By Alex Frazier
There were a couple of key games played today that could have ramifications in the final league standings.
In the National Conference, Council Rock South solidified its position atop the conference with a 3-2 win over Neshaminy, which had beaten the Golden Hawks 1-0 in the first game of the season.
Ironically, Rock South had controlled much of the action in that first encounter despite losing.
The opposite was true Wednesday afternoon.
While Neshaminy hit three crossbars and a post on a penalty kick, Rock South’s Lauren Heath (Paige MacDowell assist) and Jamie Vaniver (Alexa Crosier assist) put the Hawks up 2-0 early in the second half.
“The chances were there,” said Neshaminy coach Rich Reice. “It was one of those games. They were three for three in the red zone and we were two for seven. We played well. We were just a bit unlucky.”
“It was an excellent victory,” said C.R. South coach Tim Keddie. “I have to be honest. We were actually outplayed. I thought we were quite lucky to get out of the game.”
Neshaminy’s Briana Hires cut the lead in half before MacDowell (Cara Deola assist) hit the game winner with the Hawks down a player from a red card. The goal came on a counter following a Hires’ PK that hit the post.
Neshaminy’s Kimber Kisselback cut the lead to one once again, but the Redskins couldn’t net the tying goal.
The Hawks played the last 32 minutes with only 10 players as the result of a red card.
“I actually thought we raised our level of play after losing the player,” said Keddie.
Lauren Gecht made four saves for Neshaminy, while Rock South’s Jess Levy stopped six shots.
“On a day when we weren’t as sharp as we needed to be we were still able to pull out the victory,” said Keddie.
• In the Continental Conference, Pennridge handed Central Bucks South its second 1-0 shutout in as many games. The Titans lost to Central Bucks East last Thursday.
“We’re not too happy with ourselves offensively right now,” said South coach Joe Bocklet.
Pennridge coach Jorge Rodriguez, on the other hand, was quite pleased to win after losing to the Titans on his home field 2-1 in overtime.
“It was a very big win for us,” said Rodriguez. “It couldn’t have come at a better time, either.”
South controlled a good part of the game but couldn’t put the ball in the net, thanks in large part to the stellar play of keeper Ashley Schoellkopf, who came up huge on an Ashley Saylor shot in the first half and made a couple of other key saves late in the game.
Pennridge, on the other hand, took advantage of one of its few opportunities.
“We happened to capitalize on one of the very few chances we had in the first half,” said Rodriguez.
The Rams’ Sarah Senoyuit controlled a bouncing ball around the 18 and drilled it into the net through three or four players.
“Sarah’s been really big for us this year,” said Rodriguez. “She put it in the perfect spot possible.”
With C.B. West sitting on top at 7-1 after its 2-0 win over Souderton on Wednesday, South and Pennridge are nipping at the Bucks’ heels at 6-2.
The final two weeks of the season are going to be dramatic.
South and West play next Thursday and Pennridge has a date with West on the final day of the season, May 13.
“It makes games that are played late in the season a lot more interesting, a lot more fun,” said Rodriguez.
• In the American Conference, Wissahickon defeated Plymouth Whitemarsh 5-3.
While Upper Dublin holds a commanding lead at the top of the American Conference, the battle for second rages between Wissahickon, Cheltenham, Springfield and Plymouth Whitemarsh.
After losing to PW at home 2-1 in overtime in the league opener, the Trojans achieved a measure of revenge by traveling to PW and rallying from a 3-1 deficit to pull out the win.
Going against the wind in the first half, Wissahickon’s Alex Schaefer hit the net to make coach Chris McDaniels feel a bit at ease.
“The wind was an enormous factor,” said McDaniels. “I thought getting one against the wind would be a big deal.”
But PW right came back to score a pair of goals off corner kicks and a third on a shot by Kelly Hackenbrack that gave the Colonials a seemingly comfortable 3-1 lead.
But right before the half Cailin Grey converted a header off a direct kick to give the Trojans new life.
With the wind at her back the second half, Wissahickon’s Lauren Becker drilled the tying goal from 25 yards out, and Alyson Stark one-touched a cross to put in the game winner. Shaeffer’s second goal, a left-footer off a breakaway, put an exclamation on the rally.
“Everybody’s in a scrum right now,” said McDaniels. “We’re at the top of the scrum. We have to keep winning and hope to be seeded a little higher than last year.”
Around the league…
Upper Moreland 8, Norristown 0
The Golden Bears’ Tricia Connelly scored three goals and Alysaa Wasson punched in two to lead Upper Moreland. Leslie Weaver earned the shutout in goal.
Also scoring for the Bears were Lauren Waeltz, Brandi Weaver, and Devon Doheny.
Upper Moreland is now 4-5 overall and 4-4 in the conference.
North Penn 2, Hatboro-Horsham 1 (2OT)
North Penn received goals from Gina Scotto and Megan Kelly (Katie Miller assist) in its overtime win over the Hatters. Siobhan Spanninger scored the Hatters’ lone goal.
North Penn held an 11-10 advantage in shots. Maiden goalie Megan Gerhart was credited with two saves while her counterpart – Hatboro’s Lindsay Day – had five.
Cheltenham 3, Upper Moreland 1
Central Bucks West 2, Souderton 0
Pennsbury 2, Council Rock North 1 (2OT) (4-26-10)
On Monday evening, Lindsey Jones scored Pennsbury’s first goal with about a minute left in the first half on a header from Molly Phillips. It was her 12th goal of the year.
The game winner came from Kersten Formento, who collected a ball served over the top and beat the Rock keeper one-on-one.
Abington 1, Council Rock North 1 (OT) (4-23-10)
Abington was on a rare four-game winning streak when the Ghosts met Council Rock North last Friday.
Typically, the streak would have been over, and indeed it looked that way as the Indians took a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute.
But senior midfielder Holly Fowl had other plans as she volleyed a cross from sophomore midfielder Gabrielle Nyirjesy into the top of the goal in the 57th minute to knot the score.
“It was a nice positive for the girls,” said coach Chris Hill. “The girls have come together. We have a strong group of juniors and they are working hard.”
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