Check out the results for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action on Wednesday.
National Conference
BENSALEM 3, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 1
There are the usual suspects in the SOL National race, but it appears at least one other team may be inching into contention, too. That squad would be Bensalem, which traveled to Council Rock South Wednesday afternoon in a key early season battle.
Thanks to a big day from Chris Jurgeson, the Owls came away with a 3-1 victory, giving them their second win in three tries in league action. They are also 4-2 overall and have a chance to better that record again on Friday in a game against Council Rock North.
“We’re in a really tough division. Any team can win on any particular day,” said Bensalem coach Joe Leone.
Jurgeson had a pair of goals to give the Owls all the offense they would need to take down the Golden Hawks, who fell to 1-2-1 in league play with the loss. Mike Henry added the other goal, while midfielder/forward Brian Kilcoyne delivered a solid effort from his post in the winning effort.
Goalie Ben Anderson stopped more than five CR South shots to get the win in net.
“We played better in the second half,” Leone said.
WILLIAM TENNENT 1, NESHAMINY 1
Sometimes, escaping accompanies success in soccer. For Neshaminy, that time came Wednesday as - after trailing for the majority of the second half - the Redskins rallied to even the score and force overtime with just minutes remaining. Neither team scored from there, resulting in the first draw for both teams this year.
“Tennent outworked us most of the game, and we were very fortunate to get a point,” Neshaminy coach Tom Foley said.
The Panthers pulled ahead nine minutes into the second half on a great shot by Johnny Ciarlante. He later had a chance to put the game away, but was denied on a great save by Redskins keeper Chris Watson.
In the 77th minute, Neshaminy finally capitalized on an opportunity when a ball in the box was corralled by Nick Tucci. He proceeded to send a soft volleying shot past Tennent’s keeper to tie the score.
“Neshaminy had a couple of chances in ‘OT’ but couldn’t find the net,” Foley said.
The Redskins are now 5-0-1 on the year, while Tennent is 2-3-1.
William Tennent 0 1 0 (OT) 1
Neshaminy 0 1 0 (OT) 1
PENNSBURY 1, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0
Eight minutes into the second half, the Falcons broke through when Alex Kardos sent a ball to Colin Marks. He proceeded to send a shot past the Indians’ keeper for the first and only tally of the afternoon in a 1-0 home triumph for Pennsbury.
Eric Gagliardi earned the third shutout of the year for the Falcons, who are now 2-1-1 in the SOL National. The Indians, though, fell to 2-3 overall and 2-2 in the National.
Pennsbury 0 1 1
Council Rock North 0 0 0
ABINGTON 5, TRUMAN 4
Abington survived a high scoring affair to defeat the Tigers and move to 3-3 on the year. The Ghosts have a chance to get over the .500 mark against William Tennent Friday, while the Tigers dropped to 2-3-1 with the setback.
American Conference
WISSAHICKON 3, CHELTENHAM 2
Leads are rarely completely safe
Wissahickon can attest to that after what happened Wednesday afternoon. After grabbing a 3-0 advantage in front of a home crowd, the Trojans almost let it evaporate before holding on to defeat Cheltenham by a 3-2 count.
With just three minutes remaining, the Panthers began their claw back into things. Tim Taliaferro beat Trojans keeper John Carroza (four saves) after his defense yielded a breakaway to make it 3-1. A minute later, the Trojans committed a foul in the goal box, which gave Joe Galtman a penalty kick. He also found the net to cut the lead to 3-2.
Wissahickon, however, was able to maintain that advantage the rest of the way and improved to 4-2 on the season and 2-2 in SOL American play.
“We currently need to have more pride in finishing games and earning the shutout,” Trojans coach Stuart Malcolm said. “We lacked discipline at the end and that nearly cost us dearly.”
It was a tough finish to an otherwise good day for the Trojans. For one, they were able to close the first half well as Neal Guaglianone scored to break a scoreless tie in the 38th minute to give Wissahickon a 1-0 edge at the break. Early in the second half, he was at it again, and six minutes later, Sam Hunt provided the eventual game winner which, at the time, seemed to be more than enough of a margin for the Trojans.
Alex Chiodo-Ortiz and Jason Bugis added assists for the Trojans, who outshot the Panthers, 17-11. John Vinnes made eight saves for Cheltenham, which will next face Upper Moreland on Friday.
Wissahickon 1 2 3
Cheltenham 0 2 2
UPPER DUBLIN 5, UPPER MORELAND 1
It didn’t take long for Upper Dublin to assert itself.
