Check out the recaps of SOL boys’ soccer teams in action Thursday. (CB East/CB West photos provided courtesy of Maura Dillon/CB East boys’ soccer)
National Conference
Council Rock North 2, Pennsbury 1 (2 OT)
Vinnie Colon’s heads-up goal in overtime propelled Council Rock North to a 2-1 win over host Pennsbury on Thursday.
The loss was the first of the season for the Falcons, who remained atop the conference despite the loss. For the Indians, it was a much-needed boost as they vie to get back into the district playoff picture.
“This was a good one,” Council Rock North coach Joe Stackhouse said. "I told them, ‘You guys have dug yourselves into a huge hole, and you have to figure a way to get out.’"
Colon helped them do it when he buried a shot from about 20 yards out with only four minutes to go in the second overtime.
“Vinnie hit one on the run from about 20 yards out,” Stackhouse said. “It had just stopped raining, and the ground was wet - he drove it hard into the ground and it skipped right by the goalie. It was a great shot. He did everything you’re supposed to do on wet ground with it.”
Both goals during regulation were own goals.
Pennsbury scored an own goal in the first five minutes of the game, giving the Indians a 1-0 lead until the Falcons tied things with three minutes left in regulation as the result of a Rock North own goal.
Stackhouse praised the play of his defenders, Ethan Blatt, Jeremy Smithline, Spencer Berman, Jake Block and Ryan Sirota along with his goalkeeper, Jeremy