Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ soccer teams in action Friday.
SOL NATIONAL
Neshaminy 1, Council Rock North 0
After a lackluster first half, Neshaminy head coach Renny Papendick and assistant Rich Reice let their players hear it at the break.
In the second half, Neshaminy had only to look to Melina Prinos for inspiration.
"Her father passed away (Thursday) and she came to school today specifically to make sure she could play in our game today," Papendick said. "She was our best player. She was amazing, she hit restarts for us, she hit corners and she was the heart and soul of our team today. She's 'Mel' to all of us and she was just great today."
Prinos, a junior, is in her first year playing at Neshaminy after spending the last two at MaST Charter. As a center attacking midfield player, Prinos has split time as a starter and reserve player for Neshaminy this fall.
"I'm so proud of our girls, they all reached out to her and it's such a hard thing to deal with, your father passing on Thursday then going to school so you can play on Friday," Papendick said. "There's a lot of emotions and we're trying to be very supportive of the family. The girls rallied around her and her energy sparked us."
Council Rock North has a relatively young team, but coach Gavin Flannigan and assistant Jorge Rodriguez have their team organized and tough, especially in the defensive third. Papendick gave the Indians a lot of credit for the level of preparation and intensity they brought the entire match.
"This was a great high school soccer game. I thought both teams played well, Neshaminy definitely had the better of the first half in terms of possession and territory but we came back strongly in the second and pushed all the way to the end," Flannigan said. "This was probably our best performance of the season so far. We are still a relatively young team, and for a number of our girls, this is their first varsity season. They are beginning to understand what it takes to compete in the SOL National and the intensity of these games. We need to use this performance to kick start the rest of our season."
With Neshaminy playing more aggressively in the second half, the Indians' back line didn't yield an inch of ground willingly.
"I thought our back line did very well today, Lilly Ries and Abby Kollar were excellent defensively. Grace Needham played very well in goal again, she was aggressive in her decision making and overall play which brought confidence to the rest of the team," Flannigan said. "Paige Addis held the ball up well, harassed defenders and caused turnovers all game, she was terrific. The girls were disappointed with the score, but I think they recognized the quality of their performance today and what we need to do from here on out."
As a team that plays home matches on a grass field, Neshaminy's home pitch hasn't been very user-friendly so far this fall, thanks to the recent deluge of rain. The team can't play the kind of possession-based soccer it wants to and hasn't been able to finish many scoring chances.
"Our defense stayed really, really organized. Jess Dearoff on the outside and Alex Ziegler on the other side did really well to lock them down," Papendick said. "We have two really strong players in the center with Hannah Stonkus, a senior who's our quiet leader and Kelli Kowalick, who wins her head balls and tackles hard. We were just very organized today."
Papendick said it's imperative going forward that his team start to finish more of the chances it is creating. The National Conference is too competitive to leave goals on the table, and as Papendick noted, the longer the game stayed scoreless, the more confident North started to play.
"It's my first year, I'm trying to figure out this team and figure out the pieces," Papendick said. "I've been given a puzzle to try and put it together. I've got some really good players and some really hard workers, I just have to figure out how to get these girls on the same page and clicking on all cylinders."
Papendick also noted the effort of Kristin Curley in center midfield.
Emily Tantala scored the game-winner, breaking through off an assist from Gina Sexton. Both are junior outside midfielders.
"It was a build-up from the outside, Gina got it in the box, there was a little bit of a scrum and Emily put it in," Papendick said. "North's keeper did a really nice job all game. It was a nice goal by Em and a good ball from Gina."
Neshaminy (5-1, 3-1 SOL) will host William Tennent on Monday, and Council Rock North (3-4, 2-3 SOL) will host Bensalem on Thursday.
NESHAMINY 0 1 – 1
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0 0 – 0
Goals: N – Emily Tantala
Pennsbury 4, William Tennent 1
Falcons coach Kaitlyn Battiste felt Friday was the best start to a game her team had put together this season.
