Neshaminy edged Pennsbury in a key SOL contest. CB South and Abington were also winners. Check back for a Photo Gallery of the Neshaminy/Pennsbury game.
SOL NATIONAL
NESHAMINY 1, PENNSBURY 0
The last time these two teams met, almost a month ago to the day, the quality of the game already had some looking forward to the rematch.
Thursday's return leg at Heartbreak Ridge did not disappoint, pitting the No. 2 (Pennsbury) and No. 6 (Neshaminy) teams in the latest District I AAAA power rankings against each other. True to the venue's name, it was Pennsbury suffering heartbreak for the first time all season thanks to a Neshaminy team that's truly come into its own since the first meeting.
Brooke Mullin's tally 25:50 into the first half was all Neshaminy needed, thanks to a resolute defensive performance.
"Our back line has been solid all season long," Neshaminy coach Chelsea Lovelace said. "They did a great job being patient in the tackle and containing, which limited any close shots. Our keeper, Riley Spingler, was confident and came out when needed to in order to collect any loose balls our defense couldn't get."
That back line, consisting of Maggie Daeche, Nicole Palmer, Hannah Stonkus and Genna Obringer, became the first group to hold the Falcons without a goal all season and in turn, helped Neshaminy to its first win over Pennsbury since the 2013 season.
Lovelace noted it was a team effort defensively, starting with the forwards and working back and that Neshaminy didn't specifically mark any of Pennsbury's attackers. When it came time for the defense to make a stand, it did.
"They have a lot of confidence in one another, which I think helps in a lot of circumstances," Lovelace said.
Neshaminy broke through when Alyssa Tobin gained the endline on the left side of the field and served in a ball across the front of goal, where Brooke Mullin was able to tuck it in the net.
Alyssa Tobin was just part of a top-notch effort by the Neshaminy midfield.
"Alyssa was a workhorse," Lovelace said. "She was all over the field, putting pressure on them defensively but also a threat going forward for us. She and Riley Nyhus had to put in extra work today, being that Pennsbury had an extra girl in the midfield."
"Riley, like the other girls, left it all on the field. She is always a strong presence in the midfield defensively, winning 50/50 balls and slowed Pennsbury down. Offensively, she played a lot of dangerous through balls to our outside midfielders and forwards."
Brianna Tobin was also another key piece to the puzzle for Neshaminy, stretching the field and creating space and opportunities for her teammates.
"Brianna had a huge impact on the game," Lovelace said. "She plays outside mid on the left and has a tremendous work rate. She served in a few dangerous crosses that we could have capitalized on."
Pennsbury had its chances, but couldn't convert any of them. Much like the first meeting came down to will and the thinnest of margins, Thursday was the exact same.
"We've got a team of competitors who don't make excuses and understand that this is a game of inches," Pennsbury coach Kaitlyn Battiste said. "Today, Neshaminy had that extra inch.
"Senior defender Rachel Beri had an outstanding game for us. She took ownership of the game and her team out on the pitch. She shut down attackers, made goal-line saves and tried to ignite our offense. We had a few scoring opportunities, but no real rhythm to our attack."
Battiste said the bad news was it was a loss for her team but the good news is it didn't end the season. The Falcons (11-1, 8-1 SOL) hop right back into it with a game against a hot Council Rock South team on Friday night.
"Today was a hiccup in our season, but I'm excited to see how we finish," Battiste said.
Neshaminy (12-1-1, 7-1-1) likewise does not have much time to rest, with a trip to Council Rock North on tap for Friday. The Indians are looking for a big win to propel them up the District I power rankings, so Neshaminy will need to come out the same way it did against Pennsbury.
"We came out with lots of intensity and that set the tone for the game," Lovelace said.
Pennsbury 0 0 – 0
Neshaminy 1 0 – 1
Goals: N – Brooke Mullin (Alyssa Tobin) 25:50. Shots: P – 4, N – 7 Saves: P – Kerri Phillips – 6, Riley Spingler – 4
ABINGTON 10, HARRY S TRUMAN 0
It was Senior Night for the Galloping Ghosts and they celebrated with a big win under the Schwartzman Stadium lights.
Lindsay Baer posted a hat trick to lead the scoring surge for Abington.
Abington (4-11, 3-8 SOL) will be on the road at Bensalem on Monday, and Harry S Truman (0-14, 0-10) will host Neshaminy on Wednesday.
SOL CONTINENTAL
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 2, WILLIAM TENNENT 1 (OT)
The Titans needed a little extra time to do it, but they honored their seniors with a win Thursday night.
Corinne McDonald, one of those seniors, shook a miss at the end of regulation to strike home the winner three minutes into overtime. The Panthers really made South work for it, but the Titans displayed the resiliency that's helped them rise up the District I rankings.
"(The seniors) are a really cohesive group that really want to win for one another," Titans coach Betsy Bullock said. "They can be very tenacious and many have played together for years on their club teams."
Courtney Taylor, another senior, put her team ahead early with an eighth minute penalty kick, stepping up to the spot after she was fouled in the box. Bullock said her team controlled the game in the first half in terms of possession, but it couldn't put any other balls in the net.
Tennent tied the game in the 65th minute in a rare defensive breakdown by South, allowing a forward in behind for the equalizer.
"We then supplied a great deal of offensive pressure, including a final breakaway by Corinne McDonald with a few seconds left but she hit the ball right to the keeper," Bullock said. "Corinne did find the back of the net in the third minute of overtime with a beautiful slotted ball past their keeper."
South's seniors have been an integral part of the team in their time with the program, and they found ways to make an impact Thursday.
"Maddie Koch, who plays center mid, really held down the middle for us and her constant distribution helped with the offense," Bullock said.
Bullock said the team had a bit of a lull in energy early in the second half, but did well to pick it back up after the goal and carried it through the final minutes into overtime.
Tennent is a team still playing for a chance to sneak into the postseason and pushed the Titans with all that it had.
"We really don't have any games in this league but you do feel battle-tested," Bullock said. "The team was excited to get this win against a tenacious Tennent team on their Senior Night."
Central Bucks South (13-2, 8-2 SOL) will travel to Neshaminy for a non-league game Monday, and William Tennent (5-7, 2-6) will host Nazareth Academy in a non-league contest Monday.
William Tennent 0 1 0 – 1
Central Bucks South 1 0 1 – 2
Goals: CBS – Courtney Taylor (PK) 8', Corinne McDonald 83'
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