Check out the results for SOL girls’ soccer teams in action Thursday.
American Conference
UPPER DUBLIN 2, SPRINGFIELD 1
The Flying Cardinals clinched a share of the American Conference crown with Plymouth Whitemarsh, thanks to their tightly contested win over the Spartans on Thursday night.
It is the program’s second title in as many years, and making this one especially impressive is the fact that the Cardinals graduated 13 seniors from last year’s championship squad.
“A lot of our questions were really where we were going to be playing people and would some of the more inexperienced girls be able to step up in time to make this happen,” coach John Topper said. “I was really proud – all around the board, they responded well.
“We had some experienced girls who played positions that were new to them, and a lot of girls who were playing varsity for the first time really stepped up and played a big role for us.”
All 13 of the seniors lost to graduation saw playing time with eight or nine occupying starting roles.
“We lost pretty much our whole back line,” Topper said. “We had to fill a lot of holes, but I knew we had a lot of young talent in the program. It was just a matter of whether they could pull it together, and they did a really good job.”
The young squad thrived under the leadership of senior captains Julie Cross and Tovah Kaiser.
“They really were great with that,” Topper said. “They took the young girls under their wing.
“Each of them kind of stepped up and took a big role in leadership on and off the field. Tovah we moved from the midfield to center back, and that’s really when we stabilized things back there. She did a great job for us, and Julie’s been one of – if not our leading scorer this year.”
Topper went on to credit keeper Alissa Klammer.
“It was her first year as the number one keeper, and I don’t think she played a bad game all year,” the Cardinals’ coach said. “She played wonderful tonight, and she really stepped up big.”
In Thursday’s showdown, Cameron Callanan scored to give the Spartans the early lead, but the Cardinals knotted the score when Paige Lawton converted a penalty kick.
“They may have had the better of the first half,” Topper said. “In the 38th minute, one of our forwards, Olivia Ness, got in behind their defense, and they pulled her down in the box.”
The two teams went into halftime deadlocked. Seven minutes into the second half, Becca Haber connected for a goal to put the Cardinals on top 2-1. That score held until the final whistle.
“We were playing for a lot tonight,” Topper said. “We knew we needed to win in order to share a championships with PW.
“We definitely were motivated in the second half. I was really proud with the way the girls came out and kind of settled in. We didn’t play our finest first half, but they knew what was on the line and went out and calmed down and did what they needed to do to get the win. I was proud of them the second half.”
The Cardinals and Colonials both closed out league play with identical 12-2 records. The Cards, who are 12-5 overall, will close out their regular season with a non-league match against Central Bucks East on Friday. The Spartans finished fourth in the conference standings with an 8-5-1 record (9-5-1 overall). They will face St. Basil in Friday’s regular season finale.
Upper Dublin 1-1 2
Springfield 1-0 1
UPPER MERION 2, UPPER MORELAND 1 (2 OT)
The Vikings eked out a win in a double overtime thriller at Upper Moreland when – in the 94th minute – Robyn Rhindress connected for the game winner.
“It was a great team effort,” Upper Merion coach Laura Himler said. “Upper Moreland played tough and was able to get a late equalizer, but we were able to control overtime.
“Robyn Rhindress had a great shot from 25 yards out and was able to give us the win. I am so proud of the girls. This is a great way to end the season.”
Anna Davis gave the Vikings a 1-0 lead with a goal 5:48 into the opening half. Upper Moreland answered in the 57th minute with a goal from Taylor Valera (Victoria Leister assist) to knot the score.
That tie remained intact until the 94th minute, thanks to big stops by Upper Moreland keeper Kim Benge and Upper Merion goalie Brianna Reagan.
“The Bears and the Vikings played an incredible game,” Upper Moreland coach Lisa Benvenuto said.
Benge finished with 10 saves while Reagan had 13.
Upper Merion closed out conference play with a 3-10-1 record (3-14-1 overall) while the Golden Bears were 4-10 in the league (4-13-1 overall).
Upper Merion 1-0-0-1 2
Upper Moreland 0-1-0-0 1
WISSAHICKON 7, CHELTENHAM 0
The Trojans celebrated Senior Night by exploding for six goals in the second half to earn the big win in their regular season finale.
Krysta Memis connected for the hat trick, and it was a pair of Memis goals early in the second half in the 44th and 47th minutes that ignited the Trojans.
Earlier, Maddie Elwell spotted the Trojans a 1-0 halftime lead, breaking a scoreless tie with a goal in the 38th minute.
In addition to Memis, Alyssa Ryan, Caty Santucci and Mady Foglia also connected for goals in the second half. Elwell, Ryan and Emily Vervlied each added assists.
The Trojans held a 25-4 advantage in shots.
“The pace of the game in the second half made all the difference,” Wissahickon coach Shannon Creamer-Franke said. “I am proud of this team. They have worked hard this year.
“Congrats and thanks to our seniors – Anna Chiodo Ortiz, Kara Ciaccio, Liz Gregorio, Meghan Guzewicz and Alyssa Ryan.”
The Trojans closed out conference play with an 11-3 record (13-3-1 overall) while the Lady Panthers were 3-9-2 in conference play (4-12-2 overall).
Cheltenham 0-0 0
Wissahickon 1-6 7
Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 3, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 2
Shae McCarty scored a pair of goals and Jill Nolan added a single goal to lead the Bucks to the big win over their neighboring rival.
The Bucks took a 2-1 lead into halftime. The two teams exchanged goals in the second half.
Coach Jorge Rodriguez acknowledged the strong play of Devin Dickinson, Sophie McKnight, Mackenzie Carol, Taylor Burke, Carmen Telesco and Emily Munchak.
