Pennridge & CR North notched non-league wins in SOL girls’ soccer action. (Pennridge/Owen J Roberts photos provided courtesy of Abbe Kiwak/Pennridge Soccer)
Non-league
PENNRIDGE 4, OWEN J ROBERTS 0
The Wildcats have undoubtedly seen just about enough of the Lady Rams.
Twice the perennial soccer powers met last season – once in the regular season and then again in a playback game in the District 1 4A Tournament. Pennridge won both contests – 3-0 in the regular season and 2-1 in the district’s fifth place game.
Not a whole lot changed in Monday’s non-league opener for both squads. The defending PIAA 4A runner-up Rams scored a pair of first-half goals and then added a pair in the second half. Liv Grenda’s two-goal, one-assist effort led the way.
Listening to Coach Audrey Anderson tell it, the Rams – despite scoring two goals in each half – were a much better team in the second half.
“At halftime we needed to sort through some things,” the Rams’ coach said. “We played a bit panicked. Like everybody else, it’s our first game, and the first half we played a little rushed and panicked and didn’t really play our style.
“So the second half I was happy to see us get back into what we’ve worked on all preseason, connecting through the midfield, playing a little bit more composed and getting into a good rhythm of playing off of each other.”
Riley Williams – using a Hailey Primwhere assist – put the Rams on the scoreboard with a goal that stood as the game-winner. Grenda found the back of the net with an assist from Williams, sending the Lady Rams into halftime with a two-goal advantage.
In the second half, Ava Kiwak turned a pass from Grenda in a goal and a 3-0 Pennridge lead. Grenda’s unassisted goal put the finishing touches on the impressive win.
“Liv Grenda looked outstanding, but we also had new players on the field and Riley Williams scoring – a lot of players are stepping up in some different roles this year and seeing them get a little bit more comfortable on the field as the game was going on,” Anderson said.
The Rams’ coach went on to acknowledge the efforts of a player whose name didn’t show up in the scoring stats.
“Gabby Hermann played outstanding in the first half,” the Rams’ coach said. “She’s got a different role this year on the team – she’s playing outside back, and she may or may not stay there, but right now, that’s where we see her fitting in because Casey Malone is hurt. She played in the back a little bit for us last year and a lot for us up top. She’s been playing really good soccer all preseason – she came in in shape. She wants to be part of a special group – I think this is a special group, and she’s been doing
great for us.
“Tonight, she was getting forward, playing dangerous balls in. We really didn’t use her that much in the second half – we used the opposite side in the second half, but I was excited for her to just get her feet wet against a good team and put up some big opportunities for us to put the ball in the back of the net.”
The Rams’ coach also credited the play of OJR freshman Avery Cies.
“I was so impressed with her,” Anderson said. “She was playing against Anna Croyle, and she just played like she didn’t know any different than to just play.
“You have to give those players credit because going up against (Syracuse commit) Anna Coyle – that’s kind of intimidating.”
Expectations are high for a Pennridge squad that graduated just one player – Joey Tomlinson – from last year’s state runner-up squad and has inherited some exciting young talent of its own.
“We kind of know who we have, but it’s getting these young players minutes,” Anderson said. “I feel as though my group’s fortunate because I have so many seniors that play, and I can put these younger players in to learn from some of the best players in the state.”
Pennridge (1-0, 0-0 SOL) will host North Penn in Tuesday’s SOL opener at 3:30 p.m.
Owen J Roberts 0-0 0
Pennridge 2-2 4
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 8, COATESVILLE 0
The Indians controlled Monday’s non-league opener from start to finish, racing out of the gate to a 5-0 halftime lead and rolling to the no-doubt-about-it win over the visiting Red Raiders.
“It was a pleasing performance overall,” Rock North coach Gavin Flannigan said. “We were able to execute a number of attacking moments that we had been working on in practice, and our goals and assists were spread around the group.”
“We scored early through Mia Cairone and were able to add a quick second (goal) from Audrey Rogan. Both Mia and Audrey scored again, and freshman Ashley Barone was able to get her first varsity goal to make it 5-0 at the half.”
A goal by Nicole Muradov made it 6-0, and Flannigan used the second half to give some significant minutes to some young players.
“Freshman Keagan Terry scored two (goals), including a great hit from 25 yards out,” Flannigan said. “A lot of younger players got to experience some varsity minutes today, and it was nice to see how they played and executed the instructions they were given. Amber Yuan, Keagan Terry and Addison Martin stood out to us in those moments. Overall, it was a good win.”
Council Rock North (1-0, 0-0 SOL) will host Harry S Truman in Tuesday’ SOL opener.
Coatesville 0-0 0
Council Rock North 5-3 8
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