Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ soccer teams in action Wednesday. Neshaminy/CR South photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. All SOS photo galleries for GIRLS’ SOCCER can be viewed by clicking HERE. Wissahickon/UD photos courtesy of Josh Stelzer. (Pennridge/Souderton photos courtesy of Althea Tomlinson/Pennridge soccer)
SOL Liberty
Wissahickon 4, Upper Dublin 3
So far, the Trojans are showing they’re a second half team.
Wednesday, they were a 32-second team, bracketing a pair of goals around one from Upper Dublin in a chaotic half-minute that ended up deciding the outcome. Wiss seniors Kylie Friedman and Sage Stelzer have played a lot of soccer, but neither could recall being a part of anything quite like that.
All that mattered to the co-captains, however, was that those 32 seconds of fury left them with more goals than the Cardinals.
“We started with Hatboro-Horsham and Upper Dublin and we play Lower Merion on Friday, so definitely a tough way to start our season,” Stelzer said. “Those happen to be three teams we lost to last season, so getting a win after we lost that game Monday could set the tone for the rest of the season and motivate our underclassmen to know we can do it. Being down 2-0 and coming back with four goals is pretty insane for a high school game.”
Friedman, who capped that furious half-minute with the eventual game-winner, just remembered a whirlwind of emotions
“It was hectic,” Friedman said. “We scored, then they scored so quickly, I kind of got down but knew I needed to pick up my team. I dribbled around two girls and fired in and from there, I knew we needed to lock in and get it done defensively.
For the second time this week, Wissahickon found itself behind 2-0 at halftime. For a second time this week, Wissahickon rallied to tie the match 2-2 in the second half. Unlike Monday’s overtime loss to Hatboro-Horsham, there was no need for extra time although there was no shortage of theatrics.
While Stelzer and Friedman like knowing their team is capable of a comeback, the two seniors don’t want it to become a habit. As the defending SOL Liberty champion, the Trojans’ veterans know the start of the season is just as important as the last week and better starts going forward will save a lot of energy later on.
“We’ve been a second half team so far, and if we come out with the same intensity we did in the second half against Hatboro and second half of this game, I think we have a very good chance to be division champs again,” Friedman said. “I would really like that to happen and we’re all really fighting for that.”
“We need to be better and sharper on the ball,” Stelzer said. “It’s hard playing from behind 80 minutes in a high school game.”
Upper Dublin, meanwhile, has had a frustrating start to its season. After being shut out against Quakertown on Monday, the Cardinals put three goals away on Wednesday playing free and aggressively in the attack but only had a loss to show for it.
“I liked our play for most of the game – we generated a lot of opportunities and we talk a lot about not just creating chances but executing them and we came up a little short on execution,” UD coach Chuck Gesing said. “We gave them some opportunities on our end that are uncharacteristic, but all credit to Wissahickon, they pounced on it and put them away.”
Meg McNeel opened the scoring for Upper Dublin, eluding a pair of defenders before rifling a shot to the far post with 15 minutes left in the first half.
Lili Kleiman followed about eight minutes later with the first of her two goals on the day, finding her way into a crowded box and coming out with a finish. Gesing said he was happy to see Kleiman have such an involved day but also lauded her willingness to take chances.
It’s early, but as the only team in the Liberty Division without a league win, the Cardinals don’t want to let up too much more ground.
“We’re on the back foot, we know that, we’re definitely punching from behind and we have to sort out our mistakes,” Gesing said. “The good part is, we don’t think anyone’s getting out of this league unscathed, but the downside is, we’re the one that’s 0-2. That game was there for the taking today and you credit Wiss, they took it and we didn’t.”
The Trojans made it simple at halftime – UD had a two-goal lead, and if they got one back, all the pressure was on the Cardinals to keep out a second. Six minutes into the period, Emma Greenberg got the first when she was able to convert after a chaotic sequence in the box.
Stelzer, who scored the equalizer on Monday, replicated the feat when she hit a rocket from well outside the 18 just 10 minutes after Wiss opened its scoring.
“After we let the first half go, we all knew it wasn’t good enough,” Stelzer said. “We had the same talk at halftime, this was not going to cut it and we can’t keep playing from behind. We didn’t even test their goalie in the first half, so we wanted to come out and put them under pressure.”
