Check the recaps for SOL girls’ soccer teams in action Tuesday. Pennsbury/Bensalem photos provided courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography. Check back for a gallery of action photos. Lower Moreland/Upper Moreland photo provided courtesy of Greg Zesinger. Neshaminy/CR South photo courtesy of Jesse Garber (https://JSGarber.zenfolio.com/p996700417).
SOL PATRIOT
Pennsbury 2, Bensalem 0
Identities are going to be forged on the field this fall.
Without the typical preseason, scrimmages and nonleague competition, teams will have to play through any growing pains and figure it out on the field in a shortened 2020 season. Such is the case for Pennsbury, even after a season-opening win.
“Typically, there’s a scrimmage or two to help develop team identity, so without those opportunities, we learned a lot from this game,” Falcons co-head coach Kaitlyn Battiste said. “We were fortunate to get on the board early in the game and took advantage of some restarts.”
Taylor Mays and Olivia Gentile each found the back of the net in the first half for Pennsbury while Kayla Karamis and Sam Strausbaugh provided the assists.
No team is going to perfect in the early going, but Battiste said her team’s effort and energy was high and they worked to improve on and correct any mistakes.
“It was exciting to get out there and be a part of something familiar again,” Battiste said.
Veterans like Darrien Furriness, Bella Arcuri and Sarah Lohrey provided a calming presence and maintained composure while some of the team’s newcomers like Strausbaugh, Erin Butler, Grace Palmieri and Karamis brought solid contributions on both sides of the ball.
“We’re excited to watch the girls grow from this game,” Battiste said.
Pennsbury (1-0) travels to rival Neshaminy on Thursday. Bensalem (0-1) will head to Wissahickon in a Thursday crossover.
Pennsbury 2 0 – 2
Bensalem 0 0 – 0
Goals: P – Taylor Mays, Olivia Gentile
Council Rock South 0, Neshaminy 0 (OT)
Opening night brought plenty of effort but no winner for the Golden Hawks and Redskins on Tuesday.
“It was quite a different vibe with no away fans, individual chairs instead of team benches, etc., but we were excited to get the season .jpg)
underway,” CR South coach Nick Heim said. “With no scrimmages for either team, the early going was a bit of getting back to the speed of play and getting some nerves out.”
Heim credited Neshaminy for taking charge early and setting a physical tone in the first half, which forced the Hawks to adapt. Aubrey Hondros and Cameron Blatz each hit the bar for CR South while Neshaminy continued to test the Hawks’ defense.
Neshaminy coach Renny Papendick said it was a tough but hard-fought game for both teams.
“Both sides had opportunities, South hit a few crossbars, we had a few near-misses,” Papendick said. “They seem to have an older group, while we’re working with a bit of a younger side but we’re learning.”
The second half was similar as both teams worked hard for chances but neither could break through.
“This was quite the test to go 100 minutes this early in the season. It seemed each overtime saw the team with the wind at their backs generating better chances but after 100 minutes we remained scoreless,” Heim said. “I felt we had some really good moments, and some moments we need to address, but that was expected with it being our first time against someone other than ourselves.”
Heim pointed to the play of Lauren Smith and Kimmie Herrit in the middle and Kim Speiser and Karly Wunder on the back line for helping counter Neshaminy’s physical play.
Both squads head right into rivalry games as CR South (0-0-1) visits CR North on Thursday and Neshaminy (0-0-1) hosts Pennsbury the same afternoon.
Council Rock South 0 0 0 0 – 0
Neshaminy 0 0 0 0 – 0
SOL COLONIAL
Souderton 2, Central Bucks South 1
It wasn’t the start the Indians wanted, but they didn’t mind the finish.
“Souderton went down 1-0 two minutes into the game and was on their heels for most of the half,” Souderton coach Ian Smith said. “South was able to use their speed to get in behind on a breakaway that was saved well by Souderton senior goalkeeper Morgan Molyneaux. Unfortunately, the rebound fell to a South player who tapped it home for the first goal.”
Molyneaux, a second-year starter in goal, helped keep her team in range with a couple of crucial first half saves while the Titans carried their 1-0 lead to the break.
At halftime, the Indians recovered and found a second wind of energy.
“Their efforts resulted in a corner kick that was struck by junior Katie Pazdziorko who was able to find Avery Nogami for the finish,” Smith said.
Nogami stayed engaged, drawing a foul and dangerous free kick about a minute later, but a well-hit ball by senior Leah Mowery sailed a few inches over the bar.
Souderton’s experience in the attack paid off as the Indians’ effort and combination play led to the go-ahead tally.
“Souderton continued to apply pressure as senior Hannah Alderfer won the ball high up field and was able to spring Pazdziorko on a break away,” Smith said. “Pazdziorko broke free and was able to poke home the game-winning goal.”
