Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ soccer teams in action Thursday.
SOL Continental
Souderton 4, Central Bucks South 3 2OT
Cara McCausland is back.
McCausland was an impact player for Souderton, scoring the first and game-winning fourth goals. She put the Indians on the board in the 51st minute when she won and converted a penalty kick.
McCausland missed much of last season with an injury and her return only adds to a potent Souderton attack.
"She's a very different player to our other strikers and she's a senior captain," Souderton coach Chris Felber said. "She had a very classy finish at the end to seal the Golden Goal. Her technical ability is a difference for us up top."
Thursday's game was a duel between two quality strikers in McCausland and South's Aleksa Peev. Peev, a senior forward, turned in a sterling performance for South with two goals and an assist.
"She was just a handful," Felber said.
The hosting Titans struck first and used their defense to maintain a 1-0 edge at the half, thanks to a Peev goal with a Chelsea Nichols assist.
After McCausland scored the equalizer, Tori Dowd staked the Indians to a lead off an Allie Trick assist. Trick extended the lead on a through ball by Sara Readinger.
Then Peev took over for a spell, scoring on a breakaway in the 65th minute.The equalizer came in the 77th minute by Mackenzie Edwards with an assist by Peev.
As the game headed to extra time, the Indians regrouped.
"We just gave them a quick reminder of our team philosophy to work hard, don't give up and play free," Felber said.
Felber said his defenders all played well and possessed the ball well out of the back, which helped Souderton slow South's momentum. Finally, near the end of the second extra session, Kallie Harwick sent a corner kick that McCausland converted into the winner.
"It was a great team performance from everyone," Felber said.
CB South travels to Pennridge on Friday while Souderton hosts CB East.
SOUDERTON 0 3 0 1 – 4
CB SOUTH 1 2 0 0 – 3
Goals: S – Cara McCausland (PK), Tori Dowd (Allie Trick), Allie Trick (Sara Readinger), McCausland (Kallie Harwick); CBS – Aleksa Peev (Chelsea Nichols), Peev, Mackenzie Edwards (Aleksa Peev)
SOL American
Upper Dublin 6, Cheltenham 1
Upper Dublin didn't have many offensive chances in its opening match at Conestoga, but they had plenty on Thursday.
Tina Haig made sure they were put to good use, scoring three goals and assisting on a fourth as the Cardinals opened SOL American play with a win. The senior midfielder scored UD's first goal, then twice in quick succession during the second half for the hat trick.
"We want Tina playing up the field," UD coach John Topper said. "When we can free her up, you can see the ability she has. She can create something out of nothing, she can pick a good pass and she's a good finisher."
Upper Dublin led 3-0 at the half on goals by Haig, Molly Pappalardo and Emily Booth, with Haig assisting Pappalardo's and Lindsey Schreiber helping out Booth's.
With a home match against Quakertown on deck for Friday, Topper wanted to try and rest players as much as possible and put plenty of reserves into the game. Likewise, playing on the narrow confines of Cheltenham's field added some other challenges to the game.
"I was very proud of our girls,” Topper said. “With Cheltenham, just the differences between their field and our own, we always know we're coming into a tough spot here.
"We have to make some adjustments, we're not able to play the ball wide the way we like to sometimes. Our girls did what we asked them to and I'm happy with the result."
Cheltenham got on the board when Ella Brown converted a penalty kick about 15 minutes into the second half. The Panthers also got another strong game from senior keeper Eliana Weiler, who made 12 saves.
Upper Dublin is still fine-tuning things in its offensive third, but few things are more helpful than seeing balls end up in the back of the net.
"We're working some people in where it may not be their natural position so we're trying to have them get a little more selfish, and a little more quick to shoot up there," Topper said. "It's a process, we're trying to break some new strikers in, but they scored six today and that's a good sign."
The Panthers go to Springfield Township on Friday while Upper Dublin hosts Quakertown in a 3:30 start.
UPPER DUBLIN 3 3 – 6
CHELTENHAM 0 1 – 1
Goals: UD – Tina Haig (Molly Pappalardo), Emily Booth (Lindsey Schreiber), Molly Pappalardo (Tina Haig), Haig (Booth), Haig (Karolina Bocul), Tori Hoffner; C – Ella Brown (PK)
Plymouth Whitemarsh 1, Upper Moreland 0
The Colonials had to wait an extra day, but they picked up a hard-fought win to start SOL American play.
Emily Rosenberger scored late in the second half for the final margin. While PW won, coach Ryan Zehren felt his team could have put a few more away.
"It was a great overall performance from the team today," Zehren said. "Although the score may not show it as we had difficulty finding the back of the net, we dominated possession.
"Emily had a great game and her goal was well-deserved."
Zehren felt his team generated some good chances, but cited the final ball in the attacking third as something the team still needs to fine tune. The Colonials pointed to their midfield as a major reason for the edge in possession and chances created.
"I have a lot of experienced players there," Zehren said. "They are tough and physical but at the same time, can connect some great combinations."
The midfield also provided the set-up for the game-winner.
"It started with a great ball from the midfield by Ali Diamond to Rosenberger," Zehren said. "Rosenberger and Alyse Caffrey had a great 1-2 combination going at goal, Rosenberger beat a defender 1-v-1 then had a great finish to the far post."
Freshman Devon Skiles picked up the win in goal and posted her first clean sheet for Plymouth Whitemarsh.
Upper Moreland's defense turned in a strong effort despite the loss.
"Jen Storbrauck had eight saves in the game and continues to be strong," UM coach Lisa Benvenuto said. "Carly Wasson and Chloe Leiter played strong on the back line."
Upper Moreland hosts Hatboro-Horsham on Friday with Plymouth Whitemarsh heading to Wissahickon.
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 0 1 – 1
UPPER MORELAND 0 0 – 0
Goals: PW – Emily Rosenberger
Hatboro-Horsham 5, Springfield Township 1
The Hatters finally got their 2017 season underway with a convincing win Thursday afternoon.
Two sophomores accounted for four of the five Hatboro-Horsham goals with Ally Eutermoser and Gabrielle Liott each netting a brace. Senior Kelley Thomas provided the other goal for Hatboro-Horsham.
"(Liott and Eutermoser) are both sophomores so I think it's a good sign to see our young players step up against a team that was physically very strong and that played with a lot of heart," Hatters coach Ike Onyeador said.
Freshman Maggie O'Neill also made a mark with a pair of assists while returning veteran senior Erica Paluszek also had two helpers. After graduating 13 seniors off last season's team, the Hatters are looking to an influx of youth to support the elder players as they try to qualify for the postseason.
"I wouldn't necessarily say we're relying solely on younger players, we're starting five seniors," Onyeador said. "But, they certainly help with having good depth and they're a good sign for the future."
Sarah Potocki scored the Spartans’ lone goal that knotted the score 1-1.
“It started out we were competitive with them,” Spartans’ coach Suzette Wolf said. “Sarah Potocki scored on a really nice shot over the goalie’s head from about 30 yards out. Then they scored two quick ones, and then it was halftime.
“We had great intentions in the second half, but the injuries are killing us. We had less depth without the injuries, so it’s been tough for us the past couple of games.”
Hatboro-Horsham visits Upper Moreland on Friday with Springfield Township hosting Cheltenham.
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 1 0 – 1
HATBORO-HORSHAM 3 2 – 5
Non-league
Lower Moreland 4, Harry S Truman 0
The Tigers found themselves on the short end of a 2-0 halftime score and fell in an SOL-BAL crossover game Thursday.
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