Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ soccer teams in action Thursday. Pennridge/CB East photos courtesy of Tracy Valko. Upper Moreland/Lower Moreland photos courtesy of Greg Zesinger, and Council Rock North/William Tennent photos provided by John Gleeson. Check back for galleries of all three games.
SOL PATRIOT
Neshaminy 1, Council Rock South 0
It took a few weeks, but Neshaminy is starting to find its stride.
After a come-from-behind Senior Night win on Tuesday, Neshaminy crashed the Golden Hawks’ Senior Night Thursday for a second win this week. The teams played to a scoreless draw on opening night but that was not bound to be the case again.
“It’s a very even matchup,” Neshaminy coach Renny Papendick said. “They’re a well-coached team and they had a ton of seniors. It was their Senior Night and I think they started eight or nine seniors so they were amped up but we came out and kind of took it to them.”
Papendick cited a strong defensive effort as the difference. CR South had chances in the first half, but Neshaminy’s back line hunkered down while sophomore keeper Hannah LaBadie stepped up to the task.
“We preached that clean sheet,” Papendick said. “Our varsity assistant Josh Van Reed is always telling the girls to get a clean sheet. Hannah LaBadie played really well for us and our defense was just very solid.”
With the defense rolling, Neshaminy was able to push up and put a little more offensive pressure on the hosts in the second half. The extra effort led to the lone goal just as the game entered its final phase with about 15 minutes left on the clock.
“Jenna Winchester, one of our forwards, won a really tough headball and ended up flicking it into the box,” Papendick said. “It fell to the feet of our freshman striker Angelina Daino who made a quick and slick move past the last defender and slotted the ball home with her left foot.”
Daino scored for the third straight game.
With the team battling a number of injuries, Neshaminy had some players fill in at different positions. Mercedez Paino moved from the wing into a center midfield position while Alexis Ocasio shifted from outside back to center mid and helped open up space out wide for senior Carly Gross.
“We’re having fun,” Papendick said. “We’re a young team, but the girls like each other and they’re embracing this. The seniors are leading and the captains are leading. We’re looking forward to next week.”
Neshaminy (3-1-1 SOL) clashes with rival Pennsbury next Tuesday. CR South (3-2-1, 2-2-1) hosts sister school Council Rock North on Tuesday.
NESHAMINY 0 1 – 1
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 0 0 – 0
Goals: N – Angelina Daino
Pennsbury 6, Bensalem 0
Taylor Mays had a hat trick inside 16 minutes and finished with four goals to lead the Falcons on Thursday.
Mays netted her fourth in the 49th minute. Sarah Tuohy and Kendall Palatine also added second half goals.
It was the third straight shutout win for Pennsbury, with credit going to Emma Corso in goal.
“She is really finding her confidence,” Falcons co-head coach Kim Lindemann said. “She has continued to be a solid presence for us and we are excited for her future.”
Lindemann said Thursday’s win showed the growth the Falcons have made since their season opening win over the Owls. Pennsbury left that game looking for more, and behind the drive of its senior leaders, the Falcons are starting to get it.
“After a few changes positionally and having a strong week of wins against quality opponents, we are really hitting our stride and starting to play some nice soccer,” Lindemann said. “We are excited to see where this team is heading.”
Senior Bella Arcuri had two assists for Pennsbury, which also got helpers from Emily Welsh, Palatine and Olivia Gentile.
Pennsbury (4-1 SOL) will face Neshaminy next Tuesday. Bensalem (0-6, 0-5) is in crossover action against Upper Moreland on Monday.
PENNSBURY 3 3 – 6
BENSALEM 0 0 – 0
Goals: P – Taylor Mays 4, Sarah Touhy, Kendall Palatine
SOL COLONIAL
Pennridge 4, Central Bucks East 0
The score favors the Rams but doesn’t tell how close the Patriots were to coming out on top.
Thanks to a standout effort from Pennridge goalkeeper Sierra Shaeffer, the Rams remained unbeaten on the season and could celebrate a victorious Senior Night. Pennridge started its nine seniors, although one of them only lasted a few seconds.
Maddie Angelo, an All-SOL defender sitting out the season with an ACL injury, took the first tap from her sister Tori then kicked it out of bounds for her lone appearance of the season.
“I thought it was a great game and a great battle and it was one of those where whichever team scores first, the other feels a little deflated,” Pennridge coach Audrey Anderson said. “East never gave up.”