The 32 seconds of fury started when Lannah Werynski gave Wiss its first lead with 8:32 left in regulation. Almost as the Trojans were still celebrating, Kleiman came back and tagged her second tally of the afternoon just 20 seconds later.
For all of 12 seconds, the score held at 3-3 until Friedman took it on herself to get her side back on the front foot.
“The girls need to be picked up, they need to be coached on the field and we as captains have to do that,” Friedman said. “Once we start playing through feet and once we get a goal that gets our confidence up, we’re a very good team.
“I saw a wide open gap and I had to take advantage of that.”
It was a lot to unpack in a short amount of time but what mattered to the Trojans was they had four goals and their rivals had three when the clock did eventually run out.
“It was pretty crazy, it’s a lot different than club,” Stelzer said. “If we score, I’m focused on getting the ball right back, a lot of people were still celebrating. It’s focus, it’s not enough to just get one, you can’t stop there.”
Upper Dublin (0-2 SOL) hosts Methacton at 3:30 on Friday. Wissahickon (1-1) hosts Lower Merion at 11 am on Friday.
WISSAHICKON 0 4 – 4
UPPER DUBLIN 2 1 – 3
Goals: W – Emma Greenberg, Sage Stelzer, Lannah Werynski, Kylie Friedman; UD – Lili Kleiman 2, Meg McNell
Hatboro-Horsham 3, Abington 0
The Hatters avoided going to overtime for a third straight match by quieting a Ghosts offense that had scored 10 goals in its first two contests.
In three-plus contests, Hatboro-Horsham has allowed just three goals behind a solid back line and some inspiring play from first-year starting goalkeeper Alyssa Tooley. On Wednesday, Tooley had her team’s back in a major way.
“Once again, it was a complete team effort. Our goalie Alyssa Tooley had a standout game making some unbelievable saves, one being a PK,” HH coach Kelsey Daley said. “Abby Waeltz had a great game at center back for us. She really kept us together and made some great stops for us.”
Midfielder Emma Levin, who helped her Coppa Rage club side win the USYS U17 national title this summer, had a brace to lead the Hatters offensively.
Mia Malofiy, the hero of Monday’s OT win at Wissahickon, stayed hot offensively as well with a goal and an assist on Levin’s second tally. Nat Tocci assisted Malofiy’s goal and a corner kick by Caroline Shegogue was the catalyst to Levin’s first goal.
“Sarah Roesing was able to control the middle for us and win a lot of balls in the air,” Daley said.
Abington (1-2, 1-1 SOL) hosts North Penn at 3 on Friday. The Hatters (2-0-1, 2-0-0 host Plymouth Whitemarsh at 7pm next Wednesday.
HATBORO-HORSHAM – 3
ABINGTON – 0
Goals: HH – Emma Levin 2, Mia Malofiy
Plymouth Whitemarsh 2, Quakertown 1
From the top down, the Colonials knew they were better than Monday’s five-goal loss to Abington showed.
Hosting a tough Quakertown team that had scored a big road win over Upper Dublin to start the season, PW would have to prove it. Two good goals and a dug-in defensive effort was the right recipe to hold off a late surge by the Panthers as the Colonials picked up their first win of the fall.
“What I’m most proud of as a coach is how we responded to the defeat at Abington on Monday night. Abington is terrific but we didn’t give our best effort, and that includes myself,” PW coach TJ DeLucia said. “We had a great team talk to start practice on Tuesday with a focus on staying together as a group. The response at practice yesterday and today during the game was all I could ask for.”
Not surprisingly, two teams with standout goalkeepers didn’t give up much through the first 40 and the match went to halftime scoreless.
PW would get a dream start after the break. About three minutes in, the Colonials were awarded a free kick that senior Kate Yocum hit from distance, and freshman Marleigh Burton found her way to the end of it to notch her first high school goal.
Momentum was on the Colonials’ side and they soon doubled their lead.
“Three minutes later, freshman Maite Jayo carried a ball strongly through midfield and played an excellent through ball to senior Angelina Balcer, who scored her second in two games,” DeLucia said.
From there, it was a matter of holding on. Quakertown battled hard, with Madison Taylor giving the Panthers life when she scored in the 71st minute.
PW leaned on its defense – featuring Yocom, junior Brianna Reynolds, and sophomore Katie Lukens.
“All three played the full 80 minutes,” DeLucia said. “Marleigh Burton and senior Ella Clark played a big part in our team defense today as well. Junior goalkeeper Caitlyn Dinh was in total command of the box.”
