Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ soccer teams in action Friday. (Pennridge/CBWest photos provided courtesy of Abbe Kiwak/Pennridge soccer)
SOL Patriot
Bensalem 6, Harry S Truman 0
Farrah Watson and Ava Wilson led the Owls to their second conference win of the week.
Watson scored once and assisted on two goals while Wilson scored and assisted on another. Devon Bell, Sarah O’Neil, Caitlin Groves and Paige Wheaton rounded out the offense.
Bensalem (3-1, 3-1 SOL) visits Neshaminy on Monday. Truman (0-4, 0-4) will visit CR South on Monday.
BENSALEM – 6
HARRY S TRUMAN – 0
Neshaminy @ Council Rock North – Postponed
Neshaminy hosts Bensalem on Monday. CR North hosts Pennsbury on Monday.
Council Rock South @ Pennsbury – Postponed
CR South will host Truman on Monday. Pennsbury visits CR North on Monday
SOL Colonial
Pennridge 2, Central Bucks West 0
While weather issues were causing havoc across the rest of the SOL landscape, it was a lighting issue – more accurately a lack of lights at War Memorial Field – that almost added the Rams and Bucks to the list of postponements.
Luckily, the power came back on with just a few minutes to spare and even with a delayed start, Pennridge picked up a big win to end its week.
“The first half was really back and forth, both teams had chances, but I’d say they probably had the better chances than us,” Rams
coach Audrey Anderson said. “The second half, we made some adjustments and I’d say it was a full team effort of us getting into some penetrating areas and getting some good goal scoring opportunities.”
After playing to a draw against CB East on Wednesday, the Rams talked about what they could do better to compete and match the intensity of a good opponent who was prepared for the game.
“We fought for every ball, 50/50s were really good for us tonight, we had less turnovers and our transition was good,” Anderson said. “We seemed to be firing on all different levels.”
The Bucks felt good about their efforts as well, coach Bree Benedict lauding her group’s ability to execute a plan in the first half. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of opportunity and that was the case for West on Friday.
“Kate Weyer, Eva Wierzbowski and Mackenzie Gausch were magic with their combination play in the final third,” Benedict said. “We had three quality chances that we needed to convert and just came up a little short.”
Liv Grenda has been converting opportunities all season for Pennridge and the senior midfielder did so again on Friday. The Dayton recruit linked up with classmate Casey Malone, who has been playing as a forward on the wing since returning from injury, to break the stalemate early in the second half.
“She’s super-dynamic and when she’s on the ball, as a defense, you have to worry,” Anderson said. “When she’s passing the ball, you have to worry. She has such a high soccer IQ that when she’s letting the ball off her foot, you know it’s going to a dangerous spot on the field. She’s been hard to defend this season and she’s got so many different things she can do.”
On top of the goals and assists that have been pouring in for Grenda, the senior has been chipping in other ways too. Anderson pointed to her defensive work on Friday, even while having to play under pressure when she was going forward.
“We didn’t know what she was going to do at times, was she going to dribble through, was she going to shoot, was she going to pass? She’s just been very, very dynamic with her ability to get forward,” Anderson said.
Malone, who started as a fullback on defense her first three years in the program, is a dynamic player as well. Thanks to a wealth of options in the back this fall, the Rams have been able to put the College of Charleston recruit up top to ease some of the responsibility as she gets her game legs back.
“She’s been out a while, so we want her to work her way in and also stay healthy,” Anderson said.
As Pennridge started to put more pressure on after halftime, the Bucks continued to hold strong.
“Our defense was strong and battled all night,” Benedict said. “Cece Funseth stepped up and made a lot of strong tackles and smart plays.”
Pennridge’s defense was a wall last year and this fall’s group is playing at a similar level so far, having allowed just two goals in five matches. In front of the backs, Sophie Craig, Ava Kiwak and Addy Mills were locked in while the rotation of defenders put forth another solid outing.
“Meredith Blannett tonight was outstanding, she plays on the outside for us, Anna Croyle is Anna Croyle so you know what you’re getting,” Anderson said. “We’ve got Gabby Hermann filling in a role as an outside back and she’s been great, she’s fast and really good in the air considering she’s about five feet tall. Hannah Primwhere played for us last year at center back, so we’re pretty lucky to have so many returning defenders but also lucky we can put some new players in.”
