Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ soccer teams in action Monday. (Wissahickon/PW photos provided courtesy of Josh Stelzer)
SOL Freedom
New Hope-Solebury 3, Upper Moreland 2
A second half surge helped the Lions claw their way to their first win against a gritty Golden Bears team.
“Very back and forth game. Once again, we were hanging tough in the first half and gave up a goal. We were getting good looks at goal but just couldn’t finish,” New Hope-Solebury coach Matt Duffey said. “We made an adjustment with our forwards and midfield which really paid off from an attacking perspective. We also started working our passing game more effectively which gave us more possession and the ability to build more efficiently.”
Off the opening tap, Upper Moreland had the run of play and it reflected in the score at half with the Bears leading thanks to some hard work in front of goal. Madison Forest-Rivera punched in an assist from Brooke Lobban in the 28th minute.
“We came out and controlled the ball well. We opened up our formation which allowed for some solid ball movement, and we were able to capitalize, taking the lead in the first half,” UM coach Lisa Benvenuto said. “Madison continued a far post run and was able to net her first varsity goal and the first goal of the game. We have been stressing following shots and getting to the near post, and Madison did a really good job in timing her run off of Brooke’s attack.”
With its adjustments in place after halftime, New Hope-Solebury was able to take the game back and took control in the first 13 minutes after the break. Mia Usatin opened the scoring for the Lions in the 43rd minute, then Ellie Gudusky chipped a back-heel goal in 10 minutes later to give the Lions their first lead.
“The second half there was a bit more back and forth. New Hope was able to finish two opportunities which put us behind,” Benvenuto said. “We continued to push offensively. Katie Slear and Willow Taylor were able to work the ball through the middle and found Brooke Lobban for the equalizer. Our girls did a good job of not losing their composure, but we didn’t have enough to finish the game.”
Lobban struck back 10 minutes later, tying the game 2-2 in the 62nd minute.
Gudusky, who had a terrific game all-around, found herself in the right spot again with less than three minutes to play in regulation.
“The game opened up quite a bit and honestly at the time we got the game winner UM was dominating play,” Duffey said. “We got a ball over top that slipped through their defense and Ellie Gudusky finished the break away with a nice finish.”
Duffey credited the play of the Lions’ midfield – Meeghan Griffith, Nina Meixler, Riley Marschall and Lily Marrone – and the defensive unit – Nicole Michael, Brook McLaughlin, Maggie Tritremmel, Elena Shire and Sammi McAndrews – for helping turn things around after the first half, as well as handling UM’s consistent pressure throughout the match.
“Great performances from Gudusky, Usatin up front and our entire defensive back line. Margaret Tresler made some more great saves in the win,” Duffey said. “The midfield was outstanding in key moments of the game. Very happy with the overall performance.
“Huge credit to Upper Moreland too. They fought us every minute of the game. We were fortunate to come out on the good side this time.”
New Hope-Solebury (1-4-1, 1-3-1 SOL) hosts Hatboro-Horsham at 3:30 pm Wednesday. Upper Moreland (2-3-1, 2-3-0) hosts Abington at 3:30 pm Wednesday.
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 1 2 – 3
UPPER MORELAND 1 1 – 2
Goals: NHS – Ellie Gudusky 2, Mia Usatin; UM – Madison Forest-Rivera, Brooke Lobban
Springfield Twp 3, Cheltenham 1
They share a first name, albeit spelled a little differently, and share plenty of importance to what the Spartans want to do on the field.
Kaleigh Evans has been scoring a lot of goals early this season, but Monday, it was Kalei Noonan who powered Springfield Twp to a bounce-back win with a strong first half.
“Our other Kalei generated the team’s goals early on,” Spartans coach Dan Malora said. “Kalei Noonan is a disrupter in the middle of the field, and she does it on both halves.”
Springfield Twp, coming off a loss to Lower Moreland, came out bringing plenty of pressure and was rewarded just a couple minutes into the contest. Noonan, embracing her disruptor role, got right to work.
“In the first two minutes of the game, she broke up a pass outside of the 18, dribbled on net and placed a perfect low shot to get us on the board,” Malora said. “Four minutes later she added another goal from way out on the right.”
With a viable scoring threat in Evans, having an energizer like Noonan patrolling around her keeps a defense from focusing too much on the high-scoring striker.
“Kalei covers so much ground in our games, her impact can come from anywhere,” Malora said.
Thanks to her teammates working hard, Evans was able to get her eighth goal of the season to close the first half.
“Alana Decker and Kaleigh Evans were grinding out their attacks all game long,” Malora said. “At the end of the half, they finally broke through off of an opportunistic throw in from Decker, who put it over the top for Evans who ran free and buried her chance.”
