Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ soccer teams in action Thursday.
SOL Continental
Central Bucks West 1, Pennridge 0
For the second time this season, the Bucks edged the Rams by a single goal.
After playing to a 0-0 deadlock in the first half, the Bucks made a couple changes. They paid off.
"The second half we came out fast. We switched up our formation to try and free up our outside mids, and four minutes into the half, we got a great goal," Bucks coach Mike Moyer said. "It came in off a throw-in and got headed around a bit.
"Keely McGlone touched the ball to Taylor Moyer who turned and ripped a shot that blew the back of the net out. She hit it great."
The Rams came back hard and both teams traded shifts of momentum.
"We held on and finished the game out," Moyer said. "The last four minutes, we were just trying to interrupt their offensive power. They hit the top of the crossbar with under a minute left that aged me about 10 years."
Moyer is only in his first full season with West after taking over last year and sees Pennridge's program as one he'd like to emulate.
"I have the most respect not only for Audrey (Anderson) but the program she has built," Moyer said. "That is what I'm trying to do at West. She just got her 100th win and I think she's only been the head coach for seven or eight years. That is remarkable and I hope their program knows what a great leader they have."
Shutting out the Rams is no easy task and the Bucks got a standout defensive effort.
"Trish Hauck, Megan Gallagher and Keely McGlone played lights out, keeping their forwards in front of them all game," Moyer said. "Jenna Abaza made a great breakaway save with under four minutes to play to preserve the clean sheet."
Central Bucks West (11-3, 6-3 SOL) will host North Penn on Thursday, and Pennridge (9-2, 6-2) will travel to Hatboro-Horsham on Friday.
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 0 1 – 1
PENNRIDGE 0 0 – 0
Goals: CBW – Taylor Moyer
Central Bucks South 3, Souderton 1
Mackenzie Edwards had a foot in all three Titans goals on Thursday.
The senior midfielder had three assists as South maintained a halftime lead to pick up the win. After some early Souderton pressure, the Titans struck first.
"Mackenzie Edwards slotted a through ball to Sophia Kane who scored a tough goal with defenders on either side," Titans coach Betsy Bullock said.
A miscue by Souderton set up what would end up as the game-winning goal.
"Edwards regained the ball in the midfield and passed the ball wide to Chelsea Nicholls who buried a ball from well outside the box," Bullock said. "At the end of the first half, momentum switched and Souderton made several penetrating passes that culminated in a goal in the 39th minute."
Leah Mowrey, assisted by Kristin Loh, had scored for Souderton to cut the lead in half. Loh had a header saved early in the game while Campbell Power hit a crossbar off a free kick in the final minutes of the half.
Power had another look at a free kick with 30 minutes left, but didn't convert it. With 20 to go, South scored its insurance goal.
"Mackenzie Edwards had a feed to Chelsea Nicholls," Bullock said. "Mackenzie was instrumental in all three goals."
Bullock lauded the play of Edwards in facilitating the attack on Thursday.
"She is an incredibly tenacious player and is very strong on the ball," Bullock said. "It gives her the ability to see the field well and look for openings."
Grace Tecce and Lauren Farrell played well holding the midfield and shielding the back line of Dori McMenamin, Kari Jm, Lauren Ewell, Amanda Krysko and Bridget Curtis.
Titans keeper Shannon Snyder was also a key player, making 10 saves in the win.
"She made some key saves, particularly with a crowd of Souderton players in the box," Bullock said.
Central Bucks South (7-3-1, 5-3-1 SOL) will travel to Neshaminy for a non-league game Friday, and Souderton (6-2-4, 4-2-3) will host Little Flower in a non-league game Friday.
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 2 1 – 3
SOUDERTON 1 0 – 1
Goals: CBS – Chelsea Nicholls 2, Grace Tecce; S – Leah Mowrey
North Penn 2, Central Bucks East 1
(Additional information will be added when it is received.)
The Knights earned their second win over the Patriots this season on Thursday.
North Penn (5-5-3, 3-3-2 SOL) will host Quakertown on Tuesday, and Central Bucks East (4-7-1, 2-6-1) will host Bensalem on Tuesday.
SOL NATIONAL
Pennsbury 1, Bensalem 1 (2OT)
It's a sign of how far the Owls have come this season that they left Thursday's draw feeling like they left points on the table.
"We didn't let them do a lot with the ball, we came back to cover well and pressed them very well," Owls coach Bob Crawford said. "I keep telling them all I want is the next 10 minutes and they'll keep going out there and giving it all for those 10 minutes.
"I don't need them to play perfect the whole game, I just need them to give me what they can give me in the time they can give it to me."
The Owls scored first, about five minutes into the second half when Julia Murray finished off a cross by Taylor Haffner. Bensalem would hold the lead until the final 10 minutes of regulation when Evie Ciaccia, who plays on Crawford's club team, finally broke through.
