Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action. CR North/St. Joe’s Prep photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos. CB East/New Hope-Solebury photos provided courtesy of Kelly Reid.
Pennridge 2, West Chester Henderson 1
Pennridge advanced to the championship game of the West Chester Henderson Labor Day Tournament with an impressive win over the host team on Friday. With the win, the Rams move on to play Haverford High Saturday at 7 p.m.
“This is huge,” said Pennridge coach Pete Valimont. “Henderson has a reputation for a top-notch program in the district. For us to go there on the road – we had a delay because the 5 o’clock game went to double overtime and penalty kicks that they’re doing just for the tournament – and then to get on there and play the way we did is a real credit to my guys and all around. Not just the guys that scored and assisted - it was just an all-around effort.”
Junior Ben Scary put the Rams on the scoreboard with 15 minutes to play in the first half, a header off the throw in from senior captain Bobby Brashear. Henderson knotted the score 26 minutes into the second half.
"In the second half, they had some good chances, and we had two or three really good ones that we didn’t finish, but we were playing well,” Valimont said. “Their outside right back hit probably a one in a million shot from 35 almost 40 yards out that went cross field, hit the bottom of the opposite post.
“All you heard was a doink and it was in the back of the net. If it hits an inch left or anywhere else, it probably pops back out or just misses. It was a little bit of a momentum swing about halfway through to them.”
With 3 ½ minutes remaining, Pennridge picked up the game-winner as Aidan Castle scored with an assist from Dillan Naititus.
“Dillan Natitus, our other senior captain, put a great through ball, splitting their defense to our speedster, sophomore Aidan Castle,” Valimont said. “He was able to take a one-touch right to net, the other one set himself up, the goalie came out and he buried it.
“Then we were just trying to kill the clock the last three-and-a-half minutes.”
Junior goalkeeper Owen Gunn recorded four saves to help secure the win for the Rams.
Valimont lauded the performances of several players.
“We have a freshman in the back, Shane Velez - he’s just a stud,” the Rams’ coach said. “Our outside back, Jack DeMarco, is a first-year senior defender, and he just played lights out. We were a little bit nervous and hesitant on our one side if we would have to do defense by committee, and he proved tonight that will not be a problem.
“Henderson has a solid group and they’ll win 14-15 games. For us, this is a great way to start.”
Pennridge 1 1 -2
West Chester Henderson 1 0 - 1
Pennsbury 4, Plymouth Whitemarsh 3
Nyles Cayemitte scored two goals and Pennsbury – which led 4-1 early in the second half - held off a late PW charge for a season-opening victory.
“It got a little bit wilder than maybe it should have been, but they were a good squad,” coach Tom Stoddart said. “They played hard. We played them on their smaller turf pitch, so obviously, you can turn games on a dime up there because of the dimensions of the field.
“I thought we were really dangerous, but their goalkeeper did a good job of keeping them in it, and their boys really fought and played hard for their new coach. I was impressed.”
Freshman Josh Oladele came off the bench scored off of a Evan Reichard assist to put the Falcons in front in the first half. After PW answered to tie it up, Cayemitte put Pennsbury back in front, scoring on a penalty kick toward the end of the first half.
Cayemitte’s second goal three minutes into the second half made it 3-1 and then Evan Reichard added another and it was a 4-1 game.
PW scored a pair of goals to make it close, but Pennsbury was able to hang on to earn the win.
“They just kept coming,” said Stoddart. “But outside of that, I thought we did a really nice job of easing their pressure because they were really coming at that point. They ran out of a little bit of steam. We had some opportunities to really put it away and we didn’t, but we were also able to keep the ball in front of us.
“They had a late scramble at the end of the game. They certainly didn’t quit. It was a good match. I was happy to get out of there with a win.”
Stoddart credited the play of several players in the win.
“Peter Beidler was solid in the back and continues to be a good leader as a goalkeeper,” the Falcons’ coach said. “Nyles (Cayemitte) and Evan (Reichard) - Josh scored that first goal, but it was all Evan setting it up. Nyles and Evan are just going to be very dangerous."