Souderton (1-0) will host CB East on Thursday evening. CB South (0-1) is idle until next Tuesday, when it also faces CB East.
Souderton 0 2 – 2
Central Bucks South 1 0 – 1
Goals: S – Avery Nogami, Katie Pazdziorko
Pennridge 5, Central Bucks East 0
The Rams got five goals from five different scorers in Tuesday’s season opener, but according to coach Audrey Anderson, the score didn’t indicate the type of game it was.
“I thought East played really well and I was really impressed, I thought they did well and we just took advantage of our opportunities,” Anderson said. “We had some lucky bounces, but I was most excited with our ability in the midfield to connect and our forwards to have so many scoring opportunities.”
Pennridge, the reigning District I 4A champion, had a couple big holes to fill in the midfield after graduating Maddie Anderson and Chance Hendricks, so the Rams turned to one of their veteran leaders. Senior Lindsey DeHaven – despite giving up some size to East’s talented midfielders like Olivia Portner and Chloe Strawn – was a key factor in getting Pennridge’s offense moving.
“I moved Lindsey DeHaven to a holding center mid because she’s really, really good in the air,” Anderson said. “She likes to go forward and we let her do that as long as she gets back to win those balls. East’s midfield is so tall, but Lindsey was winning those balls out of the air and she was everywhere.”
Emily Kriney, off an assist by Riley Hepler, and Leah Malone, assisted by Liv Grenda, staked the Rams to a 2-0 lead at the half. Grenda opened the second half with an unassisted goal, DeHaven converted a penalty kick and Tori Angelo scored off a feed from Kiera Dam to close out the scoring.
Anderson added that DeHaven and Grenda had a good connection throughout the game and the Rams were able to move players around the field in different positions.
“We have five or six freshmen playing varsity so it was important for them to see what our season is going to be like,” Anderson said. “We talked about it a lot during our preseason, we talked about having that target, how every game is going to be tough and that we need to be prepared.”
Pennridge (1-0) will host North Penn on Thursday afternoon. CB East (0-1) will head to Souderton on Thursday evening.
Pennridge 2 3 – 5
Central Bucks East 0 0 – 0
Goals: P – Emily Kriney, Leah Malone, Liv Grenda, Lindsey DeHaven, Tori Angelo
Central Bucks West 3, North Penn 1
A quick start and a brace by Taylor Moyer propelled the Bucks to a season-opening win.
Playing on their alternate field with War Memorial Field still undergoing repairs from severe storm damage, the Bucks wasted little time getting on the scoreboard.
“We started off pretty quick. Taylor Moyer got our first goal about four minutes into the game,” West coach Mike Moyer said. “Maeve Shiffler sent a great ball in behind the defense and Taylor buried the shot to go up 1-0.”
Coach Moyer credited the Knights’ ability to win balls in the midfield as a strength and added North Penn applied plenty of pressure in a back-and-forth first half.
Taylor Moyer would double the lead midway through the opening stanza.
“Erin Stranix play a great ball over the top that Taylor ran onto and hit a composed shot that went side net,” the Bucks’ coach said.
Riley Corona pushed the Bucks’ lead to 3-0 in the second half after she punched home a second-chance effort when her initial shot was denied.
“We started fast in the second half. I thought we settled in and controlled the tempo,” coach Moyer said. “Riley Corona got our third goal with pure hustle with a great ball from Ava Longo.”
The Knights drew a penalty kick in the second half to get on the board, but couldn’t generate any more scores against West’s defensive unit.
“Mariella Neri played unbelievable at center mid and my defense led by senior captain Keely McGlone was lights out,” Moyer said. “Courtney Moylan and Bella Centenera were tremendous.”
North Penn (0-1) visits Pennridge on Thursday. CB West (1-0) will resume play next Tuesday against the Rams.
Central Bucks West 2 1 – 3
North Penn 0 1 – 1
Goals: CBW – Taylor Moyer 2, Riley Corona
SOL LIBERTY
Plymouth Whitemarsh 1, Quakertown 0 (OT)
Ryan Zehren knew what his pre-overtime message to his players would be.
“The one thing I said to them because we have a lot of seniors this year was ‘You guys are built for this,'” the Colonials’ coach said. “We’ve been building for it the past three to four years, the opportunities to win close games. We pulled out some last year, but to start out winning in that fashion is huge momentum for a shortened season.”
The 2019 season saw plenty of close games for the defensive-minded Colonials, and as their 2020 season opened against a game Quakertown team on the road, they dug down and found a way to win. Junior Gabby Cooper’s left-footed half-volley from Bella McNew was enough to end a good back-and-forth game.
“Since my assistant coaches and I have been part of the program, we’ve never beaten Quakertown,” Zehren said. “Playing at their place, it’s so hard to play there. Their new field and facility was absolutely amazing so I’m sure they were pumped to use it.”
