Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ soccer teams in action Monday.
SOL National Conference
Council Rock South 3, Bensalem 1
Two Jones are better than one.
Golden Hawks senior Sammy Jones has been terrific this season as the team’s go-to goal scorer, but she’s gotten some familiar help over the past few weeks.
Sammy Jones stepped up as the team’s offensive leader last season when her twin sister Allie went down with an ACL injury in the second game against Bensalem. Allie Jones has been working her way back into the lineup, and on Monday, she was the key to unlocking the Owls’ resilient defense.
“Allie has only been back for about two weeks, and we’ve been working her in, letting her get comfortable again,” CR South coach Nick Heim said. “Every practice and every game you can see she’s getting more confident and today she was the Allie of old, taking kids on and making multiple defenders commit to her. She’s a fantastic passer so once there’s an opening she does a great job of making people pay.”
Monday marked the second meeting between the two teams in a seven-day span. CR South topped Bensalem by the same 3-1 margin on October 7.
“Bensalem’s record is not at all indicative of the quality players they have and how well they defend as a unit,” Heim said. “It’s the second year in a row we’ve played them twice in a week due to weather, and we remembered how difficult that was last year to get two results. We stressed keeping it simple and finding feet to get going offensively.”
Allie Jones had three assists Monday, the first coming to her sister just five minutes into the game. The twins will continue as a dynamic duo next fall at Temple.
“Allie then found Jordi Rubakh halfway through the half to make it 2-0. Bensalem scored on a great shot to make it 2-1 at half,” Heim said. “At halftime we stressed the same things and Allie Jones made a really dangerous run that left Sammy open when defenders collapsed and it put us up 3-1.”
Heim cited the team’s depth and bench players for their efforts Monday, especially with two more matches on deck this week. The Hawks are also in the hunt for a first round District I bye, currently sitting No. 7 in the 4A rankings.
“We got solid contributions from the entire bench today so a good way to start the last week of the regular season,” Heim said. “Our backs played really well handling the big ball. Maddie Slubowski, Karly Wunder, Skylar Nowmos, Dana DeDominicis, and Kim Speiser really limited the forwards from Bensalem from creating to many opportunities.”
CR South (10-3-1, 8-2 SOL) visits William Tennent on Tuesday afternoon while Bensalem (2-13, 2-9) will visit Council Rock North.
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 2 1 – 3
BENSALEM 1 0 – 1
Goals: CRS – Sammy Jones 2, Jordi Rubkah
Non-league
Council Rock North 1, West Chester Rustin 0
The Indians recorded another quality win as they push for a strong finish to the regular season.
“I was very pleased with our performance today,” Indians coach Gavin Flannigan said. “Our possession in the first half was very good, but WC Rustin defended well and we couldn’t find the final ball.”
At the intermission, the Indians talked about being more aggressive on free kicks and especially pressing higher on the service.
“Sammy Judge played a great ball in and Anna Cairone was able to find a header back across the goal to take the lead,” Flannigan said. “After that both teams had moments but no great chances and we were able to close out the game.”
Council Rock North, which sat in the No. 10 spot in the District I 4A rankings Monday night, has two SOL National games to close out the season.
“At this stage of the season any win is a good one, but I thought we really played some great soccer at times today,” Flannigan said. “This sets us up for our last two league games this week.”
The Indians took a stand in the midfield and it paid major dividends in winning the match.
“I thought Sammy Judge and Taylor Brennan were excellent today in the middle of the field, their pressure on the ball was vital in creating turnovers and changing the momentum of the game at times,” Flannigan said. “Grace Needham had five saves, including an important 1-v-1 in the first half to keep it tied.”
Council Rock North (11-3-2, 6-3-1 SOL) hosts Bensalem on Tuesday.
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0 1 – 1
WEST CHESTER RUSTIN 0 0 – 0
Goals: CRN – Anna Cairone
Upper Moreland 6, Interboro 3
Kathryn Morrow scored five goals in a dazzling individual effort to lead the visiting Golden Bears to the non-league win.
Coach Lisa Benvenuto liked what she saw
“As we enter the last week of the season, our focus has still remained on finishing and controlling the ball,” the Golden Bears’ coach said. “Today’s game played out the way we wanted. I am really proud of the girls and the way they moved the ball, won the 50/50 balls, and capitalized on their opportunities. Every goal that we scored was a team effort. Kathryn Morrow was fantastic today. She picked up the keeper and finished with finesse.”
Interboro struck first just under five minutes into the game when Morgan Reed found the net, and then Morrow went to work – connecting on back-to-back goals in a four-minute span. Emma Meakim assisted on the second. Reed evened the score with a goal for Interboro, but Morrow completed her hat trick with a goal in the 30th minute to send the Golden Bears into halftime with a 3-2 lead.
Interboro refused to go down quietly, and Reed scored her third goal of the afternoon 14 minutes into the second half, knotting the score 3-3. Morrow gave the Golden Bears a lead they won not lose, turning a pass from Madison Zachweija for a goal that proved to be the game-winner in the 58th minute. For good measure, Grace Burns and Morrow each added a goal to close out the scoring.
UM goalie Jaclyn Martino has four saves.
Upper Moreland (6-10, 4-8 SOL) will travel to Plymouth Whitemarsh on Tuesday.
UPPER MORELAND 3 3-6
INTERBORO 2 1-3
Goals: UM: Kathryn Morrow 5, Grace Burns, LM: Morgan Reed 3.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 4, New Hope-Solebury 0
The Colonials ran their winning run to double-digits with a complete effort Monday afternoon.
“The girls took control of the game from the tap and never let go,” PW coach Ryan Zehren said.
Devon Skiles picked up the shutout in goal for Plymouth Whitemarsh, which hasn’t allowed a goal since Sept. 19. The defense has now gone eight straight matches with a shutout performance.
Offensively, Fiona Gooneratne staked the offense to a quick start off an assist from Anni Shula. Shula then doubled the lead off a feed from Max Leszczynski to start a big day for the junior forward.
Leszczynski added an assist on Natalie Lannie’s goal before finishing the day with a tally of her own as Lannie repaid the favor with a helper.
“She’s doing well getting in behind defenders and then finding the feet of her teammates,” Zehren said. She’s playing really unselfish soccer. Might not be scoring as much but creating opportunities.”
The Colonials (13-3, 10-2 Sol), who now sit No. 11 in the District I 4A rankings, host Upper Moreland for Senior Night on Tuesday at 7.
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH – 4
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 0
Goals: PW – Fiona Gooneratne, Anni Shula, Max Leszczynski, Natalie Lannie
Harry S Truman 1, Dock Mennonite Academy 0
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