Check out the results for SOL girls' soccer teams in action.
SOL NATIONAL
PENNSBURY 2, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 1
The Falcons’ last three matches have all presented different challenges, but Pennsbury has managed its way through them.
Thursday, coach Kaitlyn Battiste turned to a couple of seniors to give the team what it needed. The choice paid off in a tight 2-1 win over the Indians. Trailing by a goal at half, thanks to North's Kayla Robinson, Pennsbury needed something to get going.
"We didn't have a bad first half but weren't playing with any urgency. We shuffled the lineup to start the second half and challenged the players to find another level," Battiste said. "Two seniors who don't always start, Jo Tennant and Maddie Annan, brought the energy and connected on the first goal to tie the game."
Tennant showed some hustle by keeping a ball alive on a corner and found Annan for a volley.
"It was great to see both of them step up and be difference makers," Battiste said.
Tennant has been a vital cog in the Falcons' unbeaten start, a senior who has the pulse of her team and any coach would love to have in multiples.
"Absolutey! Whether she's in for eight minutes or 80 minutes, she works hard, has fun and understands the various roles and personalities of a team," Battiste said. "She has this charisma around her that can make her teammates laugh in one instance but then also remind them of how to respect all parts of the game that don't show up on the score sheet."
After tying the game in the 49th minute, another senior, Meredith Weber, provided the winning margin on a 54th minute penalty kick.
Having escaped a gauntlet of Neshaminy, Council Rock South and now Council Rock North with three wins, the Falcons will try to keep it going to close out the first half of the SOL slate. But with the right kind of veterans and leaders on the team, the focus won't be getting too far ahead of things.
"It's been important to focus on one game at a time and not get ahead of ourselves and I think they've managed that part well. Each opponent has brought a different challenge and I've enjoyed watching them solve these problems together," Battiste said. "They're competitors who want to be challenged and this season had provided that since opening day. As long as they continue to see each game as a new opportunity to get better, the score will take care of itself."
Pennsbury (6-0, 4-0 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks West on Saturday for a non-league contest. Council Rock North (5-3, 3-3) will be on the road at Marple Newtown on Saturday for a non-league game at noon.
CR NORTH 1 0 – 1
PENNSBURY 0 2 – 2
Goals: CRN – Kayla Robinson; P – Maddie Annan (Jo Tennant) 49', Meredith Weber (PK) 54'
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 3, BENSALEM 0
The Golden Hawks found the back of the net three times in the first half in a solid win over a Bensalem team that's proven to be a tough out.
Keira Flanagan, Sierra Tarantino and Maiya Barker all scored for South in an effort that saw the entire team contribute something to the result.
"As a whole, our girls stepped on the field today and put in the effort and made things happen," head coach Kim Francis said. "Our goals were the result of hard work. We were happy with what we saw and are hoping the girls can take this momentum and continue to play well."
Council Rock South (4-4, 3-2 SOL) has a big test Friday when it travels to Downingtown West for a nonleague matchup
CR SOUTH 3 0 – 3
BENSALEM 0 0 – 0
Goals: CRS – Keira Flanagan (Sara McDonald), Sierra Tarantino (Jesse Magee), Maiya Barker (Julie Rebh)
NESHAMINY 8, HARRY S TRUMAN 0
Jackie Ziegler and Brooke Mullin each had a brace to lead the Neshaminy offense on Thursday. Fiona McDonald stuffed the book with a goal and four assists.
The Redskins took care of business with four goals in the opening 16 minutes. Ziegler put the ‘Skins on the board 9:40 into the contest with a goal that turned out to be game winner, using a Genna Obringer assist. McDonald set up three straight goals by Obringer, Ziegler and Nicole Palmer in a four-minute stretch to put the Redskins on top 4-0. McDonald found the net with an unassisted goal, and a Mullin goal (McDonald assist) closed out the half with the Redskins on top 6-0.
Mullin (Kelli Kowalick assist) and Alyssa Tobin (Cheyanne Ruppert assist) each scored a goal in the second half.
Neshaminy (7-1, 4-1 SOL) will travel to Council Rock South on Tuesday, and Harry S Truman (0-9, 0-5) will host Pennsbury on Tuesday.