After being put under pressure for much of the first half, the Panthers were able to gain their footing at the break.
“We knew they had speed and skill on their front line but we came out flat and they scored two quick goals. It was 3-0 but at halftime, we regrouped and came out with a different energy,” Cheltenham coach Leah Matusow said. “We connected more passes, made some good runs and Mikki Carrera found the back of the net on a ball from Ciara Rodriguez.
“We are looking to put together a complete game, but I’m proud of the way we finished, and we need to bring that energy as we enter into our crossover games.”
Cheltenham (0-4-1 SOL) hosts Plymouth Whitemarsh at 3:30 pm Wednesday. Springfield Twp (3-2) visits Upper Dublin at 3:30 pm on Wednesday.
SPRINGFIELD TWP 3 0 – 3
CHELTENHAM 0 1 – 1
Goals: ST – Kalei Noonan 2, Kaleigh Evans; C – Mikki Carrera
William Tennent @ Lower Moreland – POSTPONED
Lower Moreland travels to Quakertown for a 6:30 pm start Wednesday. Tennent visits Wissahickon at 3:30 pm Wednesday.
SOL Patriot
Council Rock North 3, Pennsbury 2 (2 OT)
The Indians needed a big rally after a slow start but managed to find a late winner in the second overtime period as they wrapped up the first half of division play on Monday.
“Happy with the outcome, but we were a little sloppy at times today and had to dig deep to get the win,” CR North coach Gavin Flannigan said. “Pennsbury started out very well, they were aggressive and forced us into mistakes and turnovers early in the game.”
Two defensive breakdowns – the first on a free kick and the other leading to a breakaway – put the Indians down 2-0 about midway through the first half.
If the opening 20 minutes belonged to the Falcons, the next 20 were all North’s.
“We started to settle down halfway through the first half and we were able to get one back when Mia Cairone battled through their back line and forced one in,” Flannigan said. “Right before halftime Kate Thomson scored on a great low free kick to tie the game.”
Having gone the full 100 minutes in a 3-3 thriller with Neshaminy last Friday, the Indians were hoping to avoid it again so soon but couldn’t get another ball past a determined Falcons defense in the second half.
“We were much better in the second half but we couldn’t find the right pass or final ball to create good scoring opportunities and had to settle for another OT game,” Flannigan said “Late in the second OT we scored on a corner kick, Maddy Poe was able to hit a low shot from the back post across the goal for the winner.”
CR North (4-1-1, 3-1-1 SOL) visits Central Bucks West at 7 pm on Wednesday. Pennsbury (1-3-2, 1-3-0) hosts North Penn at 3:30 pm on Wednesday.
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 2 0 0 1 – 3
PENNSBURY 2 0 0 0 – 2
Goals: CRN – Mia Cairone, Kate Thomson, Maddy Poe
Neshaminy 5, Bensalem 0
A strong second half effort helped power Neshaminy to its fourth win in five games this fall.
The Redskins led at the half, but were only able to muster a 1-0 advantage due to a mixture of an organized and solid Owls defense and some misfires linking the final pass.
“We had chances to score in the first half but the final ball just seemed to be just wide. Bensalem was organized and played with composure when they had possession of the ball,” Neshaminy coach Josh Van Reed said. “They always made sure they had players behind the ball and that combined with the width of the field made it difficult at times to find passing channels.”
Mercedez Paino, off an assist from Angelina Daino, made sure her team had the lead at the half, but Neshaminy knew it could be more dangerous as it headed to the half. Daino did the leg work on the goal, carrying the ball along the endline and dishing to the trailing Paino with the senior hitting a one-timer into the net.
A few changes opened things up, and it wasn’t long before Paino found Kylie Maxwell with a slicing through ball between the backs that Maxwell tucked inside the near post.
“We started opening up and making some better runs and finishing opportunities,” Van Reed said. “We talked about staying as wide as possible and not shrinking the size of the field, making quicker decisions, playing quick to feet.”
Paino helped Neshaminy continue to generate chances, hitting a cross that Carly Fox was able to get to and finish off an inside run.
Another cross hit off the crossbar, with Bri Garyah collecting on the right side and slipping it back to Aidyn Tierney at the far post. Finally, Neshaminy turned a corner with Bryn Taylor converting the service by Madisyn Conrad.
“Bensalem kept pushing at times and had some chances of their own. They always play us very tough and it’s never an easy game,” Van Reed said.
Neshaminy (3-0-1 SOL) hosts Central Bucks South at 7 on Wednesday. Bensalem (3-3, 2-3) visits Souderton at 6:30 pm on Wednesday.