Zehren said both halves followed a similar formula. The Colonials got off to a good start, generated chances but couldn’t convert and had to fend off a surge by the Panthers, who rotated plenty of players in and out of the match.
PW keeper Devon Skiles made a terrific point-blank save in the first half to keep it scoreless.
On the other side, Zehren praised the play of Quakertown keeper Morgan Sipprell, who turned away shot after shot.
“She’s a really good goalie and we had a difficult time putting the ball past her,” Zehren said. “We had plenty of opportunities and had the ball down in our offensive end much of the time, but they really did a nice job with transitional offense and giving us some scares on counters.”
While the Colonials had some tired legs, their defenders didn’t let it sap their ability to get back and stop Quakertown’s counters. Junior Kaitlyn Flanagan and sophomore Kate Yocum were a dynamic duo at center back covering the back line.
“She had a tremendous game, particularly in the first half,” Zehren said of Yocum. “For it being her first game at center back, playing side-by-side with Flanagan, it’s very promising for the next two years to come.”
Lauren Ianniello, Bella McNew and Raya Gauntlett also aided the defensive effort in front of Skiles.
A couple bounces in PW’s favor, a timely boot by McNew and a hit by Cooper added up to a winning afternoon. Zehren said it was a little chaotic, but a ball into the box bounced around a few times before McNew directed it toward Cooper, who was stationed just inside the 18-yard marker.
“I think she caught it on a half-volley with her left foot, which is not her strong foot and she hit right to the top of the net, a tough spot for any keeper to save it,” Zehren said. “To beat the keeper they have, it had to be that way. It was strong, no-doubt about it, as soon as it left her foot.”
PW (1-0) heads to Hatboro-Horsham on Thursday afternoon. Quakertown (0-1) hosts Upper Dublin the same day.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 0 0 1 – 1
Quakertown 0 0 0 – 0
Goals: PW – Gabby Cooper
Hatboro-Horsham 5, Wissahickon 1
Emily Thomas came out firing to start the season.
The Hatters’ goal-minded junior forward cashed in early and often as she accounted for all five of her team’s tallies in the season-opening win. A mainstay in the H-H lineup since her first game, Thomas will be asked to do even more for her team this fall.
“Emily has been a varsity starter for three years now and each year her confidence on the field gets better,” Hatters coach Kelsey Daley said. “The team knows to look for Emily up top because she is so quick on and off the ball. She is not afraid to go at players and go the net and that’s exactly what she did today.”
After opening her account with an unassisted goal, Thomas used a set-up on each of the ensuing four strikes.
“She was always at the right spot at the right time,” Daley said. “Emily is a very competitive player and will never back down from a play. She is what gets our offense going.”
Mia Malofiy, Caroline Shegogue, Emma Levin and Maggie O’Neill all tallied assists to Thomas. The Hatters, the SOL American champion last year, lost some key players to graduation and are relying on some new faces to fill in around the returning players.
“We have a younger team this year and for half the starters, it is their first time ever playing on a varsity field,” Daley said. “The girls have worked extra hard this preseason and that showed today on the field. They adjusted really well together and had a great team connection.”
Hatboro-Horsham (1-0) hosts Plymouth Whitemarsh for an early-season test on Thursday. Wissahickon (0-1) will face Bensalem in a crossover game.
Hatboro-Horsham 3 2 – 5
Wissahickon 1 0 – 1
Goals: HH – Emily Thomas 5
SOL FREEDOM
Upper Moreland 1, Lower Moreland 1 (OT)
The Golden Bears and Lions have been longtime rivals, but Tuesday marked their first meeting as fellow SOL opponents.
They’ll both have to wait for this season’s second meeting to see if they can find a winner, however, after opening up play in the new SOL 
Freedom conference with a draw.
Paige Malpezzi scored 13 minutes in, giving the former BAL side Lower Moreland an early lead. Tuesday’s game marked a return to the pitch for Malpezzi after missing all of her junior year with a torn ACL.
“What a way to start the season. Our girls showed up today to play,” Upper Moreland coach Lisa Benvenuto said. “Even after going down a goal in the first thirteen minutes they worked the ball through for many offensive opportunities. We had a lot of players step up and be aggressive on ball.”
Just 16 seconds into the second half, the Bears found the equalizer. A play off the opening tap led to Emma Frasca finding Kathryn Morrow for the tying goal.
According to Benvenuto, Emma Frasca, Kyra Favors, Kathryn Morrow, Angelina Martino and Kaiya Herb all had standout performances for Upper Moreland while new goalkeeper Natalie Walton, taking over for graduated All-SOL pick Jaclyn Martino, had six saves in goal.
Tuesday’s game was Mike Gould’s first as a coach of the Lions. Lower Moreland’s all-time leading scorer, Bridgette Alexander, and former star goalie Ceili Courduff are his assistants.