Coming off a tough loss to start the season, the Colonials made up for it in their home opener and showed they plan to be in the mix for an SOL Liberty Division that’s already shaping up as extremely competitive after sending five teams to the postseason last fall.
“The response at practice yesterday and today during the game was all I could ask for. Everyone who went in the game showed total commitment to each other,” DeLucia said. “If we turned the ball over, everyone tracked back and tried to win it back. No one hung their heads after a bad pass. Our bench was up the entire game, picking up the players on the field. If we continue to work together and play with that attitude, I think good things will come our way.”
The Colonials (1-1 SOL) travel to Hatboro-Horsham for a 7 pm start next Wednesday. Quakertown (1-1) hosts Wissahickon at 7 pm next Wednesday.
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 0 2 – 2
QUAKERTOWN 0 1 – 1
Goals: PW – Marleigh Burton, Angelina Balcer; Q – Madison Taylor
SOL Colonial
Central Bucks East 1, Central Bucks South 0
It was a “prove it” kind of night for the Patriots.
A bit less than 48 hours after giving up a 2-0 lead and losing to rival CB West, the Patriots had to go on the road to face a Titans team that had yet to give up a goal. Yes, it’s early in the season, but with a tough opening slate, CB East wanted to find its footing quickly.
“This was a very good win for us,” East coach Jake Nesteruk said. “In some ways, this was a more challenging game with the low block defense South played and our kids incredibly urgent to prove themselves.
“We struggled to get into a rhythm in possession, but we stayed patient and like any good team, found a way.”
South added a fifth straight half of shutout soccer to its streak to open the season, holding East scoreless in a 0-0 draw at the break. Despite giving up the lone goal of the night near the midpoint of the second half, first-year Titans coach Gabbie Nolan felt her team played stronger in the second 40-minute stanza.
“We were playing a little panicked in the first half but were able to possess more and play more of our style in the second half,” Nolan said. “Our entire defensive line – Holly Joseph, Kila Kienzle, Brooke Commins, Mia Conte and Bella Smouse – played almost 80 without a sub. We battled, we created opportunities, but we didn’t capitalize on them.”
Nolan said a miscommunication led to a breakdown that gave East the opportunity to score while Nesteruk said it was still a hard-earned finish.
“We made a few adjustments to try and get in behind their back line a bit more,” Nesteruk said. “A ball was played in from the left side near the edge of the 18, and Julia Santanello was able to get the last touch on it.”
Even coming off a share of the division title last fall, East is still putting some pieces together this season, a task made tougher against three quality opponents to open the schedule.
“It’s still very early for us and we’re still working through some pieces of how we want to play, but for our kids to bounce back from such a tough result against West and against a very well-organized South team, it’s a credit to our girls,” Nesteruk said.
Equally important to the win was the clean sheet the Patriots posted after allowing seven goals in two games to start the season. Keeping a Titans attack that was showing some early cohesion out of the net was a crucial factor in the result.
“This group is very good going forward and, when we stay committed to it, can keep the ball very well,” Nesteruk said. “To get the clean sheet and just to get back in the habit of defending well for 80 minutes is huge for us. We are still moving kids around to find the right fits, and we are very fortunate to have two talented keepers, so right now we’re just trying to find consistency and vocal leadership through our midfield and back line.”
Nesteruk also pointed out a couple of standouts in the shutout effort.
“Katie Bullard came in and did a very good job for us in the midfield,” Nesteruk said. “I also thought Chantal van Dongeren had another lights-out game in the back as well.”
East (2-1, 1-1 SOL) resumes play next Wednesday for a 7 pm start at Pennridge. CB South (2-1, 1-1) travels to rival CB West for a 7pm start next Wednesday.
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 0 1 – 1
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 0 0 – 0
Goals: CBE – Julia Santanello
Central Bucks West 2, North Penn 1
Going to North Penn has been a tough task for CB West in recent seasons.
Coming off an emotional comeback win Monday night at rival CB East, CB West coach Mike Moyer was wary heading into Wednesday’s road match at Crawford Stadium. With two rosters full of highly competitive players and the Knights eager to get their first win, it turned into another battle to the finish.