NESHAMINY 1 4 – 5
BENSALEM 0 0 – 0
Goals: N – Mercedez Paino, Kylie Maxwell, Carly Fox, Aidyn Tierney, Bryn Taylor
SOL Liberty
Hatboro-Horsham 0, Upper Dublin 0 (2 OT)
UD coach Chuck Gesing felt his defense was starting to come together, and they rewarded his belief by becoming the first team to take points from the Hatters in SOL play this fall.
“I was thrilled with our defensive performance. We still have some work on the offensive end, but defense like that keeps you in games,” Gesing said. “All in all, it was a positive step for us, something we can build on.”
With sophomore keeper Jordyn Levine picking up her second straight shutout, the back line group of Emeline Bell, Erin Seabrook, Abby O’Meara, Allison Stenstrom and Sophia Sirianni and midfield of Alaina Sanders, Alex Devers and Regan Rubin continued to get stronger as a group.
“They are starting to understand their roles better, communicating better and accounting for the opposition’s attackers better,” Gesing said. “Our defense knew Emma Levin and Mia Malofiy were tearing teams up, so we had to be extremely disciplined today.”
The attack had some chances for Upper Dublin, with Meg McMeel and Lilli Kleiman getting turned away at the forward spot while Rubin and Devers had some looks from longer range but couldn’t crack a Hatters’ defense that posted its fourth consecutive clean sheet.
“Today just wasn’t our game on the pitch, but we were able to hang in there to get a tie. The defense and Alyssa Tooley was able to record another shutout,” Hatters coach Kelsey Daley said. “Every game we learn more and more, and we are still continuing to come together as a team.”
Upper Dublin (2-3-1, 1-3-1 SOL) hosts Springfield Twp at 3:30 pm on Wednesday. Hatboro-Horsham (4-0-2, 4-0-1) travels to New Hope-Solebury at 3:30 pm on Wednesday.
UPPER DUBLIN 0 0 0 0 – 0
HATBORO-HORSHAM 0 0 0 0 – 0
Wissahickon 3, Plymouth Whitemarsh 0
Coming off a rough outing last Friday against Abington, the Trojans buckled down in the back to end the first half of division play with a win.
“Defensively, we played a strong game centrally in the midfield and limited their time to find options,” Wiss coach Chris McDaniels said. “On the back line, Ingrid Kasenchar, Julia D’Aquanno and Ellie Stein had standout performances.
“PW has some speed up top and we got our positioning and spacing right.”
Offensively, the Trojans continued to score some highlight-worthy goals with first-half tallies from seniors Sage Stelzer and Kylie Friedman and a second half goal from Kendall Dries tabulating the margin.
“Stelzer had a nice strike from 20 out that beat the keeper to the bottom right. Friedman took a flick from Emma Greenber clean out of the air into the top corner,” McDaniels said. “Dries scored on a tough angle from the sideline from 25 out.”
PW (1-3 SOL) visits Cheltenham at 3:30 pm on Wednesday. Wissahickon(3-2, 2-2) hosts William Tennent at 3:30 pm on Wednesday.
WISSAHICKON 2 1 – 3
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 0 0 – 0
Goals: W – Sage Stelzer, Kylie Friedman, Kendall Dries
Abington 7, Quakertown 1
Maura Day continued to show why she’s one of the top players in the SOL with another all-around offensive showcase Monday.
The senior midfielder netted a hat trick to lead an Abington attack that has produced 18 goals in its last four games. Carley Slavin, the Ghosts’ other senior midfield force, had two goals of her own.
Piper and Harper McGinley each had a goal while Lily Gray netted an assist for Abington.
Angela Calvanese scored for Quakertown, cutting the Abington lead to 2-1 in the first half, but the Ghosts responded with four straight to end the half.
Abington (5-2, 4-1 SOL) opens crossover play by visiting Upper Moreland at 3:30 pm on Wednesday. Quakertown (1-4) hosts Lower Moreland at 6:30 pm on Wednesday.
ABINGTON 6 1 – 7
QUAKERTOWN 1 0 – 1
Goals: A – Maura Day 3, Carley Slavin 2, Piper McGinley, Harper McGinley; Q – Angela Calvanese
SOL Colonial
Central Bucks East 6, North Penn 1
The offensive breakout the Patriots were hoping for seems to have arrived.
East has outscored its opponents 14-1 over the last two games, and it’s no secret fast starts have helped. The Patriots scored just four minutes into Monday’s game and had a 2-0 lead before eight minutes were up thanks to strikes from Camryn Williams and Jessie Bernabe.
“Our kids have found a good rhythm and think we’ve become more synced up in our decision making. It helps a ton when we get off to such positive starts to games and makes keeping the ball much easier,” East coach Jake Nesteruk said. “Just very proud of our group for focusing on making the improvements we needed on both sides of the ball. We’re more organized defensively everywhere and it shows.”