Upper Moreland (0-0-1) is idle until next Tuesday when it visits Springfield Twp. Lower Moreland (0-0-1) will meet former BAL rival and fellow SOL newcomer New Hope-Solebury on Thursday.
Lower Moreland 1 0 0 0 – 1
Upper Moreland 0 1 0 0 – 1
Goals; LM – Paige Malpezzi; UM – Kathryn Morrow
New Hope-Solebury 3, Springfield Twp 2
The Lions made their SOL debut with an impressive win over a resilient Spartans team on Tuesday.
“Fun, high-energy first game of the year,” New Hope-Solebury coach Dom Antonini said.
The Lions struck first, starting a seesaw run of momentum as they traded tallies with the Spartans the rest of the way. Freshman Kendall Malmros set up the first goal midway through the first half by hitting junior Ciara Maguire in stride, with Maguire taking care of the rest.
“She ran the right flank and drew the keeper out and placed it beautifully far post on the ground,” Antonini said.
Springfield answered to tie it, then took the lead on a hard-earned second goal. The Spartans took the lead and momentum into the break up 2-1.
“Our sophomore keeper Margaret Tresler made an incredible save and hold but upon falling it bounced out and just barely over the line,” Antonini said.
A pair of Springfield freshmen, Alana Decker and Kaleigh Evans, found their way onto the score sheet in their first varsity game.
“Solid ball movement from senior attacker Hannah Potocki helped to develop the scoring opportunities,” Springfield coach Dan Malora said of the senior, who had two assists.
In the second half, the Lions continued to focus on attack the flank spaces. Again, a mix of younger players and upperclassmen helped create a goal for the Lions.
“Ava Marrone (sophomore) finally broke through and played it across from the left flank to a crashing Abby Vickner (senior) who tapped it in for the equalizer,” Antonini said. “New Hope kept pushing and took the lead from a Nicole Wilson (junior) shot on goal that was saved but rebounded by Rylie Hepp.”
Sam Finch, Ava Marrone and Tess Murray were standouts on the defensive side for New Hope-Solebury.
The Lions (1-0) host Lower Moreland on Thursday. Springfield Twp (0-1) will visit William Tennent on Thursday afternoon.
New Hope-Solebury 1 2 – 3
Springfield Township 2 0 – 2
Goals: NHS – Ciara Maguire, Abby Vickner, Rylie Hepp; ST – Alana Decker, Kaleigh Evans
Crossover
Council Rock North 4, William Tennent 1
With a gap in each of their schedules, the former SOL National foes met in a crossover game Tuesday.
A quick start aided the Indians while the Panthers struggled to catch up after falling behind.
“The first game of this season was always going to be tough, but we were pleased with our start today. Scoring early helped us settle some nerves and our senior leadership was excellent throughout,” CR North coach Gavin Flannigan said. “Tennent has some dangerous players in Caroline Weir and Gabby Sowers, I thought we did a good job at stopping them as well as creating our own chances.”
Kyra DelSignore opened the account for Council Rock North with a finish after a build-up featuring Taylor Brennand and Julianna Lanigan.
“We missed several opportunities to tie it back up but couldn’t put the ball in the net,” Tennent coach Bill Hontz said. “We missed our chances and they scored on theirs. It was nice to be out there playing, but I just wish we finished a few balls to make it a game.”
North took advantage of Tennent’s misfires and opened up its lead. Sammy Judge played a part in the next two goals, drilling a free kick to make it 2-0 before assisting when Anna Cairone put away her corner kick late in the first half.
“For us it was important to give minutes to as many players as we could as there have been no scrimmages,” Flannigan said. “I thought Izzy Linus and DJ Lepore did a great job in the middle today, and Riley Hamilton was solid defensively in the second half.”
Morgan McCaffery tallied the Indians’ lone goal in the second half.
Tennent got its first of the season thanks to a 73rd minute effort from freshman Ava DeGeorge. The Panthers are facing yet another new slate of opponents as they move into the new SOL Freedom conference.
“We hope for some better play as we meet our new opponents for the year,” Hontz said. “Changing division can always be challenging for the type of play you will face. This is my fourth year as head coach and this is the third different division we are moving into. We look forward to the challenge.”
Tennent (0-1) will host Springfield Township to start its new conference schedule on Thursday. CR North (1-0) moves into SOL Patriot play by hosting CR South on Thursday.
“It was nice to win but it was great to actually see the girls play today, they have worked long and hard to prepare themselves for this and to finally have the opportunity was a great reward,” Flannigan said.
Council Rock North 3 1 – 4
William Tennent 0 1 – 1
Goals: CRN – Kyra DelSignore, Sammy Judge, Anna Cairone, Morgan McCaffery; WT – Ava DeGeorge
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