“We started out the game well. We went up 2-0 in the first 15 minutes and then we forgot how to play soccer,” Moyer said. “We went into halftime up 2-0. I could see it – after that big emotional win against East and historically, we haven’t done well at North Penn, so we just wanted to somehow get away with a win. We didn’t care how we did it. We just wanted to get away with a win.”
The Bucks’ rebuilt front line came through early. Freshman Emery Sterling had an active start and played a role in both goals.
“Emery made a great run from 40 yards, got a shot on goal. The keeper saved it – it came right to Ashley Lott, and she just poked it home for a 1-0 lead about 10 minutes in,” Moyer said. “We were playing well, and then Emery Sterling got her first high school goal.”
Moyer said his team started to play flat after the second goal and couldn’t connect passes, which allowed North Penn to battle back into the game. The Knights were unlucky not to halve the lead at the break when they weren’t able to convert a penalty kick that could have made it a 2-1 game.
North Penn would draw another opportunity from the penalty spot off a quick counter on a throw-in late in regulation and Andie Salmon stepped up to put it away.
“We didn’t play well in the second half, but we never broke in the back,” Moyer said. “They scored with about (eight) minutes left. We just had to feel the game out. I was proud of them for doing that. It was an ugly win, but it was a good win.”
West played without senior co-captain Courtney Moylan, with the standout defender picking up an injury on Monday and being held out as a precaution.
“I thought Kate Weyer, who played in the back line today for Court, did very well. I also thought we got really good minutes from AC Castro and Ava Brunner,” Moyer said. “Other girls stepped up, and we saw the game out. It was a good team win because for whatever reason – North Penn has our number at their place. It was good to break that streak, and now we just have to get ready for Souderton.”
North Penn (0-2 SOL) travels to Abington for a 3 pm start on Friday. CB West (2-0) travels to Souderton for a 3:30 pm start on Friday.
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 2 0 – 2
NORTH PENN 0 1 – 1
Goals: CBW – Ashley Lott, Emery Sterling; NP – Andie Salmon
Pennridge 6, Souderton 0
The Rams picked up their second win of the season, but not without a committed defensive effort from the Indians.
Liv Grenda staked Pennridge to a 1-0 lead when she converted a penalty kick with 28:18 left in the opening half. For a while, it seemed like that was all the Rams would get until a late breakdown
allowed Sophie Craig to sneak in a second goal with just 16 seconds left in the period.
“In the first half, I thought we put up a really strong performance. We were organized, communicating effectively, and had great energy. Pennridge’s two goals in the first half came from the penalty spot and a miscommunication at the back, and I felt like we did a good job of frustrating them,” Indians coach Ian Smith said. “Unfortunately, we lost our legs a bit in the second half after defending so hard in the first, and the game got away from us in the end. We’ll take the positive performance from the first half and look to build from there moving forward.”
The match, which pitted Pennridge assistant coach Jason Lollar against his wife Melissa, an assistant at Souderton, went the Rams’ way in the second half in terms of the scoreboard.
In a roughly seven-minute span from the 36:26 mark to the 29:10 mark of the half, Pennridge scored three times. Tori Angelo had the first goal, assisted by Joey Tomlinson, and the third, assisted by Casey Malone, while Tomlinson fit a goal in the middle off a Grenda assist.
Caitlyn Peace tacked on a late tally for the Rams.
While the final score didn’t favor Souderton, Smith lauded the play of his senior goalkeeper.
“Abby Allen had a phenomenal game. From that game alone, I think I could put together a full highlight reel of some really amazing saves,” Smith said. “She also led with her communication.”
The Rams have posted back-to-back shutouts to open the year, and coach Audrey Anderson had praise for her defensive unit.
“Our backs were outstanding,” Anderson said. “Anna Croyle, Lauren Murphy, Hannah Primwhere, Casey Malone and Meredith Blannett were all great.”
Souderton hosts CB West at 3:30 pm on Friday. Pennridge returns to play after the holiday hosting CB East next Wednesday at 7 pm.
PENNRIDGE 2 4 – 6
SOUDERTON 0 0 – 0
Goals: P – Tori Angelo 2, Liv Grenda, Sophie Craig, Joey Tomlinson, Caitlyn Peace
SOL Patriot
Neshaminy 4, Council Rock South 1
The last team in the SOL to take the pitch this fall needed a little extra time to knock off the rust.
