Check out the results for SOL girls’ soccer teams in action Tuesday.
SOL NATIONAL
Pennsbury 3, Council Rock South 2
The Falcons battled to another close conference win Wednesday afternoon.
After conceding an early goal to the Golden Hawks, the Falcons were on their heels. Then, freshman Gabby Zalot came off the bench and got her side back on track.
"We were throwing some shots on frame but were very predictable, and South's goalkeeper reads the game very well and was gobbling everything up," Pennsbury coach Kaitlyn Battiste said. "Gabby Zalot entered the game and released a quick shot that caught (Chelsea) Jameson off her line and sailed into the back of the net. It was a new game from there."
On a veteran team, the spark of youth was just what the afternoon called for.
"She does a really good job of simplifying the game for us," Battiste said of Zalot. "She's very comfortable with the ball at her feet but doesn't try to do too much. She reads the game well and finds the little pockets of space that will make her or her teammates dangerous."
South took a lead into the half on a goal from Sierra Tarentino, but it was all Falcons after the break.
"This team's ability to take responsibility for the good and the bad in the game has led to their success," Battiste said. "They make in-game adjustments well and have gotten tougher mentally so as to not get too emotionally high or low throughout the fluctuations in the game."
After the half, it was Falcon stalwarts Meredith Weber providing the equalizer and Whitney Roth netting the winner.
Coming off a huge win over Neshaminy in overtime last week, Pennsbury was able to fight its way back in another close game and continue its unbeaten start to league play. Battiste credited that to the team's mental fortitude and for that, the team's leaders.
"It definitely starts with our senior captains, Meredith Weber, Rachel Beri and Jo Tennant," Battiste said. "They're not preaching it, their actions are reflective of that mentality but it is something the whole team values as essential to our success."
Pennsbury (5-0, 3-0 SOL) will host Council Rock North on Thursday, and Council Rock South (3-4, 2-2) will travel to Bensalem.
PENNSBURY 1 2 – 3
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 2 0 – 2
Goals: P -Gabby Zalot, Meredith Weber, Whitney Roth; CRS – Jesse Magee, Sierra Tarentino
NESHAMINY 2, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0
The Neshaminy midfield played a big role in deciding a battle between two stout defensive teams on Tuesday.
Neshaminy scored once on either side of the half and got a stellar showing from its defense to hold the Indians' attack in check. The quartet of Maggie Daeche, Nicole Palmer, Hannah Stonkus and Genna Obringer continued to build on a strong weekend that saw them hold state power Cumberland Valley to just one goal.
"All four of them win most of the balls in the air – crosses, corners, passes – they work for each other positioning-wise," Neshaminy coach Chelsea Lovelace said. "When one steps, they know where they need to be. They also do a great job limiting the shots teams are able to take which helps our goalkeepers."
Breaking down a North defense that's given up very few goals this season required a lot of work from the midfield and forwards.
"Riley Nyhus was a big presence in the midfield," Lovelace said. "Jackie Ziegler worked well connecting our midfielders and forwards and played a few dangerous balls from the right side, one of them a corner that Brooke Mullin put in."
Ziegler also put her team on the board early. With just 1:20 expired off the game clock, a throw-in from Obringer found Mullin, who flicked it on to the midfielder for the finish.
Mullin had the favor returned in the 55th minute when Ziegler's corner kick found the hard-working forward in good position to score.
"Brooke Mullin's work rate up top helped us get both goals," Lovelace said. "First was the assist on the throw and the second was her header from Jackie's corner."
Victoria Smith and Riley Spingler combined for a three-save shutout for Neshaminy while North keeper Carly Riggs made four stops.
Neshaminy (6-1, 3-1 SOL) will host Harry S Truman on Thursday, and Council Rock North (5-2, 3-2) will travel to Pennsbury.
NESHAMINY 1 1 – 2
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0 0 – 0
Goals: N – Jackie Ziegler (Brooke Mullin) 1:20, Mullin (Ziegler) 54:34
ABINGTON 8, HARRY S TRUMAN 0
The Galloping Ghost offense erupted under the lights Tuesday night.
Lindsay Baer had a hat trick, Camryn Lexow netted a brace and Michaela Coyle, Kailey Horton and Dana Silverman each added single goals for the Ghosts, who picked up their first one of the season.
Abington (1-5, 1-3 SOL) will host Central Bucks East in a non-league contest Thursday, and Harry S Truman (0-8, 0-4) will travel to Neshaminy on Thursday.
BENSALEM 1, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 1
The Owls battled to a nonleague draw on Tuesday.
Amanda Felice gave Bensalem a 32nd minute lead when she finished off Emily Wineburg's direct free kick. But the Owls gave up a goal in the 43rd minute and neither team could find the back side of the net again.
Bensalem (3-4-2, 2-2 SOL) will host Council Rock South on Thursday.
