Pennridge clinched the Continental Conference crown, and Neshaminy earned a big win over CR South.
SOL American
Quakertown 1, Plymouth Whitemarsh 0
Ask a high school soccer coach which is more stressful: playing 79 scoreless minutes and getting a winner at the very end or scoring in the first minute and then trying to hold on for 79 minutes.
The answer might be surprising.
Quakertown coach Mike Koch is firmly in the latter camp, especially after his team held off PW for 79 minutes on Wednesday.
"I'd definitely agree with that," Koch said. "We got an early one from Haley Pursel, it was just a brilliant shot from 35-40 yards out. She was going sideways and hit a seed into the upper 90. She's one of the few girls players I've ever seen that can do that. We had other chances, we weren't scoring and it gets very nerve-wracking."
Koch kept repeating to his assistants that "we need one more" and with PW desperate for a win to stay in the district playoff bracket, he wasn't wrong. It took a strong defensive effort from the entire Panthers team to make Pursel's first-minute goal hold up.
The Colonials, who finished their regular season, now play the game nobody wants to be in this time of year – the waiting game. PW was ranked 23rd in the district poll Wednesday night, with the top 24 teams getting in.
"Both teams defended really well, our goalkeeper, Morgan Small, came up big as did their goalkeeper, Devon Skiles," Koch said. "It was a really good game."
PW wasn't going to quit and the Colonials' athleticism provided plenty of challenges for Quakertown. The PW roster is stocked with two and three-sport athletes, and while soccer may not be the main sport for some of them, they just play hard.
"It's exactly what our talk was, we sometimes over-complicate the game and our talk was just to simplify the game," Koch said. "Stuff like clearing the ball, marking players, defending hard by keeping our feet moving and not fouling because they're all athletes and great competitors. They just battle for everything and we needed to match that intensity."
Koch credited the play of central defenders Becah Fox, Melina Jagiello and Sam Barkholz. Kyra Handel was strong playing both ends of the field at outside midfielder, Katie Moyer assisted the first-minute goal and Maddie Smith filled gaps in the formation when she needed to.
Aside from scoring, Pursel played well at holding midfielder, and Koch said she started dropping deeper and deeper as the clock wound down, showing her natural feel for the game.
Quakertown (13-5, 11-3 SOL) has also finished regular season play and will await its final seed in the district playoffs. The Panthers head into the postseason much like they did a year ago and feel like they're playing the best they have all season.
"We lost seven starters from last year and I don't know what my expectations were but I've never had a group in 17 years as a head coach in high school that worked as hard in August as this group did," Koch said. "Our fitness shows now and they committed to do what the team needs. They're very selfless in that respect."
Plymouth Whitemarsh closed out its regular season with a 12-6 record overall (9-5 SOL).
QUAKERTOWN 1 0 – 1
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 0 0 – 0
Goals: Q – Haley Pursel
Wissahickon 2, Springfield Twp 1
The Trojans rallied back with two goals in the second half to claim a win on their Senior Night.
Senior Alexis Smith provided some late heroics as she scored the game-winner with three minutes remaining to end her high school career in style.
"Alexis Smith, fitting that she is one of our three seniors, had two goals, her second the game winner with three minutes left to play. The team again battled whistle to whistle for the whole of 80 minutes," Wissahickon coach Shannon Creamer-Franke said. "Lieke Black set the pace early with Carly Amato, Anna Schools, Brooke Berry, and Grace Mullen all stepping up in the second half."
The Trojans battled all season and despite not getting results, played for each other.
"Sophia Chiodo Ortiz, Sam Intrieri, and Natalie Gruenke off the bench, gave the team an extra shot of energy each time they stepped onto the pitch," Creamer-Franke said. "Goalkeeper Quinn Klessel played a very impressive game."
Wissahickon closed out its season with a 5-11-1 record overall (5-8-1 SOL), and Springfield Township is 5-12-1 overall (3-11 SOL).
