Check the recaps for SOL girls’ soccer teams in action Friday.
Upper Dublin 0, Methacton 0 (OT)
After an extremely difficult and challenging week, the Cardinals got a much-needed sense of normalcy for a couple hours on Friday.
They didn’t get a win on the pitch, but getting back on the field was a victory in itself for a team and community just starting to recover from extensive damage left in the wake of Hurricane Ida. Friday’s game venue had to be changed as well. With Upper Dublin’s Cardinal Stadium and SPARK Fields damaged in Wednesday’s storm, Methacton stepped in to host.
“We are very grateful to Methacton for hosting us. Our team needed a little sense of normalcy,” UD coach Chuck Gesing said. “They are a class program. Their boosters even bought us soft pretzels and wrote us a kind note.
“(Warriors coach Brett) Smith was very kind to us and their team was tough. They didn’t give us anything easy, much respect to them.”
Upper Dublin had not practiced since its last scrimmage, but that was also secondary to the ongoing recovery efforts around the school and surrounding neighborhoods. Gesing doesn’t know how long his team will be playing the role of road warriors but was glad to give his players something else to think about.
“The turf seemed like it was in good condition but the fencing is down, the stands and goals are crumpled in the middle of the field. It looks like a war zone,” Gesing said of the damage at the school. “I’m hoping once the debris is removed to get an idea of the timetable. I still don’t even know what players have been displaced and who’s home is usable.”
The Cardinals brought their fortitude with them to the field, especially on the defensive side.
“I was thrilled with the defense today,” Gesing said. “Junior Emeline Bell and freshman Erin Seabrook were fantastic as were our outside backs, seniors Bliss Brenner and Maddie Amoia. We limited Methacton’s attack to awkward-angled shots. Holding midfielder, junior Alaina Sanders, did a fantastic job of clogging Methacton’s attack.”
A veteran back unit held its own in a performance they and Gesing hope become the normal this fall. Senior keeper Rachel Adelman also earned plaudits, making nine saves and erasing other threats by grabbing crosses from mid-air.
“Rachel was coming back from an injury last year and was not 100 percent. Emeline was only a sophomore. Now, having two senior backs, a junior and a very talented freshman starting with a senior keeper, I expect to be very stingy in the back,” Gesing said.
“Our attack grew into the game as it went on and we felt we had several good opportunities in overtime from juniors Alex Devers and Lily Kleiman, we just could not find the back of the net. However, it was a positive result after an extremely trying week. We have not practiced since our last scrimmage, so I was very happy to get a result.”
UD (0-1) will open SOL Liberty play on Thursday with a visit to Abington.
UPPER DUBLIN 0 0 0 0 – 0
METHACTON 0 0 0 0 – 0
Central Bucks East 3, Abington 0
The Patriots weren’t afraid of an early season test and picked up a good win over the defending SOL Liberty champion Ghosts to open their season.
“It’s always great for us to open up against a team that brings some of the same qualities that our conference opponents have,” East coach Jake Nesteruk said. “Abington is a tough team that defends well and is good off the counter. Throw in the fact that it’s not an easy place to play, it is a great starting point for our group as we roll into conference play.”
All of the game’s scoring came in the first 40 minutes. Elise Duffy opened her season account with a two-for-one special, scoring a brace to lead the Patriots attack.
Duffy, who was assisted by Courtney Curry and Liv Kallelis, put her side up 2-0 before an unassisted tally by Camryn Williams provided the final margin.
“Elise was a handful today,” Nesteruk said. “She was great with her back to goal and able to turn her defender. Credit to Courtney Curry and Liv Kallelis for finding her feet early and often. She was just really calm in finishing today which was so great to see.
“Ultimately, it’s the difference between Cam and Elise that make each other so effective.”
After the first half, the Ghosts tightened up and battled East over the final 40 minutes.
“East swamped the Ghosts in the first half with three goals,” Ghosts coach Rick Tompkins said. “(We) settled down in the second half in large part due to the stellar effort of Alexis Ditri in goal.”
Nesteruk also credited the Ghosts for their play in the second half and felt his defense, led by Meredith Black, was the key to keeping the shutout. Keeper Skylar Gash was also up to task, recording the clean sheet.
“Mer was special today on both sides of the ball – really good individual defending, always in a spot to cover for someone and excellent in 50/50s,” Nesteruk said. “Other side of things, she served in some great longer passes which put our front line in some great attacking spots.”
Nesteruk cited the play of his midfield, both from the center and out wide. Center mids Elliot Forney, Sofia Mignon, and Issie Reid were solid all around while Chloe Strawn, Ashley Macomber, and Gwyn Krystkiewicz created chances from the flanks.
“We did some things really well, still fixing some others and our focus is now on traveling to the defending state champions,” Nesteruk said.
East (1-0) will open SOL Colonial play at Pennridge on Thursday.
CB EAST 3 0 – 3
ABINGTON 0 0 – 0
Goals: CBE – Elise Duffy 2, Camryn Williams
Bensalem 4, Lower Moreland 0
Last fall, it took the Owls until their very last game to get into the win column.
This year, they didn’t have to wait very long. Bensalem jumped out to an early lead and carried the momentum through to pick up a win over a youthful Lions team to open the season.