Despite a flurry of pressure from the Patriots in the first half, they had to settle for a 0-0 tie at the break, thanks to a late save by Shaeffer. East senior Emma Martin, who was a force offensively all night, hit a curling shot from distance that forced the Rams keeper into a diving stop with less than five minutes left in the half.
That left the door open and Pennridge capitalized on a senior-to-senior goal early in the second. A corner kick allowed Raina Adelman to serve a good ball into the box that defender Cady McKean was able to nod home for a 1-0 lead.
“I’m so happy that C-Mac scored, especially on Senior Night, that’s special,” Anderson said. “It’s her first goal of the season and to come out to get that game-winning goal, it’s a great way to celebrate it.”
Even with all the positive feelings, Pennridge could do anything but rest. Martin nearly stole all the advantage back when she got put in behind the back line and slammed a point-blank shot that Shaeffer made a tremendous save on.
A field player who returned to her youth days playing between the pipes, Shaeffer has grown in confidence as the season has gone on.
“She really saved us,” Anderson said. “We really didn’t have a keeper this year and Sierra stepped up. She recognized what this team needs and she’s so great on one-v-ones, so I was happy to see her get one and save it. The one she saved in the first half too, that could have been a game-changer, so good for her.”
Pennridge would put the game away with three scores in the final 21 minutes, but the Patriots certainly didn’t get run off the field.
“They’ve proven that this game does not hang on their heads,” Patriots coach Jake Nesteruk said. “We moved on from this game the first time around and went and got a result in the next one. That’s what I love about this group and am so impressed with. They take these losses, figure out what went wrong and make the next day better.”
Pennridge’s second goal also came off a set piece. Senior Lindsey DeHaven’s free kick from around midfield found Tori Angelo, who directed the ball to Riley Hepler for the finish midway through the second half.
Freshman Liv Grenda capped the game with a brace scored in a three-minute span. The first saw the freshman get played on a through ball, with the midfielder slipping a defender and slotting the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper.
Shortly after, Adelman forced East keeper Skylar Gash into a good save, but the rebound fell to Pennridge with Leah Malone sliding a pass to Grenda for a one-time shot just inside the box.
“We talked at halftime and Lauren (Atchley) said we were having trouble getting through their backs,” Anderson said. “I told them once we started dribbling and stopped panicking, things would change. In the second half, we looked for the available players and made runs off the ball.”
Pennridge (6-0, 5-0 SOL) visits North Penn next Tuesday. CB East (3-3) hosts Souderton on Tuesday.
PENNRIDGE 0 4 – 4
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 0 0 – 0
Goals: P – Cady McKean, Riley Hepler, Liv Grenda 2
North Penn 2, Central Bucks West 1
The wait is over for the Knights.
After feeling close to finally breaking through in recent games, North Penn picked up its first win of the season Thursday and handed the Bucks their first loss.
“Just overall a great team win, this is definitely the first time we put a complete 80 minutes together,” North Penn coach Mike Rio said. “The effort from the girls today was just phenomenal. We had a lot of possession and ball movement and didn’t let ourselves get one-dimensional.”
On a windy day, the two teams battled to a near stalemate in the first half. However, a late combination by the Knights led to a tide-turning goal.
“Liv McGuriman found Andie Salmon on a through ball and she slotted it to Ella Broadhurst,” Rio said. “She was able to tuck away the goal after the goalie made the initial save.”
The Bucks felt it was a cruel ending to a half where they had created some opportunities.
“We came out on fire going into the wind. We had a bunch of chances but couldn’t put anything away,” West coach Mike Moyer said. “We did a great job for 39 minutes and 49 seconds not allowing a shot on goal. We had a defensive miscue and they made us pay. It changed the game.”
West controlled much of the second half, taking eight corner kicks, but the Knights’ defense was able to hold its ground. Keeper Anna Fiore and backs Reagan Ertel, Landry Holt, Marissa Dacosta and Jamie Webb stayed organized against a West team that has shown it can score in many ways.
“I think we just really kept our shape well, moved as a line and didn’t let them get in behind us,” Rio said. “They have a lot of speed up top so we wanted to limit their opportunities off of long through balls and balls over the top. There was a lot of good communication, and although the whole back line had a great game, Landry and Reagan worked great anchoring in the middle.”
Late in the second half, the Bucks conceded a free kick about 25 yards out from goal. Reagan Ertel crushed the service, hitting it off the crossbar and straight down where Kloey Carminati was able to punch it home.
“Getting that first goal and first lead of the season really gave the girls a lot of confidence to see it through to the end,” Rio said.
West scored in the final moments of play when a header from Riley Corona sprang Taylor Moyer and the junior forward finished it.
