Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ soccer teams in action Friday.
SOL CONTINENTAL
CB SOUTH 2, SOUDERTON 0
It was a big day for South as the school unveiled its brand new turf field at its stadium.
The first team to play on it was also the first to win on it as the Titans clawed their way past a very resilient Souderton side. A pair of late goals plus some usual brilliance from the defense and keeper Sophia Boggs ushered in the new surface on a high note.
"We were the first South team to play on the new turf in the stadium, and the girls were excited about having the first win," CB South coach Betsy Bullock said. "We knew coming in this was a well-coached (Souderton) squad that would test us."
True to form, two of the most stout defenses in the region played to a scoreless halftime tie. However, that was almost not the case. Souderton had an extremely threatening late chance that was only denied thanks to the Titans' last line of defense.
"One of their speedy forwards got behind our defense and had a clear shot on goal," Bullock said. "I honestly thought it was going in the upper 90, but Boggs perfectly timed her jump and pushed the ball over the net."
It was one of seven saves on the day for the senior and the biggest.
"The game could have taken a different direction if that goes in," Bullock said.
Bullock also credited the efforts of defenders Krysta Reading, Nicole Wills, Courtney Taylor and Margot Centofanti in containing Souderton's speed up top.
The second half saw CB South gain a bit more of a foothold thanks to an increase in possession. Bullock said it was a result of her players disrupting passing lanes and also playing more balls direct, over the top of Souderton's back line.
It was all about patience for the Titans attackers, waiting for the right opportunities on a wet afternoon on a slick surface. They also made some good runs to get open and eventually, everything fell into place.
"In the 70th minute, Julia Coco slotted a beautiful ball to the outside where Mackenzie Edwards collected the ball and assisted Kylie Walsh, who finished the goal," Bullock said.
Coco's impact on the game is a textbook example of how critical depth is in the game.
"Julia comes off the bench at the center mid position and always gives us quality minutes," Bullock said. "She is a very intelligent, tactical player."
South locked away the win with a second goal just three minutes after its first.
"Brooke Steigerwalt sent a ball across the goal that Aleksa Peev buried in the upper 90," Bullock said.
Souderton (4-3-1, 4-2 SOL) visits Pennridge Saturday night at 7 p.m. while CB South (10-1, 6-1) is at West Chester East in a 3 p.m. start Saturday.
SOUDERTON 0 0 – 0
CB SOUTH 0 2 – 2
Goals: CBS – Kylie Walsh (Mackenzie Edwards) 70', Aleksa Peev (Brooke Steigerwalt) 73'
Non-League
NORTH PENN 3, UPPER DUBLIN 2
The Knights were able to outlast the Flying Cardinals in a nonleague crossover contest Friday afternoon.
It was a day for the goalkeepers as UD's Devon Jones made 10 saves while North Penn's Hannah Lambert wrapped up a solid week of efforts with four stops.
"Hannah Lambert had another great game by eliminating rebounds from shots," Knights coach Jim Dehner said. "The defense did a nice job of having Upper Dublin take less dangerous shots."
Sophia Broadhurst, Amelia Eshraghi and Jackie Galang provided the scoring for North Penn. Olivia Urban and Riley Houlihan had assists.
Outside of the scoring, Dehner noted the performances of Cat Myers, Casey Cavanaugh, Kat Stevenson, Julia Berry, Marissa Werner and Anna Pedicone.
Goals: NP – Sophia Broadhurst (Olivia Urban), Amelia Eshraghi, Jackie Galang (Riley Houlihan)
North Penn (5-7, 2-5 SOL) will host Central Bucks West on Wednesday, and Upper Dublin (7-4, 5-3) will host Quakertown on Wednesday.
PENNRIDGE 4, HATBORO-HORSHAM 0
Former Continental rivals met again on Friday with Pennridge's offense proving too much on a rainy day.
"Our defense did a great job today dealing with the wet surface, ball and their forwards' pressure," Rams coach Audrey Anderson said. "Our outside backs played in great early crosses, and Kennedy Peace was able to finish one."
Peace converted a Piper Zimmerman cross to give the Rams a 2-0 lead at half, getting the second on a Hatters own goal. After the break, Abby Groff and Melissa Lyon each added a tally.
Pennridge got a big boost to its ranks as well, bringing back one of its top midfield players to the fold.
"Katie Fischer played her first game back today after suffering an ankle injury in the beginning of the season," Anderson said.
Pennridge (9-1, 5-1 SOL) hosts Souderton Saturday night at 7 p.m. Hatboro-Horsham (4-5-2, 4-2-2) will be on the road at Upper Moreland on Wednesday.
Goals: P – Kennedy Peace (Piper Zimmerman), Abby Groff, Melissa Lyon
SPRINGFIELD 3, UPPER MERION 0
A year ago, this matchup would have impacted the American standings. This year, it's a nonleague matchup.
The performance and ensuing result was a bit of a breakthrough for the Spartans, who haven't seen all the hard work they've been putting into games paying off.
"I got to play some of the girls I don’t play that often, and they really did a good job of stepping up and playing hard," Springfield coach Suzette Wolf said. "We had a freshman up from jayvee, Annie Giampietro, and she scored the first goal 10 minutes into the game. She’s been swinging back and forth, and she’s going to be a good player for us and really contributes to helping out the team. We haven’t been scoring goals, so she sparked the team with that first goal."
