontz said. “It doesn’t always go as planned but they are showing they are players.”
Upper Moreland (1-1-1) visits New Hope-Solebury on Tuesday while Tennent (3-1, 3-0 SOL) visits Lower Moreland the same day.
WILLIAM TENNENT 2 1 – 3
UPPER MORELAND 0 0 – 0
Goals: WT – Ava DeGeorge, Caroline Weir, Sarah Hart
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