“It was too little too late,” Mike Moyer said.
North Penn (1-4-1 SOL) hosts Pennridge on Tuesday. The Bucks (4-1) will visit CB South.
NORTH PENN 1 1 – 2
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 0 1 – 1
Goals: NP – Ella Broadhurst, Kloey Carminati; CBW – Taylor Moyer
Souderton 1, Central Bucks South 0
The Indians had to grind but emerged with a needed win over a resilient Titans side on Thursday.
“In the first 10 minutes of the match, we had a flurry of good chances that just missed the mark,” Souderton coach Ian Smith said. “One came on the end of a Leah Mowery free kick that bounced just wide of South’s goal mouth.”
An early opportunity led to a score and the Indians had to wait out a tense match the rest of the way.
“Senior Taylor Yoder found some space down the left flank and found junior Katie Pazdziorko for the finish,” Smith said.
The speedster’s goal would have to hold up. Smith credited the South defense and goalkeeping for thwarting most of the numerous chances Souderton tested them with. Despite carrying a bulk of possession and generating opportunities, the Indians couldn’t crack through a second time.
Luckily for them, their senior keeper wasn’t about to let anything past them.
“Our defense had a strong performance and senior goalkeeper Morgan Molyneaux kept a clean sheet with an impressive seven saves,” Smith said. “Molyneaux’s biggest save came with seven minutes left in the match on a long-distance shot. She was able to make a fingertip save off the crossbar to help her team get the win.”
Souderton (3-3 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks East on Tuesday while CB South (0-5-1) will host CB West.
SOUDERTON 1 0 – 1
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 0 0 – 0
Goals: S – Katie Pazdziorko
SOL LIBERTY
Plymouth Whitemarsh 1, Quakertown 0
Plagued by injuries and a disappointing performance in a loss to Wissahickon, the Colonials had to make some changes.
PW coach Ryan Zehren credited assistant Ryan Kirby for orchestrating Thursday’s plan and opted to let his assistant comment on the result.
“We had a major wake-up call when we lost to Wissahickon. We decided to make some changes to our shape and it’s not always a good idea to do that when you only have one day to implement them,” Kirby said. “Luckily, we have a resilient group who embraced those changes and treated Wednesday like the start of a new season for us.”
The Colonials scored in the first half, always an advantage against a defensively sound team like the Panthers, but Kirby pointed to the PW defense as the real difference maker. Normally the team’s strongest unit, the defense had been depleted and needed some reorganizing.
“What we did was organize ourselves,” Kirby said. “Phenomenal performance from our back line – Guadalupe Carmona, Bella McNew, Kate Yocum, Lauren Ianiello and Raya Gauntlett. We also started our freshman goalkeeper Caitlyn Dinh for the first time and she really commanded the box like a senior.”
Leah Kaye came through with the game’s lone goal on a hard-earned individual effort.
“If you came and watched us practice, you’d expect Leah Kaye to score every game. She has tremendous power with both feet and can hit a set piece as well as anyone I’ve ever coached,” Kirby said. “Today, she drilled the wall with her right foot, picked the ball back up with her left and hit a shot upper 90 from 35 yards out. She’s really critical to everything we want to do offensively so we’re thrilled she got the winner.”
Kirby pointed to the team’s 12 seniors for keeping the team together and helping foster a quick transition of the coaching staff’s changes. The class has been in an overtime playoff loss, won a playoff game and pretty much anything in between and they’ve passed that experience down.
“We never have bad or lazy practices with this group,” Kirby said. “As we’ve lost some players to injury, that mentality has allowed some of our young players to step in and not miss a beat.”
To sharpen up the defense, Kirby said they went 6-on-5 against them for an hour in practice on Wednesday, going through all kinds of scenarios and hammering home the team’s defensive principles. He also cited the work of defensive midfielder Emily Caffery on Thursday for her coverage in front of the back line.
“We challenged Bella McNew to take charge of the communication and she did. She yelled for 80 minutes,” Kirby said. “Bella is a four-year starter and we’re incredibly lucky to have her leadership back there.”
Dinh, the freshman keeper, also drew a positive review.
“She plays the entire box, which is rare in high school and she has fearlessness getting off her line,” Kirby said. “She was also just incredibly calm. She made one save on a driven shot directly into the sun. Caitlyn never hesitated or seemed unsure, just calmly snagged the ball and held it without a problem. It was the case all day, she never dropped a ball or gave up a rebound.”