"Pennsbury is very fast up top and they play good combinations on the outside, so we did a great job clearing up the second balls," Crawford said. "Our fullbacks and midfield came back to defend well. We didn't allow ourselves to get into too many 1-v-1s."
Crawford said a couple parents, including some from Pennsbury, told him postgame it was one of the best matches they'd watched all year.
"I thought Rosie Bostian and Darrien Furiness were aggressive in the middle of the field today," Pennsbury coach Kaitlyn Battiste said. "I thought we had some solid build up and possession today, but we need to capitalize more of our chances.
"Credit Bensalem's defense; they were organized and didn't leave many lanes open for a clear shot on frame. They contested every shot we took."
Crawford said his players didn't drop their heads or lose composure even after Pennsbury tied it and they managed to keep the game tied the rest of the way.
"They just tried to put another one in, but Pennsbury is a really good defensive team," Crawford said. "They're starting to believe in each other. They're still learning about each other and trying to figure it out and sometimes, I'm still trying to figure out who they are but they're definitely improving."
Getting a result against Pennsbury took the entire team and Crawford said not only did all the usual leaders perform up to a high standard, but everyone he put on the field played hard as long as they were out there.
"To stay with Pennsbury, every player is going to have to play well," Crawford said. "If one position is off, they're going to take advantage of it.
The Owls are right in the mix for a district playoff spot, but as Crawford noted, the rankings shift every day. So instead of focusing on a spot or a number, he's asking his players to keep playing hard for the next 10 minutes and to continue believing in themselves.
"If you can get players on a team to believe in themselves, you can do magical things," Crawford said.
Bensalem (5-4-1, 4-3-1 SOL) will host Archbishop Ryan in a non-league game Friday, and Pennsbury (6-0-1, 9-1-1) will travel to Neshaminy on Monday.
BENSALEM 0 1 0 0 – 1
PENNSBURY 0 1 0 0 – 1
Goals: B – Julia Murray; P – Evia Ciaccia
Council Rock North 3, William Tennent 0
The Indians built a halftime lead, then controlled it with a dominant second half effort.
"I thought today’s game was really a game of two halves , we were extremely fortunate to be winning at halftime, I thought Tennent had more of the ball, they were more aggressive and were in control," North coach Gavin Flannagan said.
Sammy Judge played in a corner kick that led to a goal from Kaleigh O'Donnell for the first goal.
"Our second goal was very nice, Anna Cairone played a great ball out wide for Maddy Nusca who found Marisa Hsu with a cross for an easy finish," Flannagan said. "Although we were up at half we challenged the girls to raise the intensity in the second half and match the aggressiveness and speed of Tennent. The girls rose to the challenge and probably played their best 40 minutes of the season."
Kaleigh O’Donnell, Anna Cairone, Abby Kollar and Brooke Strobel turned up the intensity for North while helping keep a clean sheet.
"The quality of play combined with the work rate was very pleasing for us to see," Flannagan said.
Council Rock North (7-6, 4-5 SOL) will host Neshaminy on Tuesday, and William Tennent (5-7, 3-4) will be on the road at Pennsbury on Tuesday.
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 2 1 – 3
WILLIAM TENNENT 0 0 – 0
Neshaminy 8, Harry S Truman 0
SOL American
Abington 5, Upper Dublin 2
Abington coach Rick Tompkins figured one of his seniors was going to put on a show Thursday.
He was pleased to see it was Kailey Horton taking center stage in the Senior Night victory. Horton scored three goals as the Ghosts swept the season series with the Cardinals.
"Kailey Horton certainly put on a show," Tompkins said. "She's got a killer move with that step over. The second goal she scored, she beat a defender once, then again with the same move both times. Defenders aren't stupid, they understand and know it's coming, but they can't stop it and she's so proficient with it."
Horton had been battling, at least in her terms, a minor slump of late. After she put away three, Tompkins saw Horton's nearly-permanent smile return.
"It's been coming for a couple weeks," Tompkins said. "She missed two gimmes when we got beat by CB East. I told her they're coming and to just smile. For me to tell her to smile, it's very unusual."
UD took the lead on a penalty kick by Priya Kaneria after Emily Booth drew the contact in the box. Horton would tie it 1-1 before Camryn Lexow put Abington up 2-1 with two minutes left in the first half.
Lexow followed her own blocked free kick, won the ball back after a second serve into the box and converted.
"With Horton, Camryn and Casey Touey, there's a chemistry that won't quit," Tompkins said. "That's not to exclude Abby Bautista, she makes a lot of things go."
Abington netted its three second half goals in a five-minute spurt. Horton started the spree with an individual effort, shaking the defender in the corner with her step-over move, then playing a low ball across the front of goal that caught a piece of a defender's heel and deflected in.