Williams was a force again, scoring a pair of goals and assisting on another while Bernabe also put in two goals, giving her three in the team’s last three matches. Bernabe had back-to-back goals and Madelyn Hill also scored for a 4-0 halftime lead.
“Going forward, brilliant games from Camryn, Elliot (Forney), Gwyn (Krystkiewicz), Sofia Mignon and Jessie,” Nesteruk said. “Eagerness to combine, to set each other up.”
Williams tagged on her second goal early in the second half and Mignon wrapped up the scoring for the Patriots.
East’s defense has also found a groove and has allowed just one goal in the last two games and last five halves overall.
“Defensively, Brooke Roumy and Sophie Schorn have anchored us and have kept us locked in for 80 minutes,” Nesteruk said.
A big win like Monday’s usually means plenty of contributors, some who do good work without getting into the book.
“Always great to see so many names show up on score sheets and get minutes,” Nesteruk said. “Katie Bullard I’d say (had) a sneaky good game today and covered a lot of work on both ends to make it all possible.”
Maddy Murphy pulled a goal back for the Knights from the penalty spot to make it 4-1, the sophomore scoring her third of the season.
“Massive credit to Mike Rio and his kids,” Nesteruk said of the Knights. “They made the game very difficult in the second half and we really had to work hard to finish the game off.”
North Penn (1-5, 1-4 SOL) travels to Pennsbury at 3:30 on Wednesday. CB East (4-2, 3-2) hosts Council Rock South at 6pm on Wednesday.
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 4 2 – 6
NORTH PENN 0 1 -1
Goals: CBE – Camryn Williams 2, Jessie Bernabe 2, Sofia Mignon, Madelyn Hill; NP – Maddy Murphy
Pennridge 4, Central Bucks South 0
If the Rams were going to complete their run of three matches against the three Central Bucks teams with three wins, they were going to have to go take it on Monday.
The energized Titans were quicker to the ball, more creative and in the view of Pennridge coach Audrey Anderson, unlucky to not be leading when the teams went to halftime.
“We came out slow and sluggish but that’s not to say it in a way that they didn’t play well, they were super-organized in the middle of the field and defensively,” Anderson said. “They beat us in the midfield and just couldn’t capitalize. They had a good scoring opportunity early in the first half where we made a save and then the second save.”
At halftime, Pennridge switched Liv Grenda from her attacking midfield position to a forward role to give the junior some more touches on the ball in front of goal. The move paid off, with Caitlyn Peace finding Grenda for the game’s opening goal midway through the second half.
On top of the goal, Anderson felt Grenda gave Rams the sort of rhythm play they were looking for.
“It wasn’t so much what she was doing but what she was saying to her teammates on the field,” Anderson said. “She was calm, you could tell she wasn’t panicked with the things she was saying. I was proud of her leadership on the field today by playing hard and making sure what she was saying to her teammates was positive.”
Pennridge was awarded a penalty kick shortly after, with sophomore Anna Croyle converting, and the game started to open up.
“We didn’t play for the full 80 minutes,” Titans coach Gabbie Nolan said. “All four goals were scored in the last 25 minutes of the second half. We really played well, competed and connected a lot of combination passes up until that point.”
Defensively, Anderson lauded the play of her backs – Lindsey Balmer and Casey Malone on the outsides and Croyle with Lauren Murphy in the middle – for containing South’s flank play and preventing the Titans from dropping any balls in over the top.
While her team came away with the win, Anderson also had plenty of credit for South’s efforts on the afternoon.
“I was very, very impressed with South, I thought they looked outstanding,” Anderson said. “I’m very impressed with how organized and composed they are on the ball. I really like how they play and it’s great to see a young female coach there.”
Balmer added an unassisted goal and Peace also tallied, off an assist by Riley Willams, to wrap up the Rams’ scoring in the second half.
“They were three different types of challenges,” Anderson said. “It was good for us to see all those different things but to come out of our first round of conference play without a loss is incredible. It was a tough past three games for sure.”
CB South (3-3, 2-3 SOL) visits Neshaminy at 7 pm on Wednesday. Pennridge (5-0) will visit Harry S Truman at 3:30 on Wednesday.
PENNRIDGE 0 4 – 4
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 0 0 – 0
Goals: P – Liv Grenda, Anna Croyle, Lindsey Balmer, Caitlyn Peace
Souderton @ Central Bucks West – POSTPONED
The Bucks and Indians’ match up was postponed due to the weather and will be played Tuesday at 4:30 pm.
Souderton hosts Bensalem at 6:30 pm on Wednesday. CB West hosts Council Rock North at 7 pm on Wednesday
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