By Alex Frazier
National ConferenceNeshaminy 6, Abington 3
Sounds like a football score.
But that’s what happens on a rainy night on a grass field.
Abington jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but the Redskins managed to tie it at three at the half.
The second half, however, was all Neshaminy’s. First-year senior Matt Bryson came off the bench to score the game winner and also added the sixth goal.
Luke McIlvaine also chipped in a pair of goals, while Sean Sheridan and Nick Tucci added single markers.
In goal, freshman Austin Brotman stopped five shots.
Dan Shepherd scored all three Abington goals.
Neshaminy coach Rich Reice noted that Abington had improved since the first time they played when the Ghosts won 1-0.
“They were much more dangerous,” he said. “They’ve definitely improved.”
Speaking of improvement - since starting the season at 1-3-1, Neshaminy has now reeled off six straight wins.
“We made some tactical adjustments which seem to have benefitted us,” said Reice. “The kids are putting forth the effort. We have enough skillful players that if we get the effort it’s difficult to play against us.”
It doesn’t get any easier for the Redskins who play Pennsbury Wednesday and Council Rock South Friday.
“We have to beat the teams ahead of us,” said Reice.
Council Rock North 4, William Tennent 1
Billy McConnell has been a huge mid-season boost to the Indians. The sophomore returned to the lineup two games ago after suffering a ruptured spleen. He saw limited action in his first game back, but in the last two games, he has scored four goals, including three straight against the Panthers.
Raleigh Damico opened the scoring for Rock three minutes in before Tennent tied the game early in the second half. Then McConnell went to work, singlehandedly taking apart the Tennent defense.
Rock North is in a five-way battle for first place in the National Conference.
With the most recent win, the Indians are 7-3-1 overall and 6-2 in the conference.
“Our record is better than I expected overall,” said coach Wendell Beres, “but when I look at the blemishes, I’m disappointed.”
One of those - a 2-1 loss to Neshaminy - was the result of two penalty kicks.
Wednesday will be a big night for Rock, which travels to Abington. The Ghosts are always tough on their own field.
The Indians are 7-3-1 overall and 6-2 in the conference.
Council Rock South 4, Harry S Truman 1
Ryan Laska scored a pair of goals, and Sean Witteman and Paul Morris added single tallies for the Golden Hawks, which led by 2-0 at the half.
Truman’s Michael Camacho scored with about six minutes left to avert the shutout.
“Scott (Milone) does a nice job getting them organized,” said Rock coach Alan Nicholl. “They seem to be a completely different team this year. They’re not an easy win like they used to be in the past. They’re not giving up easy goals.”
Rock South is now 9-1 overall and 6-1 in the national.
Pennsbury 3, Bensalem 1
The Falcons shook off a long weekend playing soccer in St. Louis, Mo., scoring three goals early. Kyle McDonald, Evan Peterson and Jason Hyman allowed coach Tom Stoddart to get some of his young freshmen varsity minutes.
The Owls scored with three minutes left to play.
Pennsbury is now 9-2 overall and 5-2 in the league.
Continental Conference
North Penn 2, Central Bucks East 0
After dropping a 2-1 game to Hatboro-Horsham last Thursday and a 3-1 loss to Holy Ghost Prep Saturday, the Knights halted a nasty trend by knocking off No. 1 C.B. East and taking over the top spot in the Continental in the process.
North Penn coach Paul Duddy moved Chris Davidson, who plays a good deal at center mid, up top, and the senior responded by scoring what turned out to be the game winner.
“He was a handful for them today,” said Duddy.
In the second half, Judd Wolfe converted Mike Robinson’s corner kick for the insurance goal.
Duddy praised the entire team and noted the special performance of Sean Murphy in goal.
“This may have been our best game of the year,” said Duddy. “The second half was certainly our best 40 minutes of the year.”
There will be no time for the Knights to rest on their laurels as they travel to Pennridge Wednesday.
North Penn is now 7-2-1 overall and 6-1-1 in the conference.
Pennridge 2, Central Bucks South 1
Pennridge did something it couldn’t do in the past two years—sweep the Titans.
On an assist from Dan Caya, Alex Stear gave Pennridge the lead but South tied it on a penalty kick 20 minutes into the second half.
Kevin Bailey picked up a Jack Duffey through ball with four minutes left in regulation to give the Rams the victory.
“It got a little chippy in the second half,” said Pennridge coach Peter Valimont, “but we did what we had to do.”
Ryan Bailey came up with six saves in goal and averted a few breakaways.
The Rams have a monster schedule this week with games against North Penn (Wed.) and C.B. East (Fri.), and they can ill afford to lose anymore if they expect to make the playoffs and get a good seed.
Pennridge is now 6-4-1 overall and 4-2-1 in the conference.
Souderton 0, Central Bucks West 0
Quakertown at Hatboro-Horsham postponed until Tuesday evening
American Conference
Cheltenham 1, Upper Dublin 0 (OT)
The Panthers had been on the other side of five one-goal games. This time they reversed that trend.
“This was a huge win for us,” said coach Nick Zegestowsky. “To come back and win 1-0 was extremely exciting for me and the boys.”
The winning goal, ironically enough, was scored by Dan Marsden, who was the starting goalkeeper at the beginning of the season. When that didn’t work out, Zegestowsky moved him to the other end of the field, and the shift has paid dividends. Marsden scored the game winner about six minutes into the first overtime
“He is an asset on the field with his athleticism and height,” said Zegestowsky.
Marsden’s replacement, Brian Henstenberg, stopped four shots, while his Upper Dublin counterpart Parker Schroeder saved six shots.
The Panthers have been a streaky team this year, losing their first three games, winning their next three, and dropping their next three.
Monday’s win now makes them 4-6 overall and 4-3 in the American Conference.
“Hopefully this is the start of a three-game streak,” said Zegestowsky.
Wissahickon 3, Plymouth Whitemarsh 0
The Trojans extended their conference undefeated streak to seven. Javier Puga and Nick Nikic spotted the Trojans a two-goal lead at the half, and Jordan Freed connected in the second half.
“We played well,” said Wissahickon coach Stuart Malcolm. “It was nice to get the shutout. We got the ball out wide more than we had been doing.”
Keeper Eric Riefenstahl and the defense recorded their seventh shutout of the season. Riefenstahl stopped six shots and sidetracked a couple of breakaways.
Wissahickon is now 10-0-1 overall and 7-0 in the league.
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