Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action Monday. CR North/Truman photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos. (Upper Moreland/Lower Moreland photo courtesy of Amy Holman/UM soccer)
SOL Colonial Division
Pennridge 2, North Penn 1
Last November, Pennridge’s season came to an end against North Penn in the District One fifth-place game, the rubber match between the SOL Colonial rivals, who split in the regular season.
Monday, the Rams opened their season against the Knights and Jared Hess’ goal with 16 minutes remaining was the difference as they won the first of at least two matchups between the two rivals.
“The past two out of three years, North Penn has ended our season,” said Pennridge coach Pete Valimont. “Pre-COVID when they won the state title and last year for states, so there were definitely some juices flowing before this game, extra motivation.
“North Penn was solid. They did a really good job. They did get a red card with 23 minutes left in the second half, and we created a couple more chances with that. Our problem was we just didn’t finish the chances that we had.
With 24 minutes remaining in the first half, senior Shane Velez, a preseason All-American, scored off a touch pass from Jack Bruno to put Pennridge up 1-0. The Rams took that 1-0 lead into halftime.
With 26:20 remaining in regulation, North Penn knotted the score off a corner.
“We didn’t get the ball out, and they did a nice little combination and were able to get a shot that was a snake in the grass, got through us and hit the back post,” Valimont said.
Hess’ game winner, off a Velez assist, broke the tie with 16 minutes remaining, and the Rams held on to earn the hard fought win.
“Playing them again at their place is going to be an absolute chore,” Valimont said. “(Coach) Chis (DePeppe) does a great job. Regardless of who he has on the roster, they’re always ready to play, but take nothing away, this is a great start and a huge win with our guys."
The Rams’ coach acknowledged several players who were catalysts in the win.
“(Goalie) CJ Dimmick stood on his head a bunch of times,” Valimont said. “He played absolutely fantastic - a lot of point-blank saves. Our center back, Tommy McKinney, was absolutely fantastic throughout the entire game. Luca Aangello, our center mid, just played his butt off. He was all over the place, tracking their guys. He just did a really nice job in the middle for us.
“We get Souderton at home on Wednesday, and we have Faith (Christian), one of the best single A schools in the state, on Friday, so we don’t have an easy week."
Pennridge (1-0) will host Souderton on Wednesday in a 3:30 p.m. contest, and North Penn (1-1, 0-1 SOL) plays at CB West on Wednesday night.
North Penn 0-1 1
Pennridge 1-1 2
Central Bucks West 4, Central Bucks East 1
Friday, CB East opened with a big win over Abington, and CB West gave up five goals and lost its league opener against Souderton.
Monday’s result couldn’t have been more different for both teams. The Bucks jumped up early and never looked back, picking up career win No. 1 for first-year coach Cooper Moyer.
“We came out Friday against Souderton and we were missing a few small things,” Moyer said. “After the game, we kept it really positive. We knew we created chances, but we couldn’t finish. Our emphasis tonight, and over the weekend training, was finishing opportunities. Tonight, we came out strong and the first good chance we got, we absolutely buried it.”
The first goal, eight minutes in, was off the foot of junior Richard Newell.
“He was inside the box, picked his head up, saw where the goalie was and pushed it inside the goalie,” Moyer said. “Getting up on them early gave us a lot of life and energy. The bench was fantastic. We kept the energy for the whole 80 minutes.”
Junior Joey Dowd made it 2-0 later in the half and then after East scored early in the second, junior Jace Peterson connected on a free kick to put the Bucks up 3-1.
“He couldn’t have hit a better shot,” Moyer said. “If I gave him 100 tries, he couldn’t have hit a better one. The goalie didn’t even react. I don’t think anyone in the crowd even saw it he hit it so hard.”
Ben Sterling scored late for the final 4-1 margin.
CB West (1-1,1-1 SOL) looks to make it two in a row Wednesday night against North Penn at War Memorial Field. CB East (1-1, 0-1 SOL) hosts CB South on Wednesday night.