Blanett also provided a highlight when her cross found senior Tori Angelo for a terrific finish that gave the Rams a needed insurance goal.
“That’s like a top-10 kind of goal,” Anderson said. “It’s a diagonal ball, keeper is coming out for it and Tori just does her thing, gets in there with no fear and gets her head on it with that little bit of a touch that re-directs the ball in.”
Pennridge (4-0-1, 3-0-1 SOL) hosts CB South on Monday night. CB West (3-1, 3-1) visits Souderton on Monday.
PENNRIDGE 0 2 – 2
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 0 0 – 0
Central Bucks East @ Souderton – Postponed
The Patriots had a 3-0 lead before play was stopped in the first half.
CB East hosts North Penn on Monday. Souderton hosts CB West on Monday.
Central Bucks South @ North Penn – Postponed
CB South visits Pennridge on Monday night. North Penn visits CB East on Monday.
SOL Liberty
Abington 2, Wissahickon 0
In something of a novelty in the Liberty this season, a game between two teams in the division was decided by more than one goal.
“Our two goals were both nice, we hit a couple posts too so it could have been more,” Abington coach Rick Tompkins said. “I was pleased, they played well today.”
At the same time, it could have just as easily finished with a different scoreline.
“Addison Hayden made two really good saves,” Tompkins said of his sophomore keeper. “One of them in the first 35 seconds, a ball was ticketed for the corner, and she made a full extension dive and pushed it wide of the post. We were asleep, they went right after us and I mean that shot was really well taken but Addison was up for it then in the second half, she stopped a breakaway.”
Tompkins also noted the play of Wiss keeper Oliva Lore.
“She was good, she made some good saves,” Tompkins said. “We had a few shots that were ticketed and if it wasn’t for her, they go in.”
The Abington coach also cited Emma Greenberg and Lannah Werynski as two Trojan players who had a good run on Friday.
Offensively, the Ghosts got a goal each from a veteran and a newcomer.
Sophomore Nya Riggs is a new face on varsity this fall but the midfielder is already adding a nice dynamic to Abington’s formation. Friday, she took advantage of an opportunity that defied her relative lack of experience.
“She came in and gave us a spark,” Tompkins said. “The goal she scored was a very, very clinical finish. Sara Kaeser gave her a ridiculously good ball out of the back. She was deep in their area, Sara put it right in front of her then Nya collected the ball, picked a corner and drilled it.”
On Wednesday, it was senior Piper McGinley who had the big goal for the Ghosts in their win over Upper Dublin. Friday, it was her twin sister Harper who helped put the game away for Abington, although Piper did pick up the assist.
“Piper was off today but her sister more than made up for it, Harper played a great game,” Tompkins said. “She scored a really nice goal. I’ve been telling her, you’re beating everyone down there but then you cross it every time, you have to mix it up.
“So she goes down, cuts it back and drills it into the corner. She said, ‘That worked,’ and all I could say back was ‘How about that?'”
Abington (3-2, 3-1 SOL) visits Quakertown on Monday. Wissahickon (0-4-1, 0-3-1)visits PW on Monday.
ABINGTON – 2
WISSAHICKON – 0
Goals: A – Harper McGinley, Nya Riggs
Quakertown @ Hatboro-Horsham – Suspended
The Hatters held a 2-0 lead with 22 minutes left in regulation on Friday.
Quakertown hosts Abington on Monday. The Hatters host Upper Dublin on Monday night.
Plymouth Whitemarsh @ Upper Dublin – postponed
Plymouth Whitemarsh hosts Wissahickon on Monday. Upper Dublin will visit Hatboro-Horsham on Monday night.
SOL Freedom
Upper Moreland 4, Cheltenham 1
The Golden Bears and Panthers only got to play 40 minutes on Friday, but they made the most of them.
Despite not playing the second half, the game was called as an official contest due to a combination of a late start plus lightning and thunder storms in the area.
“Following the delayed start, we came out flat and Cheltenham was able to take advantage of that with Mikki Carrera scoring the first goal,” UM coach Lisa Benvenuto said. “We knew that Cheltenham was going to be gritty and if given an opportunity they would finish. They are well coached, and they work hard.”
Carrera poached an opportunity off some sustained pressure, gifting Cheltenham a lead in the seventh minute.
