Check out all the exciting SOL soccer action on Tuesday. To view photos of the Cheltenham/Wissahickon girls’ game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
BOYS
CONTINENTAL CONFERENCE
Central Bucks East 2, Souderton 1
The Patriots beat the Indians on Tuesday for the second time this season in a heated league battle. The Indians were the first to score when Tyler MacDougal controlled a rebound off the crossbar at the 18-yard line and buried it in the far corner.
Patriots’ keeper Jacob Nesteruk made a key save to keep his team within one goal going into the half. At the 58th minute, Ryan Vare served a ball to Tim Lorio who headed the ball to Brook Weiss who put it away, scoring his first goal of the season. With 11 minutes remaining in regulation, Evan Vare drew a penalty kick which allowed Ben Marks to score the game winner.
Both keepers had excellent outings; Nesteruk was credited with nine saves while Souderton’s Tyler Afflerbach turned away seven shots.
CB East Coach Mike Gorni acknowledged his team still has a lot of work to do to remain one of the top teams in the competitive Continental Conference. The Patriots will host Quakertown on Thursday night. CB East improved to 7-3-1, setting up a three- way tie for third place between East, Souderton and North Penn.
Central Bucks South 1, Hatboro Horsham 0
The Titans improve to 9-1-1 (12-1-1 overall) and continue to lead the Continental Conference after their victory over the Hatters on Tuesday. Colin McGonigal assisted Danny Remick for the game winner in the 13th minute. The Titans host Central Bucks West on Thursday night while the Hatters (2-9 SOL, 4-11 overall) face North Penn.
Central Bucks West 4, Pennridge 1
The Bucks improved to 5-6 in the league with Tuesday’s victory over the Rams (3-8 SOL). Both teams scored in the first half - Justin Moldovanyi for the Rams and Joel Klapper for the Bucks, sending the teams into the half tied 1-1. But the Rams couldn’t keep up with the Bucks as they scored three unanswered goals in the second half. Klapper added two more to complete the hat trick, and Nick Marella also scored for the Bucks. Jared Kelly and Thierry Bergere each added an assist.
North Penn 6, Quakertown 1
The Knights got on the scoreboard early and often in the first half with three goals on their way to Tuesday's big win. Scoring for the Knights on Senior Night were Alex Evans with two goals and Mike Richardson, Matt Robin, Abdul Mohammed and Nick Gambone with one goal each. The Knights improved to 7-3-1 in league play while the Panthers are 2-9.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Neshaminy 2, William Tennent 0
The Redskins scored a pair of goals in the second half to finish off the Panthers. Pat Raykovitzoff scored off a Nick Tucci free kick in the 44th minute, and Austin Transue finished a Tucci though ball at the 62-minute mark.
Coach Tom Foley credited the chemistry between Tucci and Transue that has developed in the last few games as a key in Tuesday’s victory. Neshaminy continues to lead the conference (8-1-1 SOL) while Tennent falls to 4-7.
Pennsbury 3, Council Rock North 1
The Falcons (8-3 SOL) maintain their hold on third place in the conference after beating the Indians (1-10 SOL). Collin Marks and Ross Dugan each found the net in the first half, and Enid Curveac scored the Falcons’ final goal in the second half.
Council Rock South 3, Bensalem 0
The Golden Hawks eased past the Owls on Tuesday, shutting them out 3-0. Julian Antal, Thomas Pascarella, and Dan Kockett each scored for the Hawks while assists were recorded by Dalton Ford and Chris Spadaro. The Hawks stay near the top of the conference standings, improving to 9-2 in the league. They will face top-ranked Neshaminy on Thursday. The Owls, who are 4-6-1, will travel to Council Rock North for their next league match-up.
Abington 4, Truman 0
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Plymouth Whitemarsh 3, Upper Merion 0
The Colonials shut out the Vikings on Tuesday in a league match-up. Sophomore Alex Bilodeau scored a pair for the Colonials while freshman Austin Betterly added one. Kenny Almack and Conor Moore were credited with assists in the victory, and keeper Brett Paul turned away two shots. The Colonials (6-3-2 SOL) visit Norristown on Thursday while the Vikings (1-9-1 SOL) visit top-seeded Wissahickon.
Upper Dublin 5, Upper Moreland 0
The Flying Cardinals picked up their second league win in a row as they cruised past the Bears. John Roos netted a pair for the Cards, and Michael Connelly, Zach Arnold, and Alex Browndorf rounded out the scoring in the shutout. The Cardinals, who remain in second place with an 8-1-2 record in the league, will visit Springfield on Thursday. The Bears fall to 4-6-1, and they will travel to Cheltenham on Thursday.