After getting its first 40 minutes in, and trailing by a goal, Neshaminy got going in a big way after halftime. Four unanswered goals propelled
last season’s SOL Patriot co-champions to a big win in their season debut.
“The girls were excited to start the season and Council Rock South is always a difficult opponent. I think the first half was working out those first game jitters,” Neshaminy coach Josh Van Reed said.
The Golden Hawks pressured early and capitalized with a first half goal.
“Shortly after they scored, they had another opportunity at close range and our keeper, Hannah Labadie, made a big save that took us into the half down 0-1,” Van Reed said. “We made a couple adjustments at halftime and came back out and scored right at the beginning of the second half.”
Three players, led by two goals from Kylie Maxwell that iced the game, scored for Neshaminy and with assists factored in, there were six total players in the book.
Maxwell started the offensive effort with an assist to Angelina Daino to open the half with a scrappy goal in front of the net.
“Throughout preseason we’ve been emphasizing that everyone needs to be involved in the attack. With six different players involved in the goals and 
assists, everyone was putting in the work,” Van Reed said. “Being down 1-0 at halftime in your season opener to a good team, they all showed a lot of maturity. That leadership comes from our senior class, where we have 10 seniors this year.”
One of those seniors, Mercedez Paino, came through with the assist to Paige Borkowski. Paino, committed to St. Francis (PA), hit a cross that Borkowski, another senior, put a good strike on for the go-ahead tally.
Maxwell, a sophomore, sealed the deal by first combining well with Carly Fox on a back-post finish then latching onto a through ball by Abby Collins in transition to beat the keeper.
“Second half was just a different game,” Van Reed said. “Defense was playing more tight, offense connecting more passes. It was a good win today.”
CR South (1-1-1, 1-1 SOL) hosts New Foundations Charter School at 3:30 on Thursday. Neshaminy (1-0) hosts Harry S Truman at 3:30 pm next Wednesday.
NESHAMINY 0 4 – 4
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 1 0 – 1
GOALS: N – Kylie Maxwell 2, Paige Borkowski, Angelina DainoCouncil Rock North 8, Bensalem 0
The Indians have gotten off to a blistering start this fall, outscoring opponents 17-0 through three matches.
Facing an Owls team that can’t be overlooked, North coach Gavin Flannigan felt his team had the right mix from the opening tap. It led to an overall productive day and a 3-0 record to finish the August part of the schedule.
“Really pleasing performance today against Bensalem. We never allowed them to settle, and I thought our energy, pressure and overall play was excellent,” Flannigan said. “We scored some really nice goals today from a team and individual perspective, Mia Cairone and Jayne Bogle both got hat-tricks, Alyssa Tyler and Ella McAleer also got on the scoresheet.”
The Indians’ two wins this week offered an opportunity for numerous players to shine in different roles.
“We shared a lot of minutes, but I thought there were some players who did very well – Emma Ralston, Caitlin Peiritsch, Tavi Copestick and Ella McAleer, who scored once and had two assists,” Flannigan said. “Our freshman goalkeeper, Ellie Beldowicz, has played twice this week and had shutouts both times as well.”
With no breaks in the schedule between their SOL Patriot rivals and the crossover games with the SOL Colonial coming up in September, Flannigan and his team aren’t looking ahead but instead taking note of how they’ve fared so far.
“It has been a solid start to the season for us, as we head into the holiday weekend, we are healthy and our performances have improved each game so far,” Flannigan said. “Hopefully that continues for us.”
CR North (3-0, 2-0 SOL) visits rival CR South at 4 pm next Wednesday. Bensalem (1-2, 0-2) will host Pennsbury at 3:30 pm next Wednesday.
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH – 8
BENSALEM – 0
Goals: CRN – Mia Cairone 3, Jayne Bogle 3, Alyssa Tyler, Ella McAteer.
Pennsbury 3, Harry S Truman 0
The Falcons have navigated an interesting schedule to start the season.
Coming off double-overtime games on back-to-back days last Friday and Saturday, they were idle on Monday before jumping into Wednesday’s SOL opener.
“After 220 minutes of soccer in two days, we were able to rest a couple of players who didn’t see much rest over the weekend as well as take a look at players who have impressed us in training,” Pennsbury coach Kaitlyn Battiste said. “We’d still like to see more of our chances end up in the back of the net, but the girls continued to move the ball really well regardless of their experience or position.”