NEW HOPE SOLEBURY 0 1 0 0 – 1
BENSALEM 1 0 0 0 – 1
Goals: B – Amanda Felice (Emily Wineburg) 32'
SOL AMERICAN
PLYMOUTH-WHITEMARSH 1, HATBORO-HORSHAM 0
Victoria Betterly's 47th minute goal gave the Colonials another impressive win after a slow start to the season.
A strong showing from the P-W defense shut down the Hatters and the midfield even chipped in late in the game. P-W coach Ryan Zehren also noted the stellar all-around play of center midfielder Ragan Ebersole.
"She played phenomenal today," Zehren said. "She was the first to every ball and was very vocal, which kept the girls going to finish out the game.
"She is our most versatile player on the field. She even dropped back to center back to help preserve the win."
The Hatters have had some good chemistry in their attack lately, so keeping the ball out of the net was not an easy task. On the chances Hatboro-Horsham had, P-W keeper Haley Zygmunt was there.
"The defense kept the ball in front of them and rarely let the ball get in behind them. We struggled a bit on corner kicks but senior defender Ally Jones did a great job to clear the ball on each corner opportunity for HH," Zehren said. "Victoria Betterly also dropped back to defense, playing alongside Ebersole. The two of them made it very difficult for forwards to get space and create opportunity with their physical play."
Despite a number of chances, the Colonials weren't able to get anything past HH keeper Miranda Royds. Then, in the second half, Betterly took her chances.
"Victoria was about 35 yards out and struck a ball on goal," Zehren said. "It hung in the air for a bit and somehow found its way into the goal just under the crossbar."
After starting the year 0-3, the Colonials have made a lot of strides the last few weeks. The team is playing with confidence and entering each match thinking it can come out with a win.
"Finding ourselves 0-3, losing games that could have gone our way, but ending up on the end of some unlucky bounces, we easily could have packed it in," Zehren said. "Even though we lost to Wissahickon, I feel as though the girls proved to themselves that they can play with anyone and the 0-3 record was not a true reflection of the identity of this team. We have confidence now and the girls keep rolling with it."
Plymouth Whitemarsh (4-3, 3-2 SOL) will host Cheltenham on Wednesday.
HATBORO-HORSHAM 0 0 – 0
PLYMOUTH-WHITEMARSH 0 1 – 1
Goals: PW – Victoria Betterly 47'
WISSAHICKON 5, CHELTENHAM 4
Wissahickon needed every bit of its offensive explosion in this barnburner on Tuesday.
Senior Maddie Elwell netted a hat trick for the winners while sister Lauren added a goal and Rachel Coleman rounded out the Trojan scoring. Cheltenham got two strikes from Dana Shelton and one each from Ruby Tomasic and Amber Turner.
"Maddie Elwell, Lauren Elwell, Jasmine Bishop and Alexis Smith all had a stellar game to give Wissahickon a win today over Cheltenham," Wissahickon coach Shannon Creamer-Franke said. "(Jasmine) Bishop, with an assist on the day, was on point the entire game, playing on the back line as well as left winger."
Cheltenham scored first with 18:01 off the clock, but Maddie Elwell soon answered for the first of her three scores. Coleman and Lauren Elwell then scored before Maddie Elwell's second at 41:10 made it 4-1 in favor of the Trojans.
"Captain Maddie Elwell had a hat trick with one beautiful turn and volleyed shot off of Jasmine Bishop’s free kick in the first half and two breakaways in the second," Creamer-Franke said. "Freshmen Lauren Elwell, in midfield, had an awesome upper 90 goal after receiving a through ball inside the 18, turned and shot. And off a corner, Rachel Colemen found the back of the net, served in by Anna Wilde."
Shelton got the first half of her brace with 46:44 gone, then after Elwell completed her hat trick at the 52:31 mark, the Panthers put a late scare into the game. Turner scored at the 74:52 mark before Shelton struck again with 50 seconds left in the game.
Wissahickon (4-1-1, 3-1-1 SOL) will be on the road at Upper Moreland on Thursday, and Cheltenham (0-5, 0-4) will travel to Plymouth Whitemarsh on Wednesday.
WISSAHICKON 3 2 – 5
CHELTENHAM 1 3 – 4
GOALS: W- Maddie Elwell 20:15, Rachel Coleman 33:17, Lauren Elwell 39:44, M Elwell 41:10, M Elwell 52:31; C – Ruby Tomasic 18:01:15, Dana Shelton 46:44, Amber Turner 74:52, Shelton 79:10
QUAKERTOWN 4, UPPER MORELAND 0
Quakertown – which is alone atop the conference standings – continues to build on an impressive SOL American debut by breaking down a tough Upper Moreland squad Tuesday night.
"Katie Crouthamel and Vic Sturgess put them under pressure as forwards, and Sam Ramsden and Kyra Handel brought it on the flanks," Panthers coach Mike Koch said. "Freshman Sam Barkholz was big with a goal and an assist and Lauren Pursel had a brilliant one-time goal off a Barkholz corner."