NESHAMINY 6 2 – 8
HARRY S TRUMAN 0 0 – 0
Goals: N – Jackie Ziegler (Genna Obringer) 9:40, Obringer (Fiona McDonald) 12:08, Ziegler (McDonald) 14:52, Nicole Palmer (McDonald) 16:02, McDonald 27:30, Brooke Mullin (McDonald) 32:59, Mullin (Kelli Kowalick) 53:10, Alyssa Tobin (Cheyenne Ruppert) 56:06
SOL AMERICAN
QUAKERTOWN 2, SPRINGFIELD 0
The conference-leading Panthers didn't lose a step on the competition, but the win didn't come easy.
Senior Sam Ramsden found a 31st minute winner for Quakertown, assisted by Kyra Handel and Cassidy Owens. Two minutes later, Vic Sturgess would score on a helper from Haley Pursel.
Panthers coach Mike Koch called Ramsden an "unsung player" and was happy to see her get the first goal.
"She is a senior who has started for four years. She is a ball-winner, hard worked and plays multiple positions based on our needs," Koch said. "She is a midfielder usually but was playing forward when she scores and plays as our marking back on occasion. She never complains, just competes."
Morgan Small posted her sixth straight shutout for the Panthers.
Spartans coach Suzette Wolf, despite the score, called it her team's best game of the season.
"We had opportunities, we had aggressive play the entire game,” Wolf said. “There were moments we dominated in the game against a really strong team. I have some small girls and they were fighting hard. They were fighting the entire game.
"I kind of wish we didn't give up the two goals in the first half and could have gone to overtime. If we could have gone to overtime with them, with our fitness and our drive and our tenacity – we would have won the game. It happens that way, but I was really proud of them."
Wolf was especially proud of Emily Walsh, her stopper. Standing at just 5-foot-1, Walsh had to mark a player about six feet tall, Wolf said. The Springfield coach also noted Lindsay Smith, Sarah Potocki, DJ Bosca and Emily Giampietro.
"We haven't been talking, communicating. We had a devastating loss to Upper Dublin. It was almost like Upper Dublin was playing and we weren't there. It was that bad," Wolf said. "This game we came out and we wanted to play. My attacking players had opportunities, which we haven't had in so long."
Quakertown (6-0-1, 5-0-1 SOL) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Monday, and Springfield (0-6-1, 0-4-1) will be on the road at Wissahickon on Tuesday.
QUAKERTOWN 2 0 – 2
SPRINGFIELD 0 0 – 0
Goals: Q – Sam Ramsden (Kyra Handel and Cassidy Owens) 31', Vic Sturgess (Haley Pursel) 33'
WISSAHICKON 3, UPPER MORELAND 0
The Trojans used a stout defensive effort and let their offense do the work in a solid road win on Thursday afternoon.
Alexis Smith scored the eventual winner nine minutes in while Maddie Elwell added a brace to her ever-growing goal total to seal the deal. But it wouldn't have happened without the defensive effort.
“(It was) a solid win for Wissahickon today. Very proud of their composure under the blazing sun and an unrelenting Upper Moreland team," Wissahickon coach Shannon Creamer-Franke said. "At center back, Anna Wilde and Emily Vervlied held UM's strikers at bay. Vervlied was very strong stepping up, playing much like a stopper at times, as Wilde swept up anything that got past, allowing only one shot on goal from UM."
Wissahickon's midfield also played well, contributing some offense and helping set up the first goal when Carly Amato turned a Maddie Elwell cross into an assist.
"From center field Kelly Dickson and Lauren Elwell both demanded the ball and made big plays," Creamer-Franke said. "Lauren Elwell had a shot on goal late in the second half that was just phenomenal play – cut between two defenders to free herself to land a rocket shot that just skimmed the crossbar."
Kim Benge made nine saves for Upper Moreland and coach Lisa Benvenuto cited the continued strong play of Sam Cancel and Madison Pisut.
But there was little they could do to slow down Maddie Elwell,
"Maddie Elwell working the entire 80 minutes, found reward late in the first half off a throw-in from Jasmine Bishiop to create the space she needed, hitting the back of the net from the top of the 18," Creamer-Franke said. "And late in the second half Elwell hit again when she found the ball at her feet to dribble up the left side of the field to the end-line cut back inside towards goal to finish with a brilliant right footed shot."
Wissahickon (5-1-1, 4-1-1 SOL) will host Springfield on Tuesday, and Upper Moreland (2-4-2, 2-3-1) will host neighboring Lower Moreland in a non-league contest Friday.