Taylor Whiteside gave Pennsbury the lead with her 12th minute tally but the Falcons only led 1-0 at the break against an organized Truman defense.
Rylee Kaufmann put away a penalty kick in the 61st minute, then Corinne Russo opened her account five minutes later. An initial shot by Abby Shumski caromed off the crossbar but Russo crashed the goal to put away the rebound.
“Freshman Corinne Russo scored her first varsity goal while also earning the PK that senior Rylee Kaufmann put away,” Battiste said. “Rylee continues to be a wall defensively and we’re just as pleased with the shutout as we are with her first goal of the season.”
Maddison Miller and Malena Russo combined for the shutout.
Harry S Truman (0-2 SOL) visits Neshaminy at 3:30 pm next Wednesday. Pennsbury (1-0-2, 1-0-0) visits Bensalem at 3:30 pm next Wednesday.
PENNSBURY 1 2 – 3
HARRY S TRUMAN 0 0 – 0
Goals: P – Taylor Whiteside, Corinne Russo, Rylee Kaufmann
Council Rock North 2, Bensalem 1
At Bensalem, visiting North scored twice in the first half and held on for the win. Senior central defender Chase McCaffrey scored both for the Indians, the first a head ball with an assist to Hunter Klein. The second was a penalty kick all off the work of speedy forward Windsor Varady, who was taken down in the box by an Owls defender. North had the better of the play in the first half, taking the two-goal lead into halftime.
Bensalem made some adjustments in the second half and at times had North on their heels. The Indians held steady throughout the strong defensive tandem of McCaffrey and Mike Pinho. The Bensalem goal scorer was Tejas Sasan. A great game was had by Bensalem central defender Leonel Chanez who kept thwarting a number of North’s attacks in the second half.
CR North is now 2-0-0 overall and SOL, while Bensalem drops to 0-2-0 overall and SOL. North hosts Archbishop Wood Friday morning, and Bensalem hosts Archbishop Ryan Saturday evening.
Council Rock North 2-0 2
Bensalem 0-1 1
SOL Freedom
Lower Moreland 2, Cheltenham 0
Through two matches, it’s Nikki Sahl 4, Opponents 0.
The Lions’ sophomore struck for her second brace in as many outings, again providing both goals as LM picked up its second win of the week. Once again, she also benefited from her teammates’ unselfishness with Valentina Sellecchia picking up a pair of assists.
“She just keeps scoring goals,” Lions coach Todd Hill said of Sahl.
Lower Moreland’s performance started in the center of the pitch. Payton Lannon was the anchor of a strong midfield effort that helped the Lions get in front and handle Cheltenham’s tenacious effort to get back into the match.
“Payton Lannon established a strong, physical presence that anchored our team’s play,” Hill said. “Our midfielders controlled the pace off of Payton’s physical play.”
Cheltenham coach Leah Matusow also felt Lower Moreland’s ability to control the ball was the difference in LM taking a 2-0 lead at halftime.
“They moved the ball well and played under control,” Matusow said. “We struggled with maintaining possession, but came out in the second half and executed the things we talked about at halftime.”
The Panthers’ defense – led by Tabitha Sterman, Lucy Shaw and Taden Versaw-Barnes – stepped up to post a scoreless second half.
“We held them scoreless in the second half thanks to the great play of our keeper, Aniya Gladden, who stepped up in the absence of our starting goalie,” Matusow said.
Lower Moreland maintained its lead thanks to its own strong defensive effort led by keeper Sandra Malave.
“Sandra did a great job coming off her line and shutting down Cheltenham’s attack,” Hill said. “There is a strong chemistry already between Sandra and the back line, they work really well together.”
Cheltenham (0-1-1 SOL) will host Phil-Mont Christian Academy at 3:45 on Thursday. Lower Moreland (2-0) visits New Hope-Solebury next Wednesday at 7 pm.
LOWER MORELAND 2 0 – 2
CHELTENHAM 0 0 – 0
Goals: LM – Nikki Sahl 2
Springfield Twp 3, New Hope-Solebury 0
The Spartans have a certified goal-scorer in Kaleigh Evans and on Wednesday, had a good team effort behind her.
Evans bagged all three goals on Wednesday, running her season total to four in just two games, but she didn’t do it all herself.