“We played a lot more like a team than we have in the past,” Owls coach Bob Crawford said. “Every player contributed, every player was passing and moving the entire time and our speed up top really helped.”
Bensalem netted three first-half goals thanks to Lexi Cahill, Caitlin Groves and Sam Daut. The Owls would add a second half marker from Farrah Watson to round out the day’s scoring.
“Their goalie was really good, but we also missed a lot of open nets,” Crawford said. “I like where this team is heading, this is the year we’ve been working for. We’re led by a group of seniors that came in when it was my first year as the coach, so we’ve kind of been working toward this.”
Scoring goals is important, but so is preventing them. Bensalem’s defense got off on the right foot as well, led by standout play from center backs Delaney Bell and Erin Devlin.
“I was really happy with the whole team today, to be honest,” Crawford said. “I have seven seniors, but we’re filling in around them mostly with JV players from last year. We’re kind of a mix in that regard.”
Crawford noted his team’s tough schedule, which includes the usual home-and-away sets with SOL Patriot opponents but also crossovers with the SOL Colonial Division, so getting an early win was important for the Owls’ collective confidence.
“I’m hoping we continue to compete,” Crawford said. “I’m hoping we’re going to have a good season, I don’t want to get ahead of myself but today the girls played a good game and we know every game gets tougher from here on out.”
The Owls (1-0) jump right into their conference slate, hosting Pennsbury on Thursday afternoon.
BENSALEM 3 1 – 4
LOWER MORELAND 0 0 – 0
Goals: B – Lexi Cahill, Caitlin Groves, Sam Daut, Farrah Watson.
Central Bucks South 4, Great Valley 1
There are a lot of new names on the Titans’ roster this fall, but they’re already coming together in the right way.
After a scoreless first half, the newcomers paced a second half outburst that saw the Titans erupt for four goals and an opening-day win. The chances were there in the first half, so coach Amy Moriarty got her team locked in during the break.
“We had 10 solid shots in the first half and had a productive talk from the girls about making every opportunity count,” Moriarty said. “We knew we needed to get on the board first and we did. Once we did that, we settled in and were relentless in attacking their side.”
Junior Eva Costello broke the deadlock with a goal five minutes into the second half off an assist by Alison Sauers. Sauers filling the role of facilitator was a trend, with the midfielder tallying a helper on three of the Titans’ four goals.
“Alison is a very selfless player and is always looking three steps ahead of each and every play,” Moriarty said “She has an incredible ability to read plays on and off the ball and know exactly where her teammates are going to be.
“She executes passes and works relentlessly to back on the defensive then right back into the attack.”
Just two minutes after Costello gave her team the lead, freshman Julia Molnar doubled it. The ninth grader tallied two goals, both on Sauers’ assists, getting her second in the 78th minute as an answer to Great Valley’s lone tally.
Lily Black, another freshman, bagged the other goal for South, converting a penalty kick in the 65th minute that gave the Titans a 3-0 lead.
“This is huge,” Moriarty said. “We have a lot of new players joining the returning players from last year – everyone has been welcoming and are excited to become a unified team. We had two winning scrimmages where we worked hard to get used to playing with one another and build up the team’s positivity and chemistry.”
South’s defense also chipped in, not only preventing Great Valley from getting the all-important opening goal but also helping get the Titans’ attack in motion.
“They knew they needed to start the attack from the back and pressed in tight to win 50/50 balls and deny and building opportunity,” Moriarty said. “Our standouts on defense were Madelyn Tantum, Makayla Miller, Holly Joseph and Emalee Day.”
The Titans (1-0) return to action with a road trip to Souderton on Thursday to begin SOL Colonial play.
CB SOUTH 0 4 – 4
GREAT VALLEY 0 1 – 1
Goals: CBS – Julia Molnar 2, Lily Black, Eva Costello
Downingtown West 5, Pennsbury 2
The Falcons had a rough start to their season, dropping a match to the Whippets as part of Unionville’s season-opening event.
“Score doesn’t reflect the strong play from Pennsbury. West was disciplined defensively and capitalized on their opportunities,” coach Kaitlyn Battiste said. “(The) girls never gave up and are looking to build on the strong finish they had in today’s game.”
Pennsbury (0-1) will face host Unionville on Saturday.
DOWNINGTOWN WEST – 5
PENNSBURY – 2
Haverford 1, Council Rock North 0 (OT)
The Indians lost a heartbreaker against a quality Fords team that usually contends for a postseason bid.
“Tough loss today against a solid team,” CR North coach Gavin Flannigan said. “We had a weird week due to the storm so we haven’t practiced in a few days, and we missed our final scrimmage, nevertheless I thought we competed well, but couldn’t find the final pass or shot.
“Losing in OT always seems cruel, but to lose with five seconds left was really tough. We had a lot of girls getting their first significant varsity minutes today, so it was pleasing to see them do well. I thought Danielle Eden in goal was good, and Ella McAleer, Kate Thomson and DJ Lepore were very good in the middle.”
North (0-1) returns to play on Thursday when it hosts Harry S Truman in the SOL opener for both sides.
“It will be good to get back to practice next week and get some more work in before our next game,” Flannigan said.
HAVERFORD 0 0 1 – 1
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0 0 – 0
Lower Merion 1, Wissahickon 0
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