Pennridge & CR South advanced to Tuesday’s District 1 4A semifinals. (Pennridge photos provided courtesy of Abbe Kiwak/Pennridge soccer)
No. 21 Council Rock South 3, No. 4 Spring-Ford 2 (2OT)
The route the Golden Hawks have travelled this week has been unconventional, very long and worth every bit of it.
"I think we’re trying to set a record for most miles covered in a district run," South coach Nick Heim said of a week that featured trips to Downingtown, West Chester and Royersford.
With the annual CR North-South football game taking place Friday night and Saturday's early 11 a.m. kick on an unseasonably warm day, Heim said there were some trepidations going in, but he and his coaches also trusted their players to handle it well. For a lot of kids, the sight of a school bus can bring dread.
The Golden Hawks are all about the big yellow travel wagons right now.
"This team LOVES our long bus rides," senior forward Cam Blatz said. "It gives us the chance to come in and stand our ground and show who we are and what we are capable of."
If anything, the early start seemed to give the Hawks a kick and Heim thought they had their best opening spell of any of the three playoff games. However, that wasn't meant to last, and CR South would find itself in a challenging position after the first 40 minutes of play.
"We had two breakdowns in the first half that put us in a 2-0 hole," Heim said. "At half it wasn’t really tactical, just discussing mental toughness and how we have preached it since August. The girls answered."
The 2-0 lead often gets labeled "the most dangerous lead in soccer" for a variety of reasons, but the Hawks' track record against it wasn't great in the regular season. But again, that was the regular season.
CR South didn't ride those buses all those miles just to repeat history.
"Really proud of the mental toughness they showed," Heim said. "Down 2-0 isn’t something we’ve come back from this year so to see them never giving up is fantastic."
Blatz agreed that while looking up at a Rams side that had only lost one game on its home field all year was daunting, her team's energy told her plenty.
"At half, anyone could’ve shaken their head and said it was over," the senior said. "But, this team works to the very last second."
Midway through the second half, Kathryn O'Kane got into the box and got dragged down to set up a penalty kick. Blatz was picked to take it and the forward was eager to step up to the spot and make Spring-Ford pay.
"I am incredibly happy to have given the team some momentum, especially after I started the game a bit shaky. There are so many eyes on us, and I wanted this win so bad," Blatz said. "I was making mistakes, and not playing how I know I can. Striking that first ball into the back of the net set a fire in me."
The fire led to a backdraft and before the Rams knew what hit them, the game was tied. About a minute after converting the penalty kick, the Hawks dispossessed the Rams and it was Blatz making a darting run and drilling a finish to the upper 90.
"This team worked hard to keep it going, and we got even more opportunities. I am so proud of these girls for their constant effort," Blatz said. "Grabbing that second goal was it for us. We needed that confidence boost and that composure to keep us going. We are not done."
Having gone into double overtime on Thursday, CR South tried to avoid the extra time again on Saturday. The Hawks thought they had a potential winner with four minutes left when O'Kane got on the end of a corner, but a foul for an obstruction in the box wiped it out.
South was again in overtime and 15 minutes later, South was again in double overtime.
"Similar to last game, we didn’t start the way we wanted and got down early. But the thing that is so special about this group is we don’t let it get to our heads and we fight back," South's Tegan Shay said.
It's no doubt been a wild week for CR South, but not one the Hawks felt they were ill-prepared to handle.
"I think the SOL has prepared us so well. It seemed our physicality caused them problems and I wouldn’t even consider us a physical team," Heim said. "We’ve said all year to trust the schedule, and all you need is to be invited to dance in order to make a run. Luckily the girls have been buying into that."
Midway through the second overtime, the Hawks got a chance at redemption off a corner. Kate Deal hit the service and for the second straight game, Shay found herself scoring a game-winner.
"It was one of those times where you just feel it coming. We had been putting them under pressure the whole game and weren’t going to give up," Shay said. "The ball was hit around, and I saw it rolling and crushed it to win the game."
Holding Spring-Ford off the board for 70-plus minutes after falling behind 2-0 was a credit to the team's defensive efforts.