Pennsbury (1-0) will travel to Council Rock North for Wednesday’s SOL opener, and Plymouth Whitemarsh (0-1) will be on the road at Lower Merion for a non-league game Tuesday.
Pennsbury 2 2 – 4
Plymouth Whitemarsh 1 2 -3
Neshaminy 6, Central 0
The Redskins scored early and often en route to a 6-0 win over Central in its nonleague opener on Friday.
“Gavin Rowan got the scoring going in the 12th minute by tucking the ball into the far corner of the goal off a deflection,” coach Tom Foley said.
Rowan scored his second goal six minutes later when he put in a Manny Weaba rebound. He completed the hat trick in the 33rd minute.
“Mike Albarran gave him the perfect pass at the top of the 18, and he bent it inside the far post,” Foley said. “Jason Spencer sent Mike Albarran in on a breakaway, and he calmly went around the keeper to make it 4-0 in the 38th minute.
Rowan would later added his fourth goal of the game in the 42nd minute.
“He was fouled at the top of the penalty area and was awarded a free kick,” Foley said. “He bent the ball perfectly around the wall to make it 5-0.
“Christian Gega closed out the scoring in the 50th minute when he volleyed in a long Ryan Schoeneman throw. It was a complete team win.”
The Redskins’ coach lauded the play of his defense led by Alex Daesche, Dan Nogeuira and Shoeneman, while Trevor Rush, Logan Gildea and Casey Foley combined for the shutout in goal.
Neshaminy (1-0) is back in action Wednesday at Bensalem.
Central 0 0 – 0
Neshaminy 5 1 – 6
Harry S. Truman 12, Pottstown 0
With seven goals in the first half, Harry S. Truman started the 2019 season off strong with a dominant win over Pottstown on Friday morning.
Zack Hopely started the scoring for the Tigers with a goal off the assist from Mert Yildirim. Brothers Adam Fask and Auyuob Fask then hooked up with Adam Fask scoring to make it a 2-0 game and the team was off and running.
A year ago, Truman scored 12 goals all season and was shutout 11 times in going 1-15 season.
Friday, Yildirim, Ricky Pierre Toussaint and Aksel Victoria led the Tigers with two goals each. Hopely, Adam Fask, Wendell Matthews, Osvaldo Rodriguez, Auyuob Fask, and Mert Salan added goals.
Jon Abarayak and Timmy Tran both played in goal and combined for the shutout.
“Richie Hrouda, Jon Hamilton, Artie Dingley and Edwin Rivera played well offensively and defensively,” said coach Matt Terry. “Total team effort with good ball movement. The players played well today.”
Harry S Truman (1-0) will travel to Council Rock South for Wednesday’s SOL opener.
Pottstown 0 0 – 0
Harry S. Truman 7 5 - 12
Council Rock South 3, Archbishop Carroll 0
Sean Armstrong scored all three goals for Council Rock South, which opened its season with an impressive win over visiting Archbishop Carroll out of the Philadelphia Catholic League.
Shane Cohen, Pat Zawodniak and Andrew Rosenfeld picked up the assists for the Golden Hawks, while Andrew Roberto was credited with the shutout in goal.
“Luke Evans did a lot of work in the midfield, and our defense didn’t give up much, led by Keith Charlton and Kyle Gartenmayer,” said CR South coach Alan Nicholl.
Archbishop Carroll 0 0 – 0
CR South 2 1 – 3
Springfield Township 7, Collegium Charter 1
Six different players scored goals as Springfield dominated from the start against Collegium Charter, scoring all seven of its goals in the first half.
Ian Short led goal-scorers with two, while Anthony Forgione, Mike Iller, Evan Bunting, Leo Castro and Grant Williams also scored. Evan Hincapie had three assists, Tommy Bailey added two assists, and one each for Forgione and Jack Hasson.
Short put the Spartans on the scoreboard, using a Forgione assist, and then it was Forgione scoring (Hincapie assist). Hincapie picked up assists number two and three on goals by Iller and Short as the Spartans went on top 4-0. Bunting (Hasson assist), Castro (Bailey assist) and Williams (Bailey assist) connected to close out the scoring.