Because soccer is a quirky game, Pennsbury also found itself down a goal in an ironic twist despite that strong start.
"From the opening seconds, we generated some offense and one or two scoring opportunities," Battiste said. "As soccer goes, we had one breakdown and a slip in the mud and Tennent finished a great strike on the outside. Fortunately, the girls didn't panic and continued to play their game."
Pennsbury hasn't been behind much this fall, but the Falcons just turned to their midfield on a grass field that's been subjected to a lot of wet weather recently.
After Olivia Miller put the host Panthers up in the eighth minute, Gabby Zalot played in the first of her two assists, setting up Rosie Bostian for a 13th minute equalizer. A few minutes later, Zalot found Evie Ciaccia for the game-winner.
"I thought our midfield controlled the game today. Gabby, Rosie and Darrien read the game really well and were able to get a variety of their teammates involved in the attack," Battiste said. "Our outside midfielders took some chances and earned us some corners."
Christine Cataldo-Smith put the game away with a pair of goals two minutes apart in the second half, assisted by Ciaccia and Darrien Furiness.
"Gabby gave us some great services and Rosie and Evie did their jobs and finished the opportunities," Battiste said. "The second half, we saw some more build-up from the back and Christine was able to score a pair from the run of play."
Pennsbury (5-0, 3-0 SOL) will travel to Council Rock South on Monday, and William Tennent (3-3, 2-1) will be on the road at Neshaminy on Monday.
PENNSBURY 2 2 – 4
WILLIAM TENNENT 1 0 – 1
Goals: P – Rosie Bostian, Evie Ciaccia, Christine Cataldo-Smith 2; WT – Olivia Miller
SOL CONTINENTAL
Souderton 0, Central Bucks East 0 (2 OT)
Defense and a couple close calls defined Friday's match.
CB East rang the crossbar in the opening 10 minutes, while Souderton had an opportunity in the second half it couldn't convert.
"Our defense played aggressive and anticipated East's efforts to send the ball down the line," Souderton coach Lindsy Jones said. "Seniors Miranda Kullman and Kailee Harwick kept our defense organized and led the back line with intensity."
In a defensive game, it wasn't a surprise the keepers for both teams played well.
"I was very happy with the performances by goalkeepers Lindsey Pazdziorko (nine saves) and Morgan Molyneaux (four saves)," Jones said. "They are covering the goal well and battling to win the ball."
Souderton's Campbell Power had the look for the Indians in the second half, but was denied by East keeper Mary Duffner.
"Mary Duffner stepped up in goal today and made a key save to keep Souderton off the scoreboard," Patriots coach Paul Eisold said. "Erika Ives played terrific at center back. The forward group of Gabby Learn, Izzy Hunter, Emma Martin and Elise Duffy worked tremendously hard working for the ball and creating opportunities on goal. Unfortunately, Souderton played a tight defensive game and was terrific in the second half taking the game to us."
Souderton had a tough game on Thursday against CB South, which was postponed a day due to a flooded field.
"I felt we got Souderton on an off day having played yesterday and knowing how explosive they can be," Eisold said. "They are a team to be concerned about with a great midfield of Campbell Power with her great services and Sara Readinger running the midfield."
Souderton (2-0-2 SOL) will travel to Pennridge on Monday, and Central Bucks East (1-3-1, 1-2-1) will be on the road at Quakertown on Monday.
SOUDERTON 0 0 0 0 – 0
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 0 0 0 0 – 0
North Penn 2, Quakertown 1
The Knights are starting to find their groove.
Quakertown's Ashley Gluck gave the Panthers a lead after a Haley Pursel assist, but the Knights would again rally as they have several times in the last week.
"Olivia Urban tied it with a cracker and Grace Sacchetti came through with a nice volley for the game-winner assisted by freshman Emily Varilla," North Penn coach Steve Whitby said. "Emily Schurr, Meg Coulton and Emma Dickson played very strong in the back.
"We had several choices, but the 'Knight of the Night' was Emma Dickson who read the game so well from her center-back position."