Wolf said the weather presented a bit of a sloppy field but added that her team played with a calmness and that it was an even matchup between the sides.
As a team seeking to get something going, the Spartans have made some changes and been trying some different things. A couple of them paid off on Friday. Lindsey Smith scored the team's second goal about 20 minutes in.
"We pushed Lindsey up from sweeper so we could get some offense, and it’s helping us a lot," Wolf said.
Springfield's final tally came from senior Molly Duggan.
“She had a great shot from 20 yards out and put it in. It was very nice," Wolf said. “Finally, it was a game where we could relax and not crazily run around the field like we have been.”
The Spartans got an all-around effort from the entire roster.
"Midfielder Josie Anderson came on and really played well. Ellie Leitzel, a forward, did a nice job of distributing the ball today," Wolf said. “We dominated the second half and had a lot of shots but just couldn’t put them in. It was nice, for a change, to be on the dominating side for the girls to feel good about themselves."
Even in a loss to Hatboro-Horsham on Thursday, Wolf saw plenty to be happy about.
"Today we finished it off. Next week we play Cheltenham, and I’m hoping that because we have this win we’ll go in with a good attitude, a positive attitude," Wolf said.
Springfield (1-8-1, 0-6-1 SOL) will host Cheltenham on Wednesday.
UPPER MERION 0 0 – 0
SPRINGFIELD 2 1 – 3
Goals: S- Annie Giampietro, Lindsey Smith, Molly Duggan.
QUAKERTOWN 2, SOUTHERN LEHIGH 0
A day after a big conference win, the Panthers stayed unbeaten with a nonleague road victory Friday afternoon.
Grace Kave played a huge part in the win on both sides of the ball, locking down the back line and assisting both of the Panthers' goals. Vic Sturgess and Ashley Gluck provided the markers for the 9-0-1 Panthers.
"Grace gave us two assists and she filled in at center back and was stellar," Quakertown coach Mike Koch said. "Her versatility was so important today coming off a night game and needing to rest injured players. She fit in the defense and it was seamless."
Quakertown will be on the road at Upper Dublin on Wednesday.
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 1, VILLA MARIA ACADEMY 0
It took almost the entire game, but the Indians got a crucial win on a wet Friday afternoon.
Kayla Robinson broke a scoreless tie in the 79th minute, finishing off a Meredith Hill pass for the winner.
North asked a lot of recently returned Brielle Reich, and the senior co-captain was up to the task.
"She came back from a foot injury yesterday was supposed to sit today's game, but Mia Scalamadre had to go home sick and we had to rely on Brielle for the full 80," Indians coach Wendell Beres said. "She really stepped up and showed why she is one of the captains of this group."
The result was important but so was the way Council Rock North got it.
"We didn't play particularly well, but we battled hard all day," Beres said. "The girls really listened to the halftime adjustments and grinded out a victory with hard work. I'm very proud of all four captains, Reich, Caitlin Duffy, Emily Mackin and Kayla Robinson, they led by example today when we needed it most.
"You can win games when you're off with a bit of effort. We did that today against a very good team."
Villa certainly put North to the test all match, and it was up to Council Rock North to figure how how to pass it.
"We were giving their center midfielders too much space. We needed to step up and put more pressure on them, we also needed to play in their half more," Beres said. "The field was slippery, so we eliminated most passing in our half. We put it in their end and pressured them into mistakes. Kayla and Becca Margolis did a nice job of putting their backs under a ton of pressure which generated a ton of chances."
Beres said he felt like his team could have scored a few more goals, but they only needed one. Eventually, the Indians got it.
"Meredith Hill stepped up and made a tackle, then put the ball into the box," Beres said. "Kayla outworked her mark and the goalkeeper to get to the ball first and slotted it home with less than a minute to go. It was her 11th goal in as many games."
Carly Riggs made eight stops in net for her eighth shutout win of the season
With its lineup stronger and the second half of conference play getting started, this is the time the Indians have been waiting for.
"The calendar turns to October, which is the month that 90 percent of teams will end their seasons," Beres said. "With efforts like today, we'll have a realistic shot at being part of the other 10 percent."
Council Rock North (8-3, 4-3 SOL) will face Council Rock South on Wednesday.
VILLA MARIA 0 0 – 0
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0 1 – 1
Goals: CRN – Kayla Robinson (Meredith Hill) 79'
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 5, MARPLE NEWTOWN 0
The Golden Hawks offense came to life in a nonleague contest Friday.
Chelsea Jameson and Emily Helmich teamed up for the shutout in net. Five different players, Maria Buonomo, Caroline Doyle, Sierra Tarantino, Cassidy Kmetz and Kiera Flanagan, scored for South.
Jesse Magee had a hat-trick of assists.
Council Rock South (7-4-1, 4-2-1 SOL) will host Council Rock North on Wednesday.
MARPLE NEWTOWN 0 0 – 0
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 2 3 – 5
Goals: CRS – Maria Buonomo (Jesse Magee) 11', Caroline Doyle (Magee) 16', Sierra Tarantino (Magee) 51', Cassidy Kmetz (Julia Goldberg) 65', Kiera Flanagan (Sammy Jones) 70'
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