Springfield Township (1-0) will be on the road at Abington for Wednesday’s SOL opener.
Collegium Charter 0 1 – 1
Springfield 7 0 – 7
Souderton 2, Saucon Valley 0
Levi Gross and Sage Scarlett scored first half goals as Souderton blanked Saucon Valley in its nonleague opener on Friday.
“It was a great team defensive effort – lots of hard work and tackling from all for the shutout,” coach Matt Benner said.
Gross scored off of an assist from Conor Kellough in the 23rd minute to break a scoreless tie and put the Indians in control. Ty Quintois assisted on Scarlett’s goal in the 40th minute.
Benner lauded the play of his backline - Tyler Bovell, Thomas Smith, Conor Kellough and Dillon Barbieri.
"The whole backline didn't come out of the game," the Indians' coach said.
In goal, Riley Finger saved four shots to post the shutout for Souderton.
The Indians opened up league play Wednesday at North Penn
Souderton 2 0 – 2
Saucon Valley 0 0 – 0
Upper Moreland 1, Lower Moreland 0
Mateo Infante broke a scoreless goal with 3 ½ minutes remaining as Upper Moreland blanked Lower Moreland in each team’s nonleague opener on Friday.
“Mateo broke through the Lower Moreland defense,” coach Matt Duffey said. “He took a shot on the goal, and the goalkeeper couldn’t quite handle the ball. Mateo followed up his shot and toe-poked it into the goal.”
As well as Infante, Duffey credited defenders Travis Slear and Josh Henderson for their play.
“We played extremely well,” Duffey said. “We had a lot of possession, and according to the guys that were keeping stats for us, we had 27 shots – 14 on target. We only allowed six shots with one on target. Our defense did play really well overall from the entire team.
“In general, we just moved the ball really well. (Lower Moreland) played some very good defense because we had a lot of pressure on them all game long.”
Upper Moreland (1-0) will travel to Springfield-Delco for a non-league game Tuesday.
Lower Moreland 0 0 – 0
Upper Moreland 0 1 – 1
Cheltenham 7, George Washington 0
The Panthers seized control of Friday's opener early and never looked back.
Sophomore Nate Quigley scored eight minutes into the contest after a mad scramble in the box. That was followed by two goals in three 
minutes – a 15th minute free kick from senior Findlay Peet that curled over the Washington goalie, and a tap header inside the six by junior Jack Klebanoff off a Peet cross.
The Panthers also benefitted from two own goals and closed out the scoring with goals from senior Sam Liss and Paolo Musumeci.
“I couldn’t be happier with the way we played today,” Cheltenham coach Bill Tonkin said. “We opened up scoring right from the opening whistle and took the game to them. Washington had two strong players in the midfield but to our defense’s credit, we prevented any real dangerous shots, but they effectively kept us off the board in the second half.”
Tonkin has high expectations for his senior-laden team.
“This team is stronger overall than last year,” the Panthers’ coach said. “We have a deeper bench, and I’m expecting our seniors to really rise to the level I believe they can play.”
Cheltenham (1-0) is back in action Tuesday when it hosts New Foundations Charter.
George Washington 0 0 – 0
Cheltenham 6 1 -7
Central Bucks East 2, New Hope-Solebury 1
Junior Jacob Bing-Zaremba and sophomore Mason Stein scored goals for CB East, which started the season with a close win over New Hope.
The Patriots kick off league play with a game at rival Central Bucks West on Wednesday night (7 p.m.) at War Memorial Field.
North Penn 2, Hatboro-Horsham 0
The visiting Knights scored a goal in each half to earn a win in Friday’s non-league opener. Josh Jones scored on a corner kick from Ryan Stewart eight minutes into the opening half. Ryan Stewart turned a Carter Houlihan pass into a goal midway through the second half for the 2-0 final.
Sawyer Meade recorded six saves in goal for the Knights.
North Penn (1-0) will host Souderton in Wednesday’s SOL opener, and Hatboro-Horsham (0-1) will host Upper Dublin on Wednesday.
