Check out the results for SOL girls’ soccer teams in action.
QUAKERTOWN 3, WISSAHICKON 1
Less than ten seconds elapsed in the Panthers’ season opener before Shannon Gibat put her team on the scoreboard after stealing the opening tap and heading straight to the net.
“It was a really good start, and we kept a lot of pressure on them for the majority of the half,” said Mike Koch. “We did a good job building off the momentum.”
Although the Panthers stole the momentum early, it took them a long time to find the net again as they allowed the Trojans to knot the score 1-1 in the 52nd minute when Megan Guzewicz scored on a high far post goal assisted by Alyssa Ryan.
Sixty minutes after her first goal, Gibat rose to the occasion once again, connecting for a goal that allowed the Panthers to regain the lead. Two minutes later, Linzi Wolfe added another goal with a Gibat assist to secure the Panthers’ victory over the 2012 American Conference Champions.
Koch commended the performances of his outside backs, Jenna Joseph and Callie Hubicki, in the win.
“They really truly shut down the outside and even joined in on attack and provided good service,” the Panthers’ coach said.
Erinne Finlayson stopped eight shots for the Panthers in the victory, and Jen Bondarchuk matched her saves for the Trojans who were outshot 13-19.
Trojan coach Shannon Franke acknowledged the play of Anna Chiodo Ortiz, noting she had a “stellar game, going toe-to-toe with Gibat” as she limited the high-scoring Panther to only four shots.
“We made some costly errors, but overall they never gave up,” said Franke. “I look forward to seeing what they can do together in the future."
Koch was also satisfied with his team’s opening performance.
“We kept organized and defended very well,” he said. “We probably need to work on combining more, and we can now figure out what we need to get better at and move forward.”
QUAKERTOWN 1-2 3
WISSAHICKON 0-1 1
PENNRIDGE 2, UPPER DUBLIN 1 (2 OT)
The Rams jumped out to an early 1-0 lead over the Cardinals as Ashley Butcher connected with Lindsay Sheehan for a goal within the first minute of play. However, the Rams would endure more than 70 scoreless minutes after that as they struggled to find their rhythm and maintain momentum.
“I think Lindsay scoring as quickly as she did brought back (memories of) last year’s game (a 9-0 victory), and we just sat back and relaxed a little,” said Pennridge coach Audrey Anderson. “I was impressed with UD and the way they kept fighting and fighting.”
The Lady Cards did fight and it paid off as Kendall Couch controlled a throw-in and scored the equalizer on an off-angle shot.
“We possessed most of the game, but our backs got caught a few times and they (Upper Dublin) used every opportunity they had,” said Anderson.
“We have new bodies out there trying to get used to runs and we made some mistakes like holding onto the ball too long.”
Due to the Rams errors and the Cardinal’s tenacity, the game stretched on through eleven minutes of overtime before either team found the net. Early in the second overtime, Sheehan hustled to pressure a long ball that was played back to the Cardinals keeper Lexi Rama as the ball ricocheted off her stomach and her momentum put the ball into the net for the victory.
Anderson acknowledged the play of newcomers Maddie Swartley and Savannah Harrison in the midfield as well as varsity veteran Ashley Butcher.
“Butcher did a good job at holding the ball and putting it through to our forwards,” said Anderson. “She did a good job of making herself available at all times.”
“We will work all the bugs out. It’s just a little frustrating because everyone expects us to be a powerhouse, and it’s hard for them to live up to those expectations all the time.”
Rams’ keeper Amanda O’Hara was credited with 10 saves.
PENNRIDGE 1-0-0-1 2
UPPER DUBLIN 0-1-0-0 1
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 1, CONESTOGA 0 (2 OT)
The Golden Hawks motto is to not allow anyone beat them on their home field, and that mantra helped them edge the Central League’s powerhouse Red Raiders in their season opener.
“Obviously having Conestoga as your first match of the season, you definitely have to do your preparations,” said coach Kim Francis. “They are a very tough opponent, and the game was very high paced.”
The Hawks and Raiders battled through more than ninety scoreless minutes before a winner was determined with each team having their fair share of scoring chances.
“We had to work both offensively and defensively, and they kept us on our toes,” said Francis. “But we held our own, and I thought we had the better of play for most of the game when we got settled in.”
After a scoreless regulation, the Hawks were exhausted and relied on their home crowd to energize and inspire them to claim their first win.
Three minutes into the second overtime, a ball was sent through to Elissa Dotzman on the right flank, and she placed a perfect diagonal ball to Nikki Caffey who broke away from her defenders and finished the one-on-one play through to the back of the net.
Along with Caffey, Francis was particularly thrilled with her defenders in the victory.
“Our back line is playing really well,” said Francis. “Our one back, Alyssa Palio who got some minutes last year, was our best defender today.”