WISSAHICKON 2 1 – 3
UPPER MORELAND 0 0 – 0
Goals: W – Alexis Smith (Carly Amato) 9:05, Maddie Elwell (Jasmine Bishop) 39:57, Elwell 77:35
UPPER DUBLIN 3, HATBORO-HORSHAM 1
The Flying Cardinals handed the Hatters their first conference loss of the season.
Ali Hontz accounted for the Hatters’ lone goal of the contest.
Upper Dublin (5-3, 3-3 SOL) will travel to Cheltenham on Tuesday, and Hatboro-Horsham (2-3-2, 2-1-2) will be on the road at Cheltenham on Friday.
SOL CONTINENTAL
CB SOUTH 1, NORTH PENN 0
If there's a formula for a Titans’ win, this could be as close as it gets.
An early goal by Brooke Steigerwalt held up thanks to a stellar defensive effort and a huge game from goalkeeper Sophia Boggs, who made 11 saves. Kylie Walsh's slotted pass from the outside midfield spot set up Steigerwalt for the 8th minute tally.
That was all the room Boggs needed.
"In the second half when they were pressuring us, she came way off her line to clear the ball – one time well outside the box," South coach Betsy Bullock said. "She was the difference today."
Knights coach Jim Dehner highlighted the play of Anna Pedicone, Grace Sacchetti, Amelia Eahraghi, Riley Houlihan, Casey Cavanaugh and Liv Jerome.
Central Bucks South (7-1, 4-1 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks East on Tuesday, and North Penn (4-5, 2-3) will host Pennridge on Tuesday.
NORTH PENN 0 0 – 0
CB SOUTH 1 0 – 1
Goals: CBS – Brooke Steigerwalt (Kylie Walsh) 8'
SOUDERTON 3, CB WEST 1
Ali Trick's hat trick did the trick for the Indians on Thursday evening.
The forward found the net in the sixth, 36th and 73rd minutes, each coming on an assist from a different player. Ellie Andrade's high flick set off a sixth minute breakaway while Tori Dowd's flick on of Vivian Feliciani's service set up the second goal.
Trick sealed the deal when Sara Cassel's ball down the middle put the forward in line to finish.
Still, the Indians weren't flawless on the night.
"We want to be up at the top of the conference, but after a bright start to the game, we let ourselves slip," Souderton coach Chris Felber said. "I was disappointed with the overall performance (tonight) but pleased with the result and appreciate that we have learning opportunities from this game."
Souderton (6-2, 4-1 SOL) will be on the road at Phoenixvile on Saturday for a non-league game, and Central Bucks West (4-6, 0-6) will travel to Spring-Ford on Monday for a non-league contest.
PENNRIDGE 4, WILLIAM TENENNT 0
For the second game in a row, the Rams got two goals on either side of the half to pick up a conference win.
Facing Tennent for the first time as Continental foes, Pennridge got tallies from Piper Zimmerman and Abby Groff before halftime to take the 2-0 advantage. After the break, it was all Peace as sisters Kennedy and Kouri Peace each scored for the final line.
Pennridge (6-1, 4-1 SOL) will host Palisades on Friday in a non-league tilt, and William Tennent (3-5, 1-4) will host Souderton on Tuesday.
WILLIAM TENNENT 0 0 – 0
PENNRIDGE 2 2 – 4
Goals: P – Piper Zimmerman, Abby Groff, Kennedy Peace, Kouri Peace.
Non-League
CB EAST 2, ABINGTON 0
An early goal and a late goal served as bookends to a solid league crossover road win for the Patriots.
Delaney Kennedy put one away three minutes in on a Hannah Zach assist while Izzy Hunter iced the contest in the 75th minute with Kiernan Hutchinson playing helper.
"Kristen Obetz had the shutout in goal. Katie Bloom played terrific on defense with Ashley Balderson," CB East coach Paul Eisold said. "It was a terrific goal by Delaney off a service from Zach on the outside for a header as the finish."
Central Bucks East (4-4, 3-2 SOL) will host Emmaus on Monday in a non-league game, and Abington (1-6, 1-3) will be on the road at Little Flower on Friday for a non-league game.
CB EAST 1 1 – 2
ABINGTON 0 0 – 0
Goals: CBE – Delaney Hutchinson (Hannah Zach) 3', Izzy Hunter (Kiernan Hutchinson) 75'
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