Wissahickon 4, Cheltenham 0
The first-place Trojans silenced the Panthers 4-0 on Tuesday. The Trojans scored a pair in each half, and the goal scorers were Devon Memis (two goals), Cole Kropnik, and Shane Fallen. The Trojans, 9-0-2 SOL in the league (11-1-2 overall), host Upper Merion on Thursday. The Panthers, 5-6 SOL, face Upper Moreland.
GIRLS
CONTINENTAL CONFERENCE
Quakertown 2, North Penn 0
It was a night the Panthers had waited a long time for - 21 years to be exact. The last time the Panthers beat the Maidens was in 1992, years before any of the current players were even born. On Tuesday night, the Panthers hosted the Maidens under the lights at their home field, and the electricity of the crowd was definitely a motivator.
The Panthers didn’t waste any time seizing control as Shannon Gibat put them on the board 10 minutes into the game. Neither team would score for the next 69 minutes until Gibat found Linzi Wolfe, who capped off the scoring with one minute remaining.
Coach Mike Koch was pleased with the performances of Shelly Cowan, who was instrumental in creating scoring chances, and sweeper Emily Galluppi, who cleaned up any opportunities the Maidens had. Erinne Finlayson, who Koch calls the most underrated keeper in the league, also had a standout game. He also credited Jenna Joseph, Callie Hubicki, Brittany Terra and Jess Minnichbach with notable play while North Penn was led by the talents of Haley Mangiaruga and Kristina Miller.
“I want to continue to compete,” Koch said. “We are really trying to go out and play and get results. We are going to run out and try to defeat everyone we have left on the schedule.”
The Panthers (2-8-1) will face the top-ranked Patriots of CB East at home on Thursday and the Maidens (1-7-3) take on Hatboro.
Central Bucks East 5, Souderton 0
Due to some shake-ups in the conference, the Patriots find themselves leading the conference as their record improved to 8-2-1 after their victory over the Indians (1-9-1). The Patriots scored their first three goals in a six-minute span in the first half as Shaun Kane, Miranda Meehan and Nicole Pannella all found the net to put their team on top 3-0 at the half. The Patriots didn’t slow down much in the second half as Nikki Ingham and Courtney Pfasf combined to score two more.
“We need to continue getting results and continue on the path we’re on and just keep getting it done,” East coach Paul Eisold said.
The Patriots will attempt to hold onto the top spot in the standings on Thursday when they visit Quakertown. On Monday, they will face Pennridge.
Central Bucks South 5, Hatboro Horsham 2
Hatter Gina Mallinder was the first to find the net in this important league battle, and it may have seemed as if a repeat of the Titans’ 3-0 loss in the previous match-up of these two teams was happening again.
But the Titans were determined not to let that happen as Kelsey Mariner answered the Hatters’ goal three minutes later to tie the game. Mariner proved too much for the Hatters to handle as she found teammate Marley Szczesniak in the 25th minute to put the Titans on top 2-1. Before the half ended, Taylor Matsinger (Margo Fox assist) added another goal to send her team to the half leading 3-1. Keeper Morgan Campbell made some pivotal saves in the first half, especially late in the half allowing her team to maintain the lead.
The Hatters scored early in the second half as Sydney McNutt tried to keep her team in the game. However, the rest of the half belonged to the Titans as Kelly Joerger and Gabby Gibson added one goal apiece, both off of Mariner assists.
Coach Joe Bocklet was not surprised to see his team upset the third place Hatters.
“We are playing really good right now,” he said. “We have a lot of confidence and a lot of determination.”
The Titans have been hard to contain in their last three games, scoring a total of 13 goals in those contests.
Bocklet credited Mariner with a standout performance.
“She did real well and she played with composure,” he said. “She had well-placed through balls to her teammates. It was her best game of the season.”
Fox and Matsinger were also key players in the victory.
“(Fox) was all over field- constantly involved in challenging and winning,” Bocklet said. “She and Matsinger did a great job through the midfield.”
The Titans are enjoying more success in their second half of the season and hope to maintain their momentum and earn a bid to the playoffs.
“The whole second half of season we have concentrated on controlling our box and keeping teams off the board in corners and set pieces,” Bocklet said. “I feel like they are playing with a lot of confidence and it will be tough beat us.”
The Titans prepare to face CB West on Thursday with the hopes to continue their ascent in the conference standings. They (5-3-3) took over the fifth spot in the conference as a result of their win over the Hatters (6-3-2), who fell from third to fourth place.
