Check out the results for SOL girls’ soccer teams in action Monday. To view photos of the Abington/CR North game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
American Conference
UPPER DUBLIN 2, WISSAHICKON 1
Senior Julie Cross scored the game-winner with less than four minutes left in regulation to give the host Flying Cardinals a crucial victory in the down-to-the-wire SOL American race over the Trojans.
Pending the outcome of Plymouth Whitemarsh’s match at Cheltenham on Monday night, Upper Dublin (11-5, 11-2 SOL) could be tied with the Colonials heading into both teams’ final regular-season matches Wednesday.
The loss leaves Wissahickon (12-3-1, 10-3 SOL) needing a win Wednesday over Cheltenham and losses by Upper Dublin and Plymouth Whitemarsh to force a three-way tie.
While Upper Dublin has a tough matchup 7 p.m. Wednesday finishing at Springfield (Montco) (7-6-1, 6-4-1 SOL), who defeated Plymouth Whitemarsh earlier this month, it seems unlikely that the Colonials will lose hosting Norristown at 3:30 p.m.
For Upper Dublin, Paige Lawton opened the scoring at 25:21.
Then Wissahickon tied the score at 34:31, as Maddie Elwell scored a well-executed goal by volleying a cross from Mary Matthews, who got the assist.
The score remained that way until Cross untied the contest at 76:30.
As the stakes were high in this match, Upper Dublin head coach John Topper said he was glad the contest was decided in regulation time.
“Both teams needed wins to stay on par with PW, as far as points are concerned, so we both were looking at a tie as a loss,” Topper said. “I think that would have been a pretty offensive affair, if it did go to overtime.”
Topper said he knew the Cardinals earned a hard-fought victory with the stiff challenge from Wissahickon.
“Wissahickon has athletes like Keanna Haney at (goalkeeper) and Elwell at (forward),” Topper said. “The athleticism alone right there – it’s a lot to deal with.”
The Upper Dublin defense had to play its best.
“Defenders Tovah Kaiser, Devon Magarity, Olivia Ness, Erin Russell and Shannon Haig did a great job dealing with Wissahickon’s dangerous attackers,” Topper said.
Even with a strong defensive effort from Upper Dublin, Wissahickon’s normally high-powered offense, forced Upper Dublin senior goalkeeper Alissa Klammer to make 11 saves.
“On a rainy and slick night, (Klammer) was just completely consistent,” Topper said. “She didn’t give up any rebounds and prevented second opportunities.”
Haney made five saves for Wissahickon.
Wissahickon 1-0 1
Upper Dublin 1-1 2
UPPER MORELAND 3, NORRISTOWN 0
Tori Leister and Sydney Bachmayer alternated assisting on each other’s goals six minutes apart in the first half to lead the Golden Bears to a shutout victory over the host Eagles.
Leister scored at 20:10, and Bachmayer scored at 26:10, as Upper Moreland (4-12-1, 4-9 SOL) took a 2-0 lead into intermission.
After halftime, Shannon Moore got her first career goal, unassisted, at 74:47.
For Norristown (2-14, 1-12 SOL), goalkeeper Hannah Kqira made 15 saves. Sophomore goalkeeper Kim Benge got the shutout for Upper Moreland.
If the Bears win can win their regular-season finale Wednesday at Upper Merion, it should give the relatively young roster plenty to build upon for next season, Upper Moreland head coach Lisa Benvenuto said.
“We have two seniors and three juniors, and the rest are all freshmen and sophomores,” the Golden Bears’ coach said. “So I feel as if there is a better chance of them remembering when they played well, and what can come from that, rather than looking at the games when we wish we would have and could have and should have.”
Benvenuto also credited Benge for growing into a leader and continuing to play well at goalkeeper despite less-experienced defenders in front of her.
“(Benge) is the backbone of the team, she keeps them together, and I feel as if the players look up to her and admire her for what she was able to do in the net for us,” Benvenuto said. “This year was different for her from last year, when there were a lot of seniors on the team and on defense, who could help her out. Now she has a different role with this younger group, where she is stepping up and owning the field.”
Benge has been a positive influence on the players, and Benvenuto believes better days are ahead and is looking forward to how much these players can accomplish through their intangibles.
“As we’re going through the final week of the season, these players have shown the heart and desire to be competitive in the (SOL American), and just because we’re playing against a team that is stronger than we are, it doesn’t mean that they’re just going to go through the motions, and that shows their character,” Benvenuto said. “Skills will come with experience and more exposure to playing, but I think that because they have that character—they won’t give up—it’s something that can’t be developed just through coaching.”
Upper Moreland 2-1 3
Norristown 0-0 0
SPRINGFIELD (MONTCO) AT UPPER MERION, PPD.
The match between the Spartans and the Vikings has been rescheduled to Tuesday to accommodate Upper Merion’s Senior Night.
National Conference
WILLIAM TENNENT 2, BENSALEM 1
Lynne O’Connor scored the game-winner in the 56th minute from Alyssa Christensen to help keep the visiting Panthers in a third-place tie with Council Rock North.
In the first half, Shea Conway scored for Tennent (11-5-1, 8-4-1 SOL) off a penalty kick in the 15th minute for a 1-0 advantage.
For host Bensalem (6-11, 5-8 SOL), Kayla Ryan tied the contest in the 32nd minute with an assist from Sid Doherty.
William Tennent 1-1 2
Bensalem 1-0 1
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 1, ABINGTON 0
Michaela Finneyfrock scored the only goal of the contest in the 56th minute with an assist from Casey McAllister, as the Indians defeated the host Lady Ghosts and held on to a share of third place with William Tennent.
CR North 0-1 1
Abington 0-0 0
NESHAMINY 7, HARRY S TRUMAN 0
Gabby Farrell and Amy Mandia each scored twice, and Riley Nyhus added a pair of assists, as host Neshaminy celebrated Senior Night with a shutout victory over the Tigers.
Farrell opened the scoring at 6:00 with an assist from Nyhus and capped the first-half scoring with her second goal of the contest, from Alyssa Tobin, at 29:05.
Farrell’s scores sandwiched an unassisted goal at 22:06 by Mandia.
In the second half, Mandia again scored unassisted at 48:12.
More than 4 minutes later, Jackie Ziegler scored with an assist from Julia Andreozzi.
Mandia ended with a three-point performance by assisting on Jamie Ireland’s goal at 70:38.
Less than a minute later, Fran Donato scored Neshaminy’s final goal with an assist from Nyhus.
Combining for the shutout against the Tigers (0-15-1, 0-13 SOL), Holly Bowser played the first half, and Victoria Smith played in the second half for Neshaminy (9-5-3, 8-3-2 SOL).
HS Truman 0-0 0
Neshaminy 3-4 7
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