CB East 0 1 – 1
CB West 2 2 - 4
Central Bucks South 3, Souderton 1
The Titans shook off a slow start and erased a one-goal halftime deficit with three straight goals in the second half to post this early-season road win.
“Souderton started the game very strong offensively,” said CB South coach Kyle Pettican. (No.) 11, Ethan Lacher, for Souderton was unplayable in the first 10 minutes. We let one in between the first 5-10 minutes from a free kick to the back post, where (Lacher) again was free and served it back across for a teammate to head it in.”
Johnny Argueta was credited with the goal for the Indians.
The Titans were able to regroup, however.
“After that, we settled the game down,” Pettican said. “We were patient and came out aggressive in the second half.
“About 15 minutes into the second half, Colin O’Hara chased a ball into the left corner, cut in, beat three players (and) ripped one upper corner at the keeper’s near post.”
Sean Reiber scored off a Jaimin Fee assist to give South the lead in the 72nd minute.
Then, after Souderton pulled its keeper in an attempt to pressure and get the tying score, Nolan Helsel scored on a breakaway with 10 seconds remaining in the game.
CB South (2-0, 1-0 SOL) plays a night game at CB East on Wednesday. Souderton (1-1, 1-1 SOL) hopes to bounce back Wednesday at Pennridge.
CB South 0 3 – 3
Souderton 1 0 - 1
SOL Patriot Division
Council Rock South 6, Bensalem 1
Everett Kurtz scored two goals and CR South were able to break the game open for the victory.
It was the first win of the season for the Golden Hawks and career win No. 200 for veteran coach Alan Nicholl.
“It’s really important to get the first win of the season under our belt,” Nicholl said. “Especially with Neshaminy on Wednesday, who are always a big task. So many good teams in our league; so vital we got the win today.”
CR South led this one 1-0 at the half but turned it on and finished its opportunities much better in the second half to blow the game wide open.
Kurtz finished with two goals and one assist. Alex Lose, Tyler Dobson, Frankie Rafferty and Reid Vandemark also scored goals, while Josh Coelho had two assists and Denys Tsinyk had one.
Keeper Evan Zawodniak allowed just a penalty kick goal late in the second half.
CR South (1-1, 1-0 SOL) plays at Neshaminy on Wednesday afternoon. Bensalem will host Council Rock North on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
CR South 1 5 – 6
Bensalem 0 1 -1
Pennsbury 2, Neshaminy 0
Rocco Ciaccia and Bryan Sanchez teamed up to score a pair of goals three minutes apart midway through the second half, as Pennsbury posted the shutout win over rival Neshaminy on Monday.
Ciaccia scored both goals. Sanchez had the assist on the first goal in the 64th minute and helped create the second one as well.
“Sanchez forced the play, actually got fouled, the ball bounced loose, and Rocco jumped on it and buried it,” said Pennsbury coach Tom Stoddart, whose team bounced back from a season-opening nonleague loss to Northwestern Lehigh on Friday.
“We felt the rust on Friday, we were definitely not organized, we couldn’t find a rhythm, and we fell behind early,” Stoddart said. “I think having Friday’s experience definitely helped us today, and at times, we were very bright in the way we played together as a group today.
“Rocco and Bryan were fantastic. Josh Rodriguez was our motor up top. He was calm and really kept us organized.”
Justin Brown and Henrik Boekamp shared goalkeeping duties and recorded the shutout.
“Justin Brown played in the first half, and he made a huge save in the last minute of the first half on a breakaway they had,” Stoddart said. “Otherwise, even though we were probably outplaying them, it would have been a different story if we let one in there. Henrik Boekamp came on in the second half and kept everything tucked in.
“Our three guys in the back - Andrew Prebola, Connor Labiak and Cooper Gray - Neshaminy has some really dangerous players, and they were able to bend but not break in the back and gave us an opportunity to get the lead in the second half."
Neshaminy had some opportunities in a scoreless first half, but couldn’t take advantage.