“I thought we came out really strong today. Upper Moreland is a skilled team with good speed and they are well coached so we knew we had to jump on things from the start,” Panthers coach Leah Matusow said. “We were communicating well, moving the ball and pressing for the first part of the half.”
Upper Moreland was able to shake off its slow start and grabbed an equalizer about seven minutes later. Over the next 24 minutes, the Bears would nab four goals just by settling in and working through their attackers.
“We were able to settle into our offense and find some combinations to finish off our offensive advances,” Benvenuto said. “Our sessions this week focused on generating more shots within our offense and finishing them–our goal today was to create opportunities and to finish, balance the field and communicate.”
Willow Taylor and Brooke Lobban combined on the first goal. Taylor was the beneficiary of a Lobban pass and unsurprisingly, the duo would account for most of the offensive output with three goals and two assists between them.
They weren’t alone however, as the entire front line combined well.
“Brooke Lobban, Willow Taylor, Maggie Brophy and Kyra Favors played off of each other well in the first half,” Benvenuto said. “Toward the end of the first half, we were really getting into our flow, and it was being seen by the shots we were generating.”
Lobban had a goal and two assists, Taylor scored twice, Brophy had a goal and Favors added an assist.
On the defensive end, Devin Bush and Molly Meakim both controlled the back line and also connected well with the midfield for Upper Moreland.
Cheltenham’s Amaya Washington also earned credit from both coaches.
“Amaya Washington made some great saves and continues to show how great of a goalkeeper she is,” Matusow said. “We are keeping our heads high as we played well today and competed.”
“Amaya Washington had some unbelievable saves today. She was stellar in the net,” Benvenuto noted.
Cheltenham (2-3, 0-3 SOL) will host Springfield Twp on Monday. Upper Moreland (3-1, 2-1) hosts New Hope-Solebury on Monday.
UPPER MORELAND – 4
CHELTENHAM – 1
Goals: UM – Willow Taylor, Brooke Lobban, Maggie Brophy; C – Mikka Carrera
Springfield Twp 2, Lower Moreland 0
The Spartans came out energized and picked up a second straight division win.
“We had a great game with great energy, good passes and connections, and a lot of chemistry out there today,” Springfield coach Marissa Conover said. “I am very proud of them.”
While the Spartans had their game postponed on Wednesday, they seemed eager to make up for the lost opportunity.
“We lost to a more aggressive Springfield team today,” LM coach Todd Hill said. “Our girls came out flat and Springfield capitalized on our lack of intensity.”
It also helped the Spartans had their dynamic duo of Kaleigh Evans and Alana Decker back together. Evans had missed some time with a minor injury last week, but she returned to the field and picked right back up by netting the game-winner in the first half off an assist from Decker.
Decker capped her day with a highlight reel goal. A corner kick by Kalei Noonan found Sophie Williamson, who then played in the final ball.
“Alana’s goal was amazing – she was facing away from the goal, back to the goalie and kicked the ball backwards over her head,” Conover said.
The Lions did have a couple notable performers despite the setback.
“Wingbacks Agnes Kroll and Abbie Wasserstrom played strong games containing Springfield’s attack for much of the game,” Hill said. “However, they found two opportunities that they took advantage of while we were unable to finish on our end, and that was the difference.”
Springfield’s efforts to post a shutout also drew credit.
“My entire defensive line had an outstanding game, making incredible runs throughout – Murphy McGranaghan, Sophie Williamson, Maddie McDevitt, and Tess Talbot,” Conover said. “I wanted to shout out one or two of them – but I can’t, because they all equally pull so much weight.”
Springfield Twp (2-1, 2-1 SOL) visits Cheltenham on Monday. Lower Moreland (2-2, 1-2) will visit William Tennent on Monday.
SPRINGFIELD TWP 1 1 – 2
LOWER MORELAND 0 0 – 0
Goals: Kaleigh Evans, Alana Decker
Willliam Tennent 2, New Hope-Solebury 0
Kaitlyn Frank had both goals as the Panthers remained unbeaten and unscored on to start the season.
Tennent’s coaching staff also highlighted the play of Maddie Hughes and Theresa Ditri.
Tennent (5-0, 4-0 SOL) hosts Lower Moreland on Monday. New Hope-Solebury (1-3, 1-3) visits Upper Moreland on Monday.
WILLIAM TENNENT – 2
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY – 0
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