North Penn 1-1 2
Hatboro-Horsham 0-0 0
Southern Lehigh 2, Wissahickon 0
Scoreless at halftime, Southern Lehigh scored twice in the second half to pull away for the win in the nonleague opener for both teams.
Wissahickon outshot Southern Lehigh 9-7 in the game.
The Trojans (0-1) will look to bounce back in their league opener Wednesday at Plymouth Whitemarsh (3:30 p.m.).
Southern Lehigh 0 2 – 2
Wissahickon 0 0 -0
Boyertown 3, Abington 2 (OT)
The host Bears opened up a 2-0 halftime lead, but the Ghosts came roaring back in the second half. Thomas Santangelo scored with 6:42 left in regulation to force overtime, but Abington came up on the short end in a back-and-forth game with Boyertown on Friday.
Nevin Baer scored Abington’s first goal.
Nick Wilson’s game winner for Boyertown came 90 seconds into the first OT.
The Ghosts (0-1) are back in action with a league game Wednesday at home against Springfield.
Abington 0 2 0 – 2
Boyertown 2 0 1 – 1
St. Joseph’s Prep 1, Council Rock North 0 (OT)
An own goal in the 98th minute was the difference as St. Joseph’s Prep slipped by Council Rock North in this this nonleague game.
CR North held a 10-7 advantage in shot and 8-6 in corner kick.
Coach Joe Stackhouse credited the play of senior center backs Jeremy Smithline and Spencer Berman.
Council Rock North (1-0) will host Archbishop Carroll on Saturday.
St. Joe’s Prep 0 0 1 – 1
CR North 0 0 0 – 0
Central Bucks South 6, Bensalem 1
Chris Russo found the net for the Owls, but the Titans had just too many offensive weapons.
Bensalem (0-1) will travel to Holy Ghost Prep for a non-league game Tuesday, and Central Bucks South (1-0) will host William Tennent Tuesday.
Central Bucks West 1, Conestoga 1 (2 OTs)
In a battle pitting a pair of perennial powers, not even two overtimes could determine a winner.
"I would say first half we maybe had a little bit of the better run, the second half was them, and the overtimes were pretty equal," coach Stefan Szygiel said. "Both teams had chances and close calls. We could very well see each other later in the season."
Bailey Moyer turned a Jimi Leder pass into a first-half goal.
"The goal came from a Ryan Horst service into the box knocked down by Jimi Leder and touched in by Bailey Moyer," Szygiel said.
The Pioneers evened the scored in the second half, and neither team scored the rest of the way.
"We were happy to have the game early, and I think 'Stoga was also happy to have the game early," Szygiel said. "I don't think either of us are obviously what we're going to be in six weeks and beyond that.
"They're such a fun side to play against because you have to be on point with everything. You can't lose a mark, you can't fall asleep in transition, and they got us a few times. They caught us sleeping, and that's what you get early in the season - you get those situations. I think we learned a lot. It was great."
Ryan Van Pelt - stepping into a starting role after Dylan Smith manned the position for four years - recorded six saves in goal for the Bucks.
"I thought my senior goalkeeper - Ryan Van Pelt - had a very busy night, and he did a really good job commanding his box," Szygiel said. "He came out and did really well on crosses and throws and made a couple of really nice point-blank saves and kept us in it.
"Ryan's gotten varsity time all the way back in 2017 because he's been involved in the varsity level since then. He's just been waiting in the wings. When you have Dylan - Ryan doesn't look it as shoes to fill. He looks at is as - I want to carry on the pedigree of strong CB West goalkeeping."
The Bucks' coach also credited the strong play of a pair of players.
"James Lutz and Kanishk Nazareth had a very busy night in the midfield and put in a lot of tackles and won a ton of balls for us," Szygiel said. "It was a great environment and early season battle for both sides."
Central Bucks West (1-0) will host New Hope-Solebury Saturday at 6 p.m.
Central Bucks West 1-0-0 1
Conestoga 0-1-0 1
Father Judge 1, Upper Dublin 0
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