Varsity veteran Emily Wilkinson, who was out most of the 2012 season with an injury, also made an impact.
“We had trouble settling, and she is someone who goes in and has that relaxing presence,” said Francis. “You could tell the impact she had soon after she entered the game.”
After starting with a strong non-league win, the Hawks have a perspective to keep in mind for the season.
“We need to work on getting our chances on frameand we are looking to get more challenging games under our belt to make the girls aware of what it takes to go the distance,” said Francis.
CR SOUTH 0-0-0-1 1
CONESTOGA 0-0-0-0 0
NESHAMINY 5, DOWNINGTOWN WEST 0
The ‘Skins started their season with a decisive win over a Cougar squad that handed handed them two of their only three losses of the 2012 season – the first in the regular season and the second in districts sending Neshaminy to the playbacks.
“Downingtown West did lose quite a bit of seniors to graduation, but they are still a decent team, and we definitely played very well today,” said Coach Rachel Clemens. “The returning players had those two memories in their minds, and they came out with something to prove.”
The Redskins first took the lead midway through the first half when Clemens put Fran Donato (1 goal, 1 assist) in the game after a pep talk.
“I said, ‘I want you to run through and help out up top and gain confidence. You have a great shot and don’t be afraid,’” said Clemens.
Thirty seconds later, Donato beat her defender, received a pass from Megan Schafer and put her team on the board.
In the second half, the ‘Skins seized control with a hat trick from Schafer and another goal from Donato.
“We had equal opportunities in both halves, but I think we felt one goal wasn’t enough,” said Clemens. “Then we came out and scored early, and it snowballed from there.”
Freshman Maddie Daeche made important defensive contributions for the Redskins in her varsity debut, and Katie Suchodolski (2 assists) provided unrivaled intensity.
“Katie played fantastic in midfield,” said Clemens. “She was winning balls in the air and gave us the spark we needed.”
Clemens is optimistic about the upcoming season as the Redskins look ahead to face CB South at home on Tuesday and visit Emmaus on Thursday.
“I feel like if they come out and play the way they played today we could expect the results that we want,” said Clemens. “I couldn’t have been more excited about the way things looked today.”
NESHAMINY 1-4 5
DTOWN WEST 0-0 0
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 3, WILLIAM TENNENT 1
The Titans opened up play with the best level of intensity coach Joe Bocklet has seen so far in the young season as they sailed to a 3-1 victory over the Panthers.
“For the first time, we looked confident,” said Bocklet whose team outshot the Panthers 13-3. “We controlled the game throughout and it was just a matter of finishing balls.”
The game was scoreless at the half, and in her varsity debut, freshman keeper Sophia Boggs kept it that way as she denied a Panther breakaway early in the second half.
Shortly thereafter, the Titans finally started finishing their shots, and Nikki Weiss made it a 1-0 game, using a Lauren Gibbons assist. One minute later, freshman Lindsay Weiss turned a pass from her older sister Nikki into a goal, upping the lead to two. Tennent cut that lead in half with a goal from Terry Barker in the 71st minute, but Maddie Quinn put the insurance goal in for the Titans two minutes later.
“As a team, they kept themselves playing fast and moving the ball well,” said Bocklet. “We controlled a good deal of the game and it was good to get the win.”
The Titans win was truly a team effort as each player saw playing time, but
Bocklet credited the strong effort of Kristen Upton.
“She was the anchor of defense and did a great job of organizing in the back and keeping them off the scoreboard,” he said.
Bocklet said the victory was a great confidence booster for his squad, which graduated ten seniors, and that in the end, it left them with plenty to build on for the upcoming season.
CB SOUTH 0-3 3
TENNENT 0-1 1
HATBORO HORSHAM 0, UNIONVILLE 0 (2 OT)
The Hatters opened their season with what Coach Ben Winderman called “a strong and rugged performance” against evenly matched Unionville. Offensively, the Hatters were led by Lauren Brody, and defenders Emily Butler and Rachel Kaplan anchored the back line while keepers Miranda Royds and Briana Cummins split time in goal for the shutout. The Hatters host Upper Dublin on Tuesday.
HATBORO-HORSHAM 0-0-0-0 0
UNIONVILLE 0-0-0-0 0
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 4, ARCHBISHOP WOOD 1
The Patriots were sparked offensively by Shaun Kane who scored twice in the first half and once in the second as they topped the Vikings in their 2013 debut. Emma Loving (one assist) also scored in the first half as the Patriots eased to a 3-0 lead by intermission. Mariah Lichter and Emily Palmer both recorded assists in the victory.
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 3-1 4
ARCHBISHOP WOOD 0-1 1
ST HUBERT’S 6, TRUMAN 1
ST HUBERTS 4-2 6
TRUMAN 1-0 1
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 5, MOUNT SAINT JOSEPHS 2
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