Central Bucks West 2, Pennridge 1
The Bucks handed Pennridge their second league loss in a row on Tuesday, dropping the Rams (7-2-2) - who have led the conference all season - to second place. The Bucks upped their record to 7-3-1 and climbed into third place. The Rams’ lone goal was scored by Danielle Chynoweth off a corner by Megan Shenk.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Abington 7, Truman 1
Molly Wyman had a hat trick, Kayla Nolan scored twice and Julia Guarini and Anna Kumor each added one in the Ghosts’ win over the Tigers. Amanda Mcelhare scored the only goal for Truman. The Tigers (0-10) are still searching for a league win while the Ghosts improved to 4-7 in the league. Abington travels to Tennent on Thursday, and Truman visits the third-place Falcons of Pennsbury.
Neshaminy 5, William Tennent 0
The Redskins shut out the Panthers to stay perfect in the league with an 11-0 record. The Panthers took a 1-0 lead when Amy Heller scored an unassisted goal at the 26:50 mark. That lead held until halftime. The Redskins blew the game wide open with four second-half goals, including three in a deadling nine-minute stretch by Megan Schafer (Fran Donato assist), Donato (Erin Farrell assist) and Jamie Mason (Schafer assist). Sarah Hertenberger (Gabby Farrell assist) scored in the closing minutes of the game for the 5-0 final.
The Panthers, who are now 4-6 in the league, host Abington on Thursday night while the Redskins match up against Council Rock South.
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Upper Moreland 3, Upper Dublin 2
The Lady Cards jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the Bears after Rachel Gordon and Brigid Peyton found the net within the first 50 minutes of play. The Bears were not ready to give up however and started a scoring barrage midway through the second half. Lindsay Walder was the first to connect for the Bears after Meghan Thompson served her the ball in the 69th minute. Walder’s goal ignited the Bears, who added two more goals in the next nine minutes.
Coach Michelle Schickler said Walder’s goal got the team “fired up” and showed the Cardinals they were not going to ease up.
Walder scored her second goal one minute later (Morgan Valera assist), and the Cardinals didn’t get a chance to answer back. Deadlocked at 2-2 late in the second half, Walder found teammate Taylor Valera, who buried the game-winner in the 78th minute.
Schickler was thrilled that her team was able to beat Upper Dublin for the first time in years, and after losing to the Cardinals 5-1 in the beginning of the season, Upper Moreland was definitely the underdog in this contest. But this time, she had some strategies that worked for her team.
“I stacked the defense, and the off-sides trap was working really well,” Schickler said. “We were moving the ball really well and talking on defense.”
Schickler commended the efforts of Morgan Valera and Karli Lynch who both played sweeper with “shutting them down on defense” and setting the tone for the other defenders. Fullback Ashley Kleinert also contributed to the win, using her speed to help in the back.
In addition to stellar performances by some key defenders, Schickler praises goalkeeper
Leslie Weaver in the victory.
“She had many saves - she’s an amazing goalie,” the Bears’ coach said. “She came up big with saves today.”
The Bears are now 5-5 in the league and 5-8 overall as they set their sights on Cheltenham on Thursday.
“They are a really good team,” says Schickler. “We need to do the same as we did today, we found something that worked and we need to continue it. We need to keep the same mentality.”
Upper Dublin falls to 7-4 and is now in third place behind Plymouth Whitemarsh and Wissahickon. The Cardinals host Springfield on Thursday.
Wissahickon 3, Cheltenham 2 (2 OT)
The Trojans got off to a great start as Cailin Grey scored a pair of goals within seven minutes of each other to send Wissahickon into the half with a 2-0 lead. The Panthers took over the second half, however, when Emily Leibovitz and Sarah Keeny capitalized on some Trojan errors and scored two goals in two minutes near the end of regulation to knot the score and set the stage for overtime. With only three minutes left in the second overtime, Ellen-Claire Benbow converted a corner kick and snuck one by the keeper’s weak side to win the game.
The Trojans remain atop the conference standings with an impressive 10-1 record while the Panthers slip to 5-6. On Thursday, the Panthers travel to Upper Moreland and the Trojans visit Upper Merion.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 4, Upper Merion 0
PW’s Amanda Cranney and Nic Abbott each netted a pair of goals in their win over the Vikings. The Colonials maintain their stronghold on second place in the conference standings with a record of 8-3 while the Vikings fell to 5-5. On Thursday, Upper Merion hosts top-ranked Wissahickon and Plymouth Whitemarsh faces Norristown.
Springfield 4, Norristown 0
The Spartans recorded their third league victory after shutting out the Eagles on Tuesday. Megan Wheatley and Paige Morrison each scored a pair in the contest while Maisey Bradley also was a key part of the Spartans’ win. The Eagles, who are still searching for their first league win, are now 0-11 while the Spartans improve to 3-8.
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