Touey put away a solo run after a long through ball sprung her loose, then she assisted Horton's final goal with a pinpoint cross into the six-yard box.
"I knew we would score goals this season," Tompkins said. "This team is very opportunistic and we have some good players. I'm really fortunate."
The Ghosts started all 11 of their seniors on Thursday.
"The seniors were pointing toward this game for quite some time and for a coach, it's the ultimate distraction," Tompkins said. "They start at seven in the morning, there's a lot of hoopla, players who don't normally start know they're going to. You want to give them as much time as possible and they did well, they played hard and did what we asked them to."
Abington (10-1, 9-0 SOL) will host Cheltenham in a non-league game on Monday, and Upper Dublin (7-6, 6-4) will host Upper Moreland Tuesday.
ABINGTON 2 3 – 5
UPPER DUBLIN 1 1 – 2
Goals: A – Kailey Horton 3, Camryn Lexow, Casey Touey; UD – Priya Kaneria, Emily Booth
Hatboro-Horsham 3, Upper Moreland 0
The Hatters put together an efficient offensive showing on Thursday.Kara Thomas, Emily Thomas and Cam Hughes all scored for Hatboro-Horsham.
"The Hatters came out very strong and never backed down. They are starting to get back in the grove of things after a couple tough games," Hatters coach Kelsey Daley said. "This team never gives up and I think they want it more than ever before. Everyone got time on the field today and it was a great team win for the Hatters."
All three Hatboro-Horsham goals came in the first 26 minutes. While the Golden Bears firmed up after halftime, the damage had been done. Jaclyn Martino helped keep the Bears in it with nine saves in goal.
"A tough result for us. Hatboro came out really strong and were able to finish early. We had a stronger second half, holding Hatboro to only three shots. We also had a few opportunities, but couldn’t finish," UM coach Lisa Benvenuto said. "We rotated a lot of girls in today and saw some strong play from Grace Burns, Mattea Taylor, Samantha Payavis and Kaiya Herb."
Hatboro-Horsham (8-4, 7-3 SOL) hosts Pennridge on Friday at 3:45. Upper Moreland (6-6, 4-6) will travel to Dock Mennonite Academy for a non-league game Friday.
HATBORO-HORSHAM 3 0 – 3
UPPER MORELAND 0 0 – 0
Goals: HH – Cam Hughes, Emily Thomas, Kara Thomas
Wissahickon 6, Springfield Twp 4
The Trojans won a shootout with the Spartans on Thursday.
"Wissahickon was in control from the beginning, but a persistent Springfield side kept working and kept it close until the end," Trojans coach Chris McDaniels said.
Anna May and Peyton Weber each bagged two goals for Wissahickon while Natalie "Scoops" Ryan, and Sam Intrieri also scored for the Trojans.
Wissahickon (5-8, 5-5 SOL) will travel to Cheltenham on Tuesday, and Springfield Township (3-9, 2-8) will be on the road at Hatboro-Horsham on Tuesday.
Cheltenham 1, Plymouth Whitemarsh 0
Peri Albert's goal lifted the Panthers to their first SOL American win of the season.
It was Cheltenham's first conference win since Sept. 12, 2017. The Panthers now have three wins on the season, their most since winning five games in the 2015 season.
Cheltenham (3-8, 1-8 SOL) will travel to Penn Wood Friday for a non-league game, and Plymouth Whitemarsh (6-7, 5-5) will host Abington on Tuesday.
Non-league
Council Rock South 1, Quakertown 0
The Golden Hawks, coming off a major conference win, earned a win over a tough Panthers side in a nonleague crossover game.
"Their record is not indicative of their play. They're a solid defensive team," CR South coach Nick Heim said. "We had a slow start overall and didn't have the same intensity we had the other night. It was your stereotypical trap game in that sense. The girls continued to scratch and claw."
Sammy Jones provided the second half winner off Karly Wunder's assist. After linking a few passes in the midfield, the ball found Wunder in space.
Wunder drew in a defender, giving Jones a lane. One great through ball later, Jones converted a technical finish inside the 18-yard box.
"We really wanted to utilize the width more in the second half. In the first half, we kept going at the heart of their defense which ended in a scoreless half," Heim said. "At halftime, we talked about getting the ball wide and adjusting lanes for the final pass."
Heim noted the energy of Maddie McDowell and added that Lauren Smith and Carly Irvin sparked the Hawks off the bench.
"Any win against an opponent from one of the other divisions is a good win," Heim said. "We're looking to build off it with another nonleague opponent tomorrow."
The Hawks (7-3, 4-2 SOL) visit AACA and PIAA 3A power Villa Joseph Marie on Friday night. Quakertown (1-9-2, 0-7-1) will host Saucon Valley in a non-league game Monday.
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 0 1 – 1
QUAKERTOWN 0 0 – 0
Goals: CRS – Sammy Jones
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