WISSAHICKON 0 2 – 2
SPRINGFIELD TWP 1 0 – 1
Goals: W – Alexis Smith 2
Upper Dublin 6, Upper Moreland 0
The Flying Cardinals split their goals evenly on either side of halftime as they topped the visiting Golden Bears.
Emily Booth scored once on either time of the break to lead five different scorers. Jenna Marcus, Maddie Sanders, Laura Pendleton and Tina Haig also provided scores for UD.
Upper Moreland's organization presents challenges and the Cardinals relied on a supporting cast to create goals.
"Caroline Wall, Erin O'Brien and Jenna Marcus played very well in the back, helping us to establish possession and did a great job limiting UM's chances," UD coach John Topper said. "Tori Hoffner and Lindsey Schreiber were relentless on the wing and created a ton of chances.
"Devon Jones was solid in goal and earned her eighth clean sheet of the season."
Upper Dublin (15-1-1, 14-0) concludes the regular season with a 3:30 visit to CB East on Friday as it pursues a top-eight playoff seed. Upper Moreland wrapped up its regular season 5-12-1 overall (3-10-1 SOL).
UPPER DUBLIN 3 3 – 6
UPPER MORELAND 0 0 – 0
Goals: UD – Emily Booth 2, Tina Haig, Jenna Marcus, Maddie Sanders, Laura Pendleton
Hatboro-Horsham 1, Cheltenham 0
Gabby Liott provided the only goal as the Hatters spoiled the Lady Panthers' Senior Night.
Hatboro-Horsham (9-8, 9-5 SOL) is at Pennridge for a 3:30 game on Thursday while Cheltenham (1-16, 1-13) visits Lower Moreland on Friday at 3:30.
SOL Continental
Pennridge 2, North Penn 0
The Rams entered Wednesday needing a win to clinch the SOL Continental.
All they had to do was beat the team that indirectly put them in position to do so in North Penn. The Knights had taken down CB South on Monday, putting Pennridge in position to win its second straight Continental crown.
"I think we felt we had the potential, it was the outside influences that had us doubting ourselves a little bit," Rams coach Audrey Anderson said. "We kept in the back of our mind a lot of people thought we wouldn't finish in the top five of our conference, that we had no offensive threat. I think that fueled the girls a little bit, and today, they were excited to have proved so many people wrong."
Not only are the Rams first in the conference, but they seem to have found an offensive threat in junior Abby Groff, who scored again on Wednesday. It was midfielder Chance Hendricks, however, who scored the first and game-winning goal on a fantastic long-range shot.
"My goal with Maddie (Anderson) and Chance this season was to get them in situations where they could be major contributors, and I think Chance did a great job today," Anderson said. "She recognized she had no pressure on her, she took her time and got a clean shot off. She didn't panic and that's what you want from your younger players."
North Penn was a much-improved team this season and Anderson knew her team had to be focused and prepared in order to beat the Knights.
"We didn't want Grace (Sacchetti) to get the ball and we hoped she'd be playing in the back," Anderson said. "They have a lot of weapons and I think they're going to be very dangerous next year."
Anderson credited the play of her back line, specifically senior center back Courtney Supp and goalkeeper Mary Kate Levush.
"We had six fouls in the first half, which we had to clean up for the second half and Courtney is just a huge presence we're going to miss next year, she's just a smart player," Anderson said. "Mary Kate doesn't get the credit she deserves either because we're such a strong defensive team. She had an amazing save the last 10 seconds of the game, 2-1 wouldn't have killed us, but we do take a lot of pride in how many shutouts we have."
North Penn (5-11-1, 2-9-1 SOL) hosts Germantown Academy on Friday at 5:15 to conclude its regular season. Pennridge (12-2-2, 8-2-2) ends the regular season with a home game against Hatboro-Horsham on Thursday then prepares for the postseason, where it is in line for a top-four seed.
"I'd like to think we're prepared unless we run into a CB South, CB East, Souderton, even William Tennent," Anderson said. "It's always the challenge when we head into the postseason of who we face. If it's someone outside our conference, we'll be as prepared as possible, but if its one of those teams, it brings all that extra knowledge they have of us."