PW (2-2 SOL) starts a back-to-back with Hatboro-Horsham on Monday. Quakertown (1-5-1, 1-4-1) will face Upper Dublin on Tuesday.
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 1 0 – 1
QUAKERTOWN 0 0 – 0
Goals: PW – Leah Kaye
Abington 4, Upper Dublin 1
A lackluster first half led to a strong finish thanks to a nice effort from Lesha Karaba.
After a slew of first half turnovers led to an early lead for the Flying Cardinals, the Ghosts senior was able to tie the game with less than 30 seconds left in the first half.
“We couldn’t string two passes together, we were awful and they scored a nice goal from it,” Abington coach Rick Tompkins said. “We still didn’t wake up for a while but right before half, Lesha Karaba scored a really nice goal and we calmed down a bit.”
Karaba played a part in all four Abington goals, scoring twice and assisting the two scored by Casey Touey.
“She gave us the lead by serving in a corner kick that Touey headed in for a goal that was ridiculous,” Tompkins said. “It was a great ball across and Touey really put a lot on it, she buried it.”
Tompkins said Karaba is doing a nice job scoring and putting herself in dangerous positions, and the senior now has to make it consistent.
Abington’s back line led by Caroline Hughes and Ally Holden was able to limit Upper Dublin’s chances after the initial goal, but the Ghosts struggled in the midfield keeping possession.
“It was one of those games but once we got the third goal, they deflated a bit,” Tompkins said.
Abington (5-0 SOL) hosts Wissahickon in the first leg of a back-to-back Monday. Upper Dublin (0-5) will play Quakertown on Tuesday.
ABINGTON 1 3 – 4
UPPER DUBLIN 1 0 – 1
Goals: A – Lesha Karaba 2, Casey Touey 2
Hatboro-Horsham 3, Wissahickon 0
The one thing the Hatters will never forget to bring this fall is effort.
Behind a relentless midfield, a solid defensive effort and the combination of Emily Thomas and Mia Malofiy up top, Hatboro-Horsham defeated the Trojans for a second time this season.
“We’ve been making adjustments every game but the team just keeps getting stronger and stronger,” Hatters coach Kelsey Daley said.
Wissahickon nearly stole early momentum, but a pair of saves from Sam Hollish kept the Trojans off the board and allowed the Hatters defenders some time to recover. Holllish, filling in for the injured Martine Royds, posted a third straight shutout.
“When we found out about Martine, everyone was in panic mode because she’s been an all-league keeper since her freshman year,” Daley said. “We talked with the defenders and Sam that the defenders have to have faith in her and she needed to step up after being the JV keeper last year. She has and they do and they really help each other.”
Hatboro-Horsham, led by a strong effort from Sophia Liott, Emma Levin and Maggie O’Neill in the middle, turned up the pressure and generated plenty of chances. A shot by Thomas led to a rebound that Malofiy punched home seven minutes into the game.
Malofiy, a freshman, scored twice and assisted the other goal, with Thomas doing the opposite with a score and two rebound assists.
“Mia, it took her a little while to get out of her shell but once she stepped on the field as a starter, she really came out,” Daley said. “She’s not afraid to go to net, she sees the field so clearly for us and she and Emily, with their speed up top, really work well together.”
With about 10 minutes to go in the opening half, Malofiy got Thomas in on a breakaway and the junior forward didn’t miss the opportunity.
Thomas again forced a save and rebound that Malofiy put home with 15 minutes to play in the game.
“Every day, even every practice, I tell them we have to play like it’s our last game,” Daley said. “We know it could end at any moment. They take that to heart and they just want to play. I don’t think anyone knew how we would do this season, but their confidence is coming up big time.”
The Hatters (4-1 SOL) open a back-to-back with Plymouth Whitemarsh on Monday. Wissahickon (3-2-1, 2-2-1) vists Abington the same night to start a back-to-back with the Ghosts.
HATBORO-HORSHAM 2 1 – 3
WISSAHICKON 0 0 – 0
Goals: HH -Mia Malofiy 2, Emily Thomas
SOL FREEDOM
Upper Moreland 1, Lower Moreland 0
A good day of practice on Wednesday paid dividends for the Golden Bears.
“After our game versus New Hope, we needed to re-organize and regroup. Our practice yesterday helped us do just 
that, and today the girls responded,” UM coach Lisa Benvenuto said. “Throughout the first half we were able to work the ball through our system and create multiple opportunities.”
With executing attacking movement and finishing chances a major focus for the Bears, they had a prime opportunity to do so midway through the opening half Thursday.