Crouthamel added two assists to her goal while Sturgess had a goal and assist like Barkholz.
Upper Moreland goalkeeper Kim Benge was again very strong, making 16 saves while the Bears got strong midfield play from Madison Pisut and Maggie Finn.
Quakertown (5-0-1, 4-0-1) will be on the road at Springfield Township on Thursday, and Upper Moreland (2-3-2, 2-2-1) will host Wissahickon on Thursday.
UPPER MORELAND 0 0 – 0
QUAKERTOWN 2 2 – 4
Goals: Sam Barkholz, Kate Crouthamel, Vic Sturgess, Lauen Purcel.
UPPER DUBLIN 6, SPRINGFIELD 0
The Cardinals' young players stepped up in a big way.
Junior Tori Hoffner found the net three times for a hat trick and sophomore Piraya Kaneria had a brace for UD.
Upper Dublin (3-3, 2-3 SOL) will travel to Hatboro-Horsham on Thursday, and Springfield (0-5-1, 0-3-1) will host Quakertown on Thursday.
SOL CONTINENTAL
CB EAST 8, WILLIAM TENNENT 0
A needed offensive showcase lifted the Patriots over the Panthers on Tuesday.
Hannah Zach had a natural hat trick, scoring the second, third and fourth goals for East. Izzy Hunter had two goals, including the opener just four minutes in. After scoring just one goal in its last fourth matches, it was just what East was looking for.
"We have continued in training to get numbers forward and attack with a purpose," Patriots coach Paul Eisold said. "We have stressed the importance of playing as a unit and to improve each game. This team has had some setbacks but refuses to accept a step back. We continue to play hard, fight and go at opponents."
Kiernan Hutchinson, Alli Hamilton and Elyse Shine also scored for the Patriots. While the goals came early, it wasn't just the attack that played well for East.
"Bri Talbot was awesome in the midfield," Eisold said. "Abby Brown played spectacular in the back and Megan Mannato controlled the midfield with Bri.
"Hannah Zach was on fire."
Central Bucks East (3-4, 3-2 SOL) will travel to Abington for a non-league game on Thursday, and William Tennent (3-4, 1-3) will travel to Pennridge Thursday.
WILLIAM TENNENT 0 0 – 0
CB EAST 7 1- 8
Goals: CBE – Izzy Hunter (Delany Kennedy) 4', Hannah Zach (Izzy Hunter) 6', Zach (Katie Bloom) 7', Zach (Megan Mannato) 8', Hunter (Katie Schlotter) 11', Kiernan Hutchinson (Alli Lapiolo) 24', Alli Hamilton (Maddie Gregor) 27', Elyse Shine (Olivia Ruddell)
SOUDERTON 5, NORTH PENN 1
Souderton found its way back to the winning column after a couple of tough losses.
The offense perked up under the lights at North Penn with Meredith Moore's brace leading the surge. After being shut out in losses to Elizabethtown and Pennridge, the Indians found some confidence going forward.
"No one player stood out over another but Bri DiRenzi, Ellie Andrade and Meredith Moore all stepped up their game after a tough start to the season for each player," Souderton coach Chris Felber said. "(It was a) great team performance to show just how good we can be. We started the season playing all the top teams and have three big wins already. We feel great but have a lot of work left to do."
Anna Pedicone scored the lone goal for North Penn.
Souderton has been without one of its top forwards in Cara McCausland, but the coaches have faith the rest of the forward players can pick up the slack.
"Losing Cara is a tough loss but we knew we could and we knew it was building," Felber said. "This is certainly a confidence-builder for us."
Souderton (3-2, 3-1 SOL) will host Central Bucks West on Thursday, and North Penn (4-4, 2-2) will be on the road at Central Bucks South on Thursday.
SOUDERTON 2 3 – 5
NORTH PENN 1 0 – 1
Goals: S- Ellie Andrade (Tori Dowd) 7', Dowd (Ali Trick) 9', Meredith Moore (Andrade) 45', Ali Trick (Dowd) 63', Moore (Bri DiRenzi) 66'
PENNRIDGE 4, CB WEST
With two goals in each half, the Rams picked up a solid road win Tuesday night.
Melissa Lyon and Liz Cardie found the back of the net prior to halftime while Erin Stevenson and Kouri Peace scored after the intermisson.
"I thought the whole team did a great job on both sides of the ball," Rams coach Audrey Anderson said. "I thought our forwards were impressive finding space to get the ball into and getting to the goal. It was a great team win."
Pennridge (5-1, 3-1 SOL) will host William Tennent on Thursday at 7 p.m., and Central Bucks West (4-5, 0-5) will be on the road at Souderton for a 5 p.m. contest.
PENNRIDGE 2 2 – 4
CB WEST 0 0 – 0
Goals: P – Melissa Lyon, Liz Cardie, Erin Stevenson, Kouri Peace.
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