The Bucks, who finished in third place in the Continental Conference, closed out league season with a 9-4-1 mark (12-5-1 overall). The Titans finished fourth with a conference record of 6-5-3 and an 8-5-3 overall record.
Central Bucks South 1-1 2
Central Bucks West 2-1 3
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 1, SOUDERTON 0
Emily Horn scored nine minutes into the game, using an assist from Paige Weiss, and that would be the only goal the Patriots would need to earn a win over the Indians in their conference finale.
Katie Dolf earned the shutout in goal.
“She had one brilliant save and covered up another,” coach Paul Eisold said. “Souderton was very good tonight.
“They played us very tight. They moved and possessed the ball very nicely. Emma Loving had several nice opportunities, but the ball did not drop her way tonight. We were able to win although Souderton was very good tonight.”
The Patriots closed out league play with a 10-2-2 record. They are 13-2-2 overall with a non-league game against Upper Dublin Friday remaining on their schedule. The Indians closed out conference play with a 5-9 record, a marked improvement over last year’s 1-11-2 record.
Central Bucks East 1-0 1
Souderton 0-0 0
PENNRIDGE 5, UPPER PERKIOMEN 0
The Lady Rams travelled to Upper Perk for a non-league match and dominated the game from start to finish, opening up a 2-0 halftime lead and never looking back.
Jess Supp set the tone for the decisive win when she scored two minutes into the game, using an assist from Savanna Harrison. With 11 minutes remaining in the half, Tori Conroy scored an unassisted goal.
Jess Milligan (Maddie Swartley assist) made it a 3-0 game when she scored four minutes into the second half. Swartley connected with an assist from Kennedy Peace, and Peace scored on an unassisted goal for the 5-0 final.
Kaitlyn Moran posted the shutout in goal for the Lady Rams, who are 13-1-3 with a game against Quakertown on Friday remaining on their regular season schedule.
Pennridge 2-3 5
Upper Perk 0-0 0
NORTH PENN 1, HATBORO-HORSHAM 0
National Conference
NESHAMINY 2, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 1
The Redskins continued their late season tear with a hard-fought win over the Golden Hawks. The win avenged a 3-1 loss to the Hawks on Sept. 19 and capped a stretch of eight games that saw the ‘Skins go 7-0-1.
“The first half of our season we struggled a little bit,” said coach Chelsea Deeter. “We weren’t jelling as a team.”
The Redskins – wearing the title of defending state champs – were 3-5-2 after 10 games, 3-3-1 in league play. They closed out the regular season with a 9-3-2 record in conference play (10-5-3 overall).
“It just showed a lot of character from the girls to come together as a team and show everybody that we did lose a lot of talented seniors, but we still have a bunch of talent on our team, and we’re still going to fight hard,” Deeter said. “The league this year is really even. Any game you come out – you don’t know what’s going to happen.”
The turning point of the season came after Neshaminy’s disappointing loss to Rock South.
“After we lost our South game, we brought the girls in and had a talk with them, basically telling them their fate is in their own hands,” Deeter said. “It’s not who’s the best team. Anyone can win on any given day – it’s whoever comes in and works harder than the other team.
“We just let them know they had to come out and fight because if you come out and work harder than the other team, you’re going to win. We saw that in different games.
“When we lost to Council Rock South 3-1 at home, it left a bitter feeling in our mouth. It felt nice to come out and play the way we’re capable of.”
In Thursday’s rematch, the two teams exchanged goals in the first half. Amy Mandia banged home a penalty kick at the 29:46 mark to put the Redskins on top only to watch the Hawks knot the score five minutes later when Becca Davey turned an Elissa Dotzman assist into a goal. The two teams took that 1-1 tie into halftime.
With five minutes remaining in regulation, Gabby Farrell (Jackie Ziegler assist) connected for a goal that turned out to be the game winner.
Deeter, whose team locked down second place in the conference standings with the win, credited the play of several players.
“Our two marking backs – Nicole Nisivoccia and Julia Andreozzi – played really well for us on defense,” the Redskins’ coach said. “They kept us in the game.
“Fran Donato started out as the central midfielder, and we switched things up a bit. She plays defense now, and she played pretty well. Alyssa Antonelly, who plays outside midfield, did really well tonight.”
The Golden Hawks, who will face Pennsbury on Friday, are 7-6 in conference play (11-6 overall).
Neshaminy 1-1 2
Council Rock South 1-0 1
HARRY S TRUMAN 1, FRANKLIN TOWNE CHARTER
It was a long time coming, but in many ways it was perfect timing as the Tigers celebrated Senior Night by edging the Philadelphia Public League champs to earn their first win of the season.
"The game was a hard-fought contest from the opening whistle to the last, and both teams should be applauded for the level of effort and intensity they put into the match," coach John Kinloch said.
Jillian East scored the game winner when she connected on a penalty kick with eight minutes remaining.
Harper Wunder and Bree Blake combined for the shutout, recording nine saves in a winning effort.
Kinloch lauded the efforts of players on both sides.
"Missy Ziegler, Kasey Conwell and Kayla and Kerrisa Kreinakker were terrific on defense, especially in the second half for Truman," the Tigers' coach said. "Theresa Yeager and Kierstan Falco were excellent in midfield for the Tigers.
"Franklin Towne's goalie Jenna Rand made several excellent saves, including two breakaways. Destiny Grayson and Devon Keller also had excellent games for the Philadelphia Public League champs."
The Tigers (0-14 SOL) closed out the year with a 1-16-1 record.
Franklin Towne Charter 0-0 0
Harry S Truman 0-1 1
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