Just three minutes into its game with Upper Moreland, the Cardinals got the scoring going when Cole D’Andrea set up Zach Arnold for the opening goal. That was just the start of an offensive onslaught as the Cardinals went on to score a season-high five goals by five different players in a runaway home victory.
It took a while for the Cardinals to strike again, but Alex Demchick finally did with less than three minutes to go in the first half.
Not long after the second half got underway, Glenn VanOrden found the back of the net to make it 3-0 Upper Dublin. Randy Meehl scored 10 minutes later for Upper Moreland, but any chance the Golden Bears had at a comeback was lost when Eric Baker scored in the 69th minute to all but put things away. Alex Browndorf capped the scoring five minutes later for the Cardinals.
The Bears are now 1-6 on the year. Conversely, the Cardinals have won their first four league contests after dropping their opening two in non-league play. They will look to continue the success Friday when they visit Springfield (Montco).
Upper Dublin 2 3 5
Upper Moreland 0 1 1
SPRINGFIELD (MONTCO) 3, NORRISTOWN 1
Zack Klebonoff was the biggest of several contributors to the Spartans’ offensive attack Wednesday in a 3-1 home victory over Norristown. Klebonoff scored the first two goals for the Spartans in the win, while Zach Harley added the insurance as Springfield (Montco) improved to 2-2 in SOL American action.
Riley Woron also had two assists, while Igor McVeagh contributed one of his own. The Eagles goal came off a shot by Drew Baltrus.
Norristown fell to 1-4 with the setback.
PLYMOUTH-WHITEMARSH 1, UPPER MERION 0
The Colonials handed the Vikings their first loss of the season and improved themselves to 5-0-1 on the year. Next up for P-W is a trip to Norristown Friday, while Upper Merion (4-1 overall) will look to get back on track at Wissahickon the same day.
Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 2, PENNRIDGE 0
If the SOL Continental turns into a two-horse race, it is quite possible that CB West will be one of the players.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Bucks trekked to Perkasie to take on an improved Pennridge team, and like they have done five other times this season, came out victorious in a 2-0 victory. The Bucks are now 4-0 in the Continental and 5-1 overall, the only loss coming by a 1-0 score to Great Valley in their second game of the season.
For the second straight match, the Bucks were the beneficiaries of an own goal. Against Souderton Tuesday night, it proved to be the game winner, and that was the case again at Pennridge. In the 16th minute, defensive player Stephen Werner headed a ball into the goal box that went off a Ram defender and into the net. Redd Brown had no such trouble in net for CB West as he made seven saves for his second straight shutout and third overall.
Eight minutes into the second half, junior forward Nick Marellas sent another ball in deep. This one found a teammate in midfielder Brian VanEekelen, who buried it into the back of the net to complete the scoring.
The Bucks next face CB South Friday while Pennridge will travel to Souderton.
Central Bucks West 1 1 2
Pennridge 0 0 0
NORTH PENN 1, QUAKERTOWN 0
So far, the team keeping pace with the Bucks has been North Penn. Teams have come close to the Knights, but no one has yet to be able to knock them off. That was again the case Wednesday as Quakertown came just short of forcing overtime in a 1-0 setback.
On Monday, Quakertown was the team on the right side of a goal with less than a minute to play in a victory over CB South. The fortunes turned against them, however, two days later. With under 30 seconds remaining in regulation, Drew McMeniman got open and was hit with a cross-pass from Dylan McMahon. He took advantage by blasting a shot past the Panthers keeper for the only goal of the match.
The Knights improved to 6-0 on the year and 4-0 in the Continental. All of their league matches have been decided by one goal. Quakertown, meanwhile, dropped to 4-4 on the season and 2-2 in Continental play, while also seeing its two-game winning streak snapped.
North Penn 0 1 1
Quakertown 0 0 0
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 4, HATBORO-HORSHAM 1
The Titans came into their trip to Hatboro-Horsham in need of a win, and they got it in the form of a 4-1 trouncing to break a four-game losing streak. It was their second largest scoring output of the season and bumped their record to 3-4 overall (1-3 in the Continental).
Colin Fagan led the way for the Titans with a pair of first-half goals, using assists by Dan Busichio and Kevin Regan. Busichio then scored one of his own 12 minutes into the second half, and Dean Helwig followed suit two minutes later on a tally set up by Matt Weigner.
The Hatters broke the shutout in the 55th minute when Chris Hobbs scored an unassisted goal. They fell to 3-3 on the season and will next host North Penn Friday.
Central Bucks South 2 2 4
Hatboro-Horsham 0 1 1
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