“I thought we had three really good chances, and we didn’t take care of any of them, including a breakaway with six seconds left in the half,” said Neshaminy coach Tom Foley. “We were our own worst enemy today. Our first touch was really poor, our distribution was poor today. We just weren’t crisp.
“It’s something we’ve been on them about all year, and it came to fruition today. We just didn’t handle the ball very well. When you do that and don’t take advantage of your opportunities, it’s a recipe for a long day. I can’t fault our effort, but our overall quality of play was not working.”
There were some individual standouts for Neshaminy.
“JoeJoe Maxwell played a nice center midfield today,” Foley said. “Josh Anderson was a presence when we got him the ball. We struggled getting him the ball today, but when we got him the ball, he’s definitely hard to handle.
“Our two outside backs - Owen Beideman and Jack Sexton - played super hard in the back. Freshman Damien Castro made his debut as a varsity player, and I thought he handled himself pretty well under varsity conditions. He did a pretty nice job today too.
“Overall, we just need to do a better job of judging airballs too. We really struggled with that today, so that’s got to be something that’s got to get buttoned up too. Fortunately, we get right back on the pitch against (Council Rock) South on Wednesday, but that’s not going to be an easy match too. We’ve got to correct a few things before we see them on Wednesday.”
Neshaminy hosts CR South Wednesday, while Pennsbury (1-1, 1-0 SOL) plays at Truman.
Pennsbury 0 2 – 2
Neshaminy 0 0 - 0
Council Rock North 8, Harry S. Truman 0
Senior Nick Wise scored in the first minute of the game, and CR North was on its way, rolling to the 8-0 win in the Indians’ season opener.
North played 22 guys and received contributions up and down its lineup.
Mike Brusca finished with two goals and one assist. Wise had an assist to go with his goal. Ari Pollack and Jack Randolph each had one goal and one assist. David Igval, Windsor Varady and Will Kamp added goals. Cole Mayer had two assists.
Goalkeepers Calvin Hopkins and Gavin Roon combined for the shutout, with help from seniors Danny Ugras, Nick Pagliughi, Will Potero and Chase McCaffrey.
CR North coach Joe Stackouse also credited Truman goalkeeper, who had 15 saves, and midfielder Juan Ramirez.
The Indians (1-0, 1-0 SOL) look to make it 2-0 Wednesday at Bensalem, while Truman (0-2, 0-1 SOL) hosts Pennsbury.
CR North 8
Truman 0
SOL Liberty Division
Hatboro-Horsham 4, Wissahickon 1
Jake Freedman and Mike Romano scored two goals each as Hatboro-Horsham broke open a close game in the second half to win its season and SOL Liberty opener.
“Just overall, I’m pleased with how we played the first game of the season, and any time you can beat Wissahickon, it’s a good result,” HH coach Kyle McGrath said.
Freedman opened the scoring for the Hatters in the ninth minute.
“The play started in our end with a restart for Wissahickon,” McGrath said. “We countered them pretty quickly. Anthony Pummilia got into the box, played a ball across that the goalkeeper saved. Jake did a great job of following the play, and he just punched in the rebound from eight yards out.
“We created some other chances in the first half. Their goalkeeper made one or two really great saves. A couple of things were a little off for us, our first touch and stuff, but overall, it was a good first half."
H-H came right out in the second half and capitalized to go up 3-0 with goals in the 44th and 46th minutes - both by Mike Romano.
“Enrico Romano played a ball across on an angle to his brother Mikey Romano, and Mikey took a good touch,” McGrath said. “The goalkeeper came out to try and win the ball, and he dribbled by the goalkeeper and slotted it home.
“We kept pressuring - we wanted to get the ball back and turn them over. Mikey Romano got a ball in a similar area, the corner of the 18 and just willed his way through a defender or two and slotted the ball home far post.”
In the 57th minute, Jake Freedman scored on a penalty kick for his team’s fourth goal.
McGrath credited the efforts of several players in the win.