“Our goal came off of a great cross from Chloe Gerlach. We had three girls making runs into the box and Katie Slear was able to finish at the far post,” Benvenuto said.
Benvenuto pointed to Kaiya Herb, Kathryn Morrow, and Mattea Taylor as pivotal players on both sides of the ball and cited team-wide strong play.
“Abby Engart played tremendous for us. Her distribution was spot on, and she really stepped up into a new role,” Benvenuto said. “It was really great to see her in her element at this new position. She and Emma Frasca worked off of each other really well.”
Natalie Walton recorded her second shutout of the season.
While the Bears picked up a needed win, it didn’t come easily.
“In the second half, Lower Moreland continued to high pressure us and never took their foot off the gas,” Benvneuto said. “I know that Mike (Gould) is dealing with some injuries, but his girls fought to the end.”
The Bears (2-2-1 SOL) host Bensalem on Monday. Lower Moreland (2-3-1, 2-2-1) hosts New Hope-Solebury on Tuesday.
UPPER MORELAND 1 0 – 1
LOWER MORELAND 0 0 – 0
Goals: UM – Katie Slear
New Hope-Solebury 4, Springfield Twp 0
The Lions picked up their second win of the week, this coming under the lights on the Spartans’ turf.
“Ciara Maguire scored the game’s first goal on a pass from Nicole Wilson close in the box,” Lions coach Derek Antonini said. “The next two came from Wilson on brilliant slanted runs behind the defense and slotted the keeper twice. Both passes came from Rylie Hepp.”
Antonini said the game leveled off at that point and Springfield Twp did well to generate chances on both sides of halftime. Margaret Tresler, a sophomore, was up to the job and posted her second clean sheet of the fall.
“Late in the second half Abby Vickner played a beautiful through ball to Riley Marschall, who took a brilliant touch towards the goalie and it ended up deflecting to Nicole Michael who struck the ball well past the keeper,” Antonini said.
Antonini also noted the play of Sofia Farina and Tess Murray.
New Hope-Solebury (3-2 SOL) visits Lower Moreland on Tuesday. The Spartans (0-5) host William Tennent on Tuesday.
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 3 1 – 4
SPRINGFIELD TWP 0 0 – 0
Goals: NHS – Ciara Maguire, Nicole Wilson 2, Nicole Michael
Non-league
William Tennent 2, Council Rock North 1
The Panthers’ season started with a tough loss to the Indians but with a second chance, they made up for it.
“It started off rough again with us allowing CR North to strike about three minutes in and basically controlling 
possession about 80 percent of the time,” Tennent coach Bill Hontz said. “We were lucky to get to half only down 1-0.”
Hontz pointed to the play of Kayla Kulp and a PK opportunity for North as factors in the first half. Kulp rebounded well after letting up the early goal and while the Indians drew a penalty kick, they were unable to convert it, keeping the lead at a single goal.
“We had a nice talk at halftime and the girls came out on fire,” Hontz said. “We started taking possession back to a more 50-50 margin and controlled the midfield better than in the first half.”
Hontz said Kulp’s strong play carried through the second half and into overtime.
“She made some very nice saves throughout the whole game moving side to side and just being in the right position,” Hontz said. “A couple were on point-blank shots.”
The center midfield duo of Ava DeGeorge and Caitlin Somerville helped stabilize the Panthers and get them into scoring chances. A 52nd minute set piece allowed Tennent to tie the game up.
Hontz said DeGeorge has continued to show positional versatility and is not afraid to match with bigger players despite being a freshman while Somerville has been a “rock” with a positive attitude and tenacity, winning 50/50 balls off set pieces.
“Ava was able to get a head on our first goal from a nicely placed corner from Gabby Sowers,” Hontz said. “We just missed ending it in regulation, but North’s goalie made some nice saves to force overtime.”
It took almost all of the first extra period, but the Panthers finished off the hard-earned win with just 12 seconds left on the clock.
“Gabby Sowers moved around the goalie coming out and finished in the back of the net,” Hontz said. “The key difference was the girls did not want to lose to them again and wanted to make a statement.”
Hontz pointed to Jenna Zahor as a positive spark off the bench for her hard work that helped develop some positive play and kept pressure on the Indians’ end.
Council Rock North (3-3, 2-2 SOL) visits Council Rock South on Tuesday. Tennent (5-1, 4-0) visits Springfield Twp on Tuesday.
WILLIAM TENNENT 0 1 1 – 2
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 1 0 0 – 1
Goals: WT – Ava DeGeorge, Gabby Sowers
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