"I thought Lily Bross and Kate Deal were fantastic while defending. Fiona Reckner and Juliette Salvi were terrific in limiting their two solid forwards," Heim said. "Jenna Waterman was her solid self as usual and really clamped down that side of the field, while getting forward and making dangerous runs."
The Hawks (12-5-3, 8-5-3 SOL) secured a state playoff berth, their first since 2019, with the win. CR South will face top-seeded Conestoga in Tuesday's semifinal round.
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 0 2 0 1 - 3
SPRING-FORD 2 0 0 0 - 2
Goals; CRS - Cam Blatz 2, Teagan Shay
No. 2 Pennridge 4, No. 10 Hatboro-Horsham 0
In order to compete for a state title, as the Rams plan to do this fall, a team has to get to the state tournament.
The Rams did that with Saturday's win, but only after using a strong second half to open things up against the determined visiting Hatters. 
"I'm very happy with how we played," Rams coach Audrey Anderson said. "Our final third was very dangerous, we just couldn't put the ball in the back of the net until the second half."
Pennridge notched an early goal when Hailey Primwhere found Tori Angelo about six minutes in but that's all the SOL Colonial champions would get through 40 minutes. It's not that the Rams weren't getting chances, it was just that the Hatters weren't letting them in.
"Their keeper (Alyssa Tooley) came up huge in the first half, she made a lot of really, really good saves," Anderson said. "We had a lot of scoring opportunities and played really good soccer."
The Hatters, who were playing on the road for the first time this postseason, felt confident in their own efforts after 40 minutes.
"We came in knowing how talented Pennridge is and the game plan was to defend," Hatters coach Kelsey Daley said. "We knew we had to make some changes, but we felt good with how we were defending them."
At almost the same time as they scored in the first half, the Rams scored in the second half. Primwhere netted herself a second assist, finding senior Anna Croyle for the finish and opening the gates.
Croyle, who was selected to play in the High School Soccer All-American Game slated for December, really likes what she's seeing from her team.
"I think our team is really clicking right now. We are all doing our jobs and connecting well," Croyle, a Syracuse recruit, said. "We’re locked in on our goal and are willing to do anything to get to the state championship."
After scoring two goals and assisting another on Tuesday, Primwhere chalked up a couple more helpers on Saturday as she continued a highly productive season out of the center forward role.
"What's so good about Hailey is that she can hold onto a ball, she can turn and she can shoot. You never know what you're going to get when defending her," Anderson said. "She's been really good for us, especially coming into the postseason, we couldn't ask for much more from her."
The Hatters tried to keep it close, but once the Rams opened up a lead of multiple goals, they turned to finishing strong and rebounding next week.
"Pennridge scored early and just kept momentum from there on. The girls know to keep their heads up because of how talented Pennridge was," Daley said. "We now get a couple days rest and can prepare for our next game on Tuesday for a chance to play for states."
Pennridge expanded its lead to 3-0 on a Riley Williams goal assisted by Gabriella Howley with 18:15 to play. A minute later, Lindsey Balmer set up Liv Grenda for a finish and the final scoring margin.
Anderson noted Saturday's unusually warm temperatures and added that during the halftime break, the team talked about keeping a high energy level and being more clinical with their scoring chances. Defending for long stretches is taxing and the Rams knew an early goal could help put the Hatters away.
"Anna Croyle and Addy Mills were fantastic in the back. The stats won't show it for Anna, but the amount of corners we had and our deep throw-ins, I lost track of the amount of times she ran forward and had to transition to center back again," Anderson said.
Pennridge's seniors started their careers by winning a state title as freshmen. They got back to the final last year but came a goal short of the ultimate prize and that result has fueled this year's run.
Now that they're back in the state dance, all focus can turn on getting to the last go-round.
"This win was also particularly special because it means we will be going to the state tournament for the fourth time during all the seniors’ careers, and it gets us one step closer to our ultimate goal," Croyle said.
The Hatters (12-5-3, 8-5-3 SOL) will travel to Lower Merion on Tuesday in the playbacks as they try to reach the state tournament.