“Obviously, the two guys on the scoresheet - Jake Freedman and Mikey Romano - played well,” the Hatters’ coach said. “I thought our back four - Jacob Kim, Matt Wingen, Brian Cooper and Tommy Shegogue - also played well in the first actual official first game for us. There’s always some nerves, always some anticipation since we hadn’t played yet and Wissahickon did, but outside the goal they gave up, they performed well. They defended set pieces well.
“Isaac Kakiko - who is making his first varsity start for us this year and his first year playing after two real bad injuries his freshman and sophomore year - really did well. He gives us a different dynamic to the attack. He’s not on the scoresheet but was always a factor in what we were doing offensively.”
H-H (1-0, 1-0 SOL) has a key road league game Wednesday night at Abington. Wissahickon (1-1, 0-1 SOL) looks to bounce back at home against Upper Dublin.
Hatboro-Horsham 1 3 – 4
Wissahickon 0 1 - 1
Abington 2, Plymouth Whitemarsh 1 (OT)
Two games, two overtimes.
But unlike its nonleague opener against CB East on Friday, Abington came away with the win in its SOL Liberty opener on Monday although PW actually took the lead early in this one.
“They scored on a long throw in that ended up on the floor in the box,” said Galloping Ghosts coach Randy Garber. “Again, the same way we got beat by East - the ball on the ground, toe punted it in, and it was 1-0.
“We played on the football field, which is 60 yards wide, and every throw-in was in the box wherever they wanted it."
Drew Paxson tied the game for Abington, off an assist from Luke O’Donnell on the restart from 30 yards out.
In overtime, O’Donnell cashed in for the Ghosts.
“Early in the first overtime, there was a ball Daniel Oilueira hit a ball over the top to Luke O’Donnell.” Garber said. “He went one-on-one with the goalkeeper and put it in.”
Abington (1-1, 1-0 SOL) hosts Hatboro-Horsham in another league game on Wednesday night. PW (1-1, 0-1 SOL) plays at Quakertown.
Abington 2
Plymouth Whitemarsh 1
Upper Dublin 3, Quakertown 0
Upper Dublin made the trip to Quakertown Monday night and came home with a season-opening 3-0 win.
“It was interesting,” said Flying Cardinals coach Noah Johnson. “The reason I say that is that the nerves were flying around for everyone. Everyone dreams of starting the season on the right foot. At the same time, some people are nervous.
“I think for us, last year we definitely learned from our mistakes. The boys may have been overconfident. This year, they came in focused and ready to go.”
In Monday’s win, Christian Broome, Reilly McLaughlin and Jack Sterling scored goals, while keeper Gabe Copley also played well in the shutout.
Upper Dublin 3
Quakertown 0
SOL Freedom Division
Springfield Township 6, William Tennent 0
Riley Martin erupted for five goals in a glittering offensive effort to lead the Spartans to the no-doubt-about-it shutout win.
Springfield jumped up big in the first half – going on top 4-0 - and cruised to the 6-0 win.
In addition to Martin, Peter Schmidt also scored. Vincent Kerper had two assists, while Nick Hanushchak, Chase Rubincam, and Jack McKittrick had one each.
Springfield (1-0) will travel to New Hope-Solebury on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. contest. William Tennent (0-1) will host Upper Moreland on Wednesday.
Springfield 4 2 – 6
Tennent 0 0 - 0
New Hope-Solebury 8, Cheltenham 1
Marco DeMeo turned in a monster offensive effort, scoring five goals to lead the Lions in the lopsided win. Declan Curran, Joe Picone and Will Malone also scored goals.
“The team moved the ball very well today and took advantage of all our opportunities shooting on goal,” said Lions coach Dave Bachert.
New Hope (1-1, 1-0) is back in action on Wednesday at home against Springfield. Cheltenham (0-1, 0-1 SOL) plays at Lower Moreland.
New Hope 8
Cheltenham 1
Lower Moreland 3, Upper Moreland 0
(Game information will be added when it is received.)
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