Whitby said his three senior captains – keeper Ashley Schmidt, Liv Jerome and Emma Dickson – have done a nice job embracing their position as leaders.
"Each shows leadership a little differently," Whitby said. "It's a nice mix and each has their own role."
In general, North Penn is playing well but Whitby knows the Knights can't stop working hard on days without matches scheduled.
"Confidence can be a fleeting thing. We work hard on this on the training ground to build it," Whitby said. "With a nice mix of senior leadership and some up and coming underclassmen, they are beginning to all come together."
Morgan Sipprell made 13 saves for Quakertown.
North Penn (4-1-2, 2-0-1 SOL) will host Central Bucks West on Monday, and Quakertown (0-3-1, 0-2-1) will host Central Bucks East on Monday.
Pennridge 2, Central Bucks South 0
Goals from Abby Groff and Lauren McIntyre helped the Rams rebound from their first loss of the season.
Pennridge (4-1, 2-1 SOL) will host Souderton on Monday, and Central Bucks South (2-2-1, 1-2-1) will host Great Valley in a non-league game Monday.
SOL AMERICAN
Upper Dublin 3, Upper Moreland 1
Entering the season, the Cardinals had to replace two veteran outside midfielders.
So far, so good for Anna Desch and Julia Eustace. The two wingers have given the Cardinals good energy and pace at the position and helped UD bounce back by each netting a goal on Friday.
"Laura Pendleton put in a characteristically strong performance in the center of the midfield," UD coach John Topper said. "Anna Desch and Julia Eustace did great work on the flanks in creating numerous opportunities and each had a goal to show for their efforts."
Emily Booth staked UD to a fourth minute lead and Desch scored the eventual game-winner in the 37th. Eustace put away her goal in the 58th minute.
"Anna does a great job providing us with width on the field and has the pace and 1-v-1 ability to give defenders headaches," Topper said. "Julia's composure on the ball and selfless attitude make everyone around her better."
Emma Meakim scored in the 54th minute for Upper Moreland.
Upper Dublin (2-3, 2-2 SOL) will be on the road at Plymouth Whitemarsh on Monday, and Upper Moreland (2-3, 1-3) will travel to Springfield Township Monday.
UPPER DUBLIN 2 1 – 3
UPPER MORELAND 0 1 – 1
Goals: UD – Emily Booth, Anna Desch, Julia Eustace; UM – Emma Meakim
Wissahickon 5, Cheltenham 1
Carly Amato led a prosperous Wissahickon attack with two goals.
The Trojans also got goals from Anna May, Sam Intrieri and Sam Cominitski while Grace Mullen anchored the back line.
"We are beginning to understand our responsibilities at each position, now we have to step up the intensity," Wissahickon coach Chris McDaniels said. "There is still plenty of room for improvement and a need for greater consistency."
Donya Baxter provided the Panthers' lone goal.
Wissahickon (3-2, 3-1 SOL) will travel to Abington on Monday, and Cheltenham (0-4) will be on the road at Hatboro-Horsham Monday.
Hatboro-Horsham 5, Springfield Twp 0
Kara Thomas' brace led the scoring output for the undefeated Hatters, who had four different players score.
Emily Thomas, Mads Falcione and Maggie O'Neil also scored for Hatboro-Horsham, which remained in a first-place tie with Abington.
Hatboro-Horsham (5-0, 4-0 SOL) will travel to CB West for a 12 p.m. start on Saturday, and Springfield Township (0-5, 0-4) will host Interboro on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Abington 5, Plymouth Whitemarsh 2
The Ghosts took a 1-0 lead into the second half when they erupted for four goals. Scoring one goal each for the Ghosts were Elizabeth Tracey, Kailey Horton, Abby Bautista, Camryn Lexow and Christina Peachey.
Abington (5-0, 4-0 SOL) will host Wissahickon on Monday, and Plymouth Whitemarsh (3-2, 2-2) will host Upper Dublin on Monday.
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