PENNRIDGE 1 1 – 2
NORTH PENN 0 0 – 0
Goals: P – Chance Hendricks, Abby Groff.
Central Bucks South 1, Central Bucks East 0
The Titans rebounded from Monday's loss with a hard-fought win over their sister school on Wednesday.
"This is a very resilient group and they were very motivated to get another conference win," Titans coach Betsy Bullock said. "It is always a very competitive game against one of our sister schools."
South's defensive effort again led the way, holding East scoreless and allowing Brooke Steigerwalt's 57th minute goal to stand up as the winner.
"East had the better of the play in the first half with an organized attack. However the defensive unit of Mackenzie Edwards, Amanda Krysko, Margot Centofanti and Lauren Ewell held them scoreless," Bullock said. "South came out much stronger in the second half with offensive pressure from Grace Tecce, Aleksa Peev and Brooke Steigerwalt."
Steigerwalt's goal was set up by a feed from Morgan Hilton.
"Morgan had pushed up from her outside defender position and served a ball into the box that Brooke ran onto and headed in," Bullock said.
Mac Ehresman and Chelsea Nicholls played strong in the midfield – which did its best to disrupt East's services to its forwards – for South while keeper Maddie McShane made some key saves in the first half with the sun in her eyes.
A key defensive sequence in the second half saw South preserve its lead.
"There was congestion in the box and the ball popped out and East had a clean shot that looked like it was going into the corner when captain Mac Ehresman cleared the ball off the goal line," Bullock said.
Central Bucks South (10-4-3, 7-3-2 SOL) will travel to Lower Moreland for a non-league game on Thursday. Central Bucks East (8-5-4, 5-4-3) will host Upper Dublin in a non-league game Friday.
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 0 1 – 1
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 0 0 – 0
Goals: CBS – Brooke Steigerwalt
Souderton 1, William Tennent 0 2OT
The Indians went extra time for the second-straight game and again emerged with a win on Wednesday.
Souderton finished second in the Continental table but is still very much alive in its hunt for a first-round district playoff bye. The Indians were ranked ninth after Wednesday and have two games remaining, first visiting Garnet Valley on Thursday then hosting Haverford on Friday.
Against Tennent, it was Allie Trick and Cara McCausland connecting for the winning goal. Trick's cross found the senior forward and McCausland buried the chance.
Souderton (12-4, 8-4 SOL) will travel to Garnet Valley for a non-league game Thursday. William Tennent (9-7, 5-7) will travel to New Hope-Solebury on Friday.
SOUDERTON 0 0 0 1 – 1
WILLIAM TENNENT 0 0 0 0 – 0
SOL National
Neshaminy 1, Council Rock South 0
Here's a line the rest of District I probably doesn't want to hear.
Neshaminy is playing its best soccer of the season with the postseason right around the corner.
It hasn't been just one or two or even five or six players either. Coach Chelsea Lovelace said she easily could have listed 13 standouts after Wednesday's win over the conference-leading Golden Hawks.
"Our last few games, everything was starting to come together," Lovelace said. "The minute we took the field, we had lots of energy, were winning most 50/50 balls, possessing the ball and working for each other all over the field."
The defending District I champions got the game-winning goal when Kristin Curley finished off a Jackie Ziegler free kick. Ziegler and her pinpoint service has played a key role in Neshaminy's late-season surge, among plenty of other things and players.
"I think the girls seeing how effective we can be when everyone comes together and has one common goal of putting in a full 80 minutes of hard work," Lovelace said.
Lovelace also noted the play of Michaela Boyd, Curely, goalkeeper Riley Spingler and defender Nicole Palmer.
Palmer has become the team's rock in the back following the graduation of Maggie Daeche.
"Nicole was a huge presence on the field, especially defending corners and free kicks," Lovelace said. "She finds the ball wherever it is and is committed to getting it out, whatever it takes."