“Kaleigh Evans claims the credit for all three goals during the match, but a whole team effort is what got us the win today,” Spartans coach Dan Malora said. “We started strong out of the gate, but just couldn’t seem to get the sequences we needed to get on the board early. A patient Lions defense and NHS goalie Margaret Tresler made stops and put themselves in great position to keep the ball out of the net early on.”
A good scorer like Evans often has some good set-up players around them. Kalei Noonan has that role filled, and it was her corner kick that found Evans for the opening tally of the game 15 minutes in.
In the 28th minute, a foul in the box awarded Springfield Twp a penalty kick, and Evans was money from the spot, giving the Spartans a 2-0 lead at the break.
“Tough game for us today. Springfield was on us right from the start,” New Hope-Solebury coach Matt Duffey said. “After giving up a goal from a corner and a PK, we let up a goal in the middle of the second half to seal our fate. We showed a lot of fight early on in the second half but the third goal killed us.”
Even in the setback, Duffey highlighted the play of Tresler, Nina Meixler and Ellie Gudusky.
“We are going to write this off and get ourselves ready for a tough Lower Moreland team,” Duffey said.
Holding the Lions back in the second half was Springfield Twp’s defensive unit.
“Strong defensive play from senior backs Paige Robinson and Shannon Meder along with their junior linemates Sophie Williamson and Maddie McDevitt kept shots to a minimum all game,” Malora said. “New Hope-Solebury started the second half with strong and relentless attacks, but the Spartans were up for the challenge. Junior Tess Talbot made key contributions on the back line to keep the Lions attack at bay.”
Emily West and Grace Dailey combined for the shutout in goal.
The Spartans rode out the tide and pushed back in the 52nd minute. Alana Decker intercepted a pass in the Lions’ 18-yard box and laid off a crisp assist that Evans put away for the hat trick.
New Hope-Solebury (0-2-1, 0-1-1) will host Lower Moreland at 7 pm next Wednesday. Springfield Twp (1-1) visits Upper Moreland at 3:30 pm next Wednesday.
SPRINGFIELD TWP 2 1 – 3
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 0 0 – 0
Goals: ST – Kaleigh Evans 3
Upper Moreland 1, William Tennent 0
Everything the Golden Bears had been working toward since the start of preseason came together on Wednesday.
An early goal, an understanding of the team’s system and a resilient defensive effort helped UM find its way to its first win of the season. Coming off a tough loss earlier in the week, it was just the kind of effort the Bears needed.
“Today’s match incorporated everything that we have been working on the past couple of weeks. After losing to Lower Moreland, we used yesterday’s practice to really work our system,” UM coach Lisa Benvenuto said. “We were able to get some really good ball movement that led to some strong opportunities on goal.”
It only took three minutes for Upper Moreland to get a quality scoring chance. A foul about 40 yards out from goal set up Lizzie Walker for a free kick into the 18-yard box.
From there, it was all Willow Taylor as the Bears forward with a nose for goal found it again for the 1-0 lead.
“Tennent has such a strong transition game, that we had to tweak what we were doing to match/contain their speed,” Benvenuto said. “They use their speed up top really well and are able to create some dangerous chances. We were able in the first half to keep most of their shots at a distance.”
The second half was a different story and with just one goal, Upper Moreland needed a strong effort on defense to see out the result.
“In the second half the momentum shifted multiple times. Natalie Walton played a strong game for us in net, and our back line of Lizzie Walker, Devon Bush, and Skye Kramer were crucial in the win,” Benvenuto said. “It was a great team win with contributions from everyone on our squad.”
Upper Moreland (1-1-1, 1-1-0 SOL) hosts Springfied Twp at 3:30 pm next Wednesday. Tennent (1-2, 1-1) hosts Cheltenham at 3:30 pm next Wednesday.
UPPER MORELAND 1 0 – 1
WILLIAM TENNENT 0 0 – 0
Goals: UM – Willow Taylor
Maccabi Games an unforgettable experience for Wissahickon’s Sage Stelzer
(By Andrew Robinson/PAPrepLive.com)
In case you missed it, check out Andrew Robinson’s story about Wissahickon senior Sage Stelzer, who competed for the United State U18 soccer team in the Maccabi Games in Israel this summer. Her US team won the silver medal. To read Robinson’s complete story, click on the following link: https://papreplive.com/2022/08/30/maccabi-games-an-unforgettable-experience-for-wissahickons-sage-stelzer/
(Photo courtesy of Courtesy Rina Dubosarski)
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