Pennridge (19-0-1, 15-0-1) will host No. 3 Downingtown West in the semifinals on Tuesday as two of the top teams in the district duel for a spot in the title game.
PENNRIDGE 1 3 - 4
HATBORO-HORSHAM 0 0 - 0
Goals; P - Tori Angelo, Anna Croyle, Riley Williams, Liv Grenda
No. 1 Conestoga 3, No. 8 Central Bucks East 2
Jake Nesteruk couldn't help but think of last year.
Last season, the Patriots had a furious comeback in the waning moments of the District 1 title game before they ultimately fell 3-2. Saturday, against the top-ranked team in the district, the Patriots had a furious comeback in the waning minutes that ultimately came up a goal short, but by no means from a lack of effort.
"Congratulations to Conestoga, their coaching staff, and their team. They played an excellent game and are deserving of the win and qualifying for states," Nesteruk said. "This was a great game, a blast to be a part of as a coach and I'm sure even better as a spectator. I thought both teams created enough to win this one, and while we are disappointed with the result, we are really proud of the effort."
The Pioneers took a 1-0 lead in the first half, but East rallied to make it a 1-1 game at the half. 'Stoga would score two in a row in the second half to make it 3-1 before the Patriots pulled one back and forced the hosts to make a final stand in the closing minutes to hold onto that lead.
"Going in, we knew we'd have to make adjustments based on some things in the run of play that they do well, and I'm sure they did the same for us," Nesteruk said. "At the end of the day this was a very even game."
East felt like it played on the front foot for much of the first half, especially in the opening 10 minutes which saw the Patriots ring the crossbar. However, it was the Pioneers getting the first strike with a goal midway through the opening half against the flow of play.
"That group finished their chances well and at points were a mirror image to how we try to play," Nesteruk said. "They took it to us for a bit after that, but super proud of our group for bouncing back around five minutes later."
Jessie Bernabe pulled the teams level.
"It was just a great ball in from Stella (Genin) and Jessie had a bit of pace against her defender and just hit a great ball to level it," Nesteruk said.
The end result stung, but East co-captain Sophie Schorn had nothing but plaudits for her teammates' performance on Saturday.
"I’m really proud of how our team came out today, especially in the first half. I think we came out with energy and started to settle into our game," Schorn said. "I want to give a shout-out to our midfield for winning a significant amount of balls in the middle of the park. I specifically think Kiera Sleicher had an outstanding game. We fought until the end and never gave up, we are keeping our heads up and have our eyes on Tuesday's game."
After the Pioneers scored twice in a six-minute span and facing a 3-1 deficit with less than 10 minutes to play, East knew it had to get a little desperate. That's when Nesteruk thought back to last year's district title match with Neshaminy.
"With the third goal we knew we had to break shape to see if we can get something out of this game and half jokingly I screamed out 'like Neshaminy,'" Nesteruk said. "We pushed numbers forward and with around 1:15 left, Jessie Bernabe clipped the crossbar. About 15 seconds later, Sophie Schorn scored off a great header on a corner.
"Last minute was a bit of an ugly scramble that didn't amount to anything."
East left the field knowing they had to recollect quickly with a huge chance ahead of them, but also knowing they'd put everything into the game.
"To get this far and to push for a result against a team like Conestoga, you need good performances everywhere and we got them. Our midfield three of Sofia Mignon, Ava Mignon, and Keira Sleicher had a great day. Keira didn't get on the score sheet but had the best game of her season so far. We ask a lot out of those two freshmen in Ava and Keira and they, along with Mia Forney, have exceeded our expectations," Nesteruk said. "Katie Bullard was great out of the back today.
"Sophie Schorn is such a gamer. She might've had her best game so far in an East jersey. She broke up so much for us defensively and the corner goal she scored was just the epitome of her work ethic, her desire to put her body on the line for the team, and her never give up attitude. She made this a game for us when many wrote it off."
East (15-4-2, 11-3-2 SOL) will travel to No. 4 Spring-Ford on Tuesday. A win will secure the Patriots a third consecutive trip to the state tournament.
CONESTOGA 1 2 - 3
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 1 1 - 2
Goals: CBE - Jessie Bernabe, Sophie Schorn
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