Spingler finished with five saves.
Council Rock South (15-2-1, 10-1-1 SOL) has finished its schedule and will await its district playoff seeding. Neshaminy (11-5-1, 8-3-1) visits Downingtown West on Friday and will then see where it slots into the district tournament picture.
"The most important thing for us is to play as a unit, work for each other all over the field and stay focused for the full 80 minutes," Lovelace said.
NESHAMINY 0 1 – 1
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 0 0 -0
Goals: N – Kristin Curley
Pennsbury 8, Harry S Truman 0
The Falcons posted seven goals in the first half in a win that – coupled with Council Rock South's loss – moved Pennsbury three points from the top of the table.
With South done with SOL play, Pennsbury (14-1-2, 9-1-1 SOL) can claim a share of its fourth straight National title with a win over Council Rock North on Friday night.
Wednesday, Pennsbury got a third minute goal from Caroline Marr, who also assisted two goals, to get things going. Christine Cataldo-Smith had two goals and an assist to pace the Falcons' offense. Dani Cady, Riley Young and Hope Drewes also had assists.
Harry S Truman closed out its season with a 1-17 overall record (0-12 SOL).
PENNSBURY 7 1 – 8
HARRY S TRUMAN 0 0 – 0
Goals: P -Caroline Marr, Christine Cataldo-Smith, Evie Ciaccia, Kelsey Butler, Cataldo-Smith, Kelli Hunter, Lizzy Kirk, Kasey Kowal
Abington 3, Bensalem 1
The Galloping Ghosts finished SOL play and sent their seniors off with a win under the lights.
"(We) got a great effort from seniors Isabelle Bautista, Michaela Coyle, Lily Campoli, Olivia Dubree, Payton Gormley, Issy Mugnier, Bridget O'Neill and Erin Knotek," Ghosts coach Rick Thompkins said.
Campoli was the lone senior to find the back of the net. Abington's other goals came from players who figure to be key pieces next season in freshmen Casey Touey, who also had an assist, and sophomore Kailey Horton.
Junior Elizabeth Tracey also added an assist for Abington.
The Ghosts (7-11, 5-7 SOL) not only finished up SOL play on Wednesday, but SOL National play for the near future as they prepare to move to the SOL American next fall. Bensalem (3-12-1, 2-10) will travel to Dock Mennonite Academy for a non-league game on Thursday.
ABINGTON – 3
BENSALEM – 1
Goals: A – Lily Campoli, Casey Touey, Kailey Horton
Non-league
Council Rock North 1, New Hope-Solebury 0
The Indians were able to send their eight seniors off with a win Wednesday night.
Senior Becca Margolis fed senior Riley Sheehy for the game-winning goal as the Indians picked up a win in their quest to earn a district playoff spot. The main focus on Wednesday was the senior class.
"As a first year coach, I've relied on them to help me on and off the field and they've been wonderful," North coach Gavin Flannigan said. "It's always great to win but tonight was definitely a special one. All of our players appreciate the seniors so it was nice to send them off with that victory."
The North seniors – Sienna Gartner, Meredith Hill, Mia Scalamandre, Holland Moriarity, Abby Schroeder, Julia Urgas, Margolis and Sheehy – each have their own strengths, positions and personalities, but together form the heart of the team.
"There's not one thing that defines them," Flannigan said. "Between the eight of them, they balance each other out personality-wise and the roles they take within the group."
Moriarity and Schroeder combined for five saves.
Rock North (9-6-2, 5-5-1 SOL), which is currently ranked 27th in the District I power rankings, faces Pennsbury at 7pm Friday. Pennsbury is just three points behind CR South in the National standings, so the Falcons also have a lot riding on the match.
"I think there's a degree of excitement to be honest," Flannigan said. "We are very aware of where we stand in the rankings, but they've proven that they play their best games under the lights when the pressure is on so far this season. I expect them to do the same again."
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH – 1
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY – 0
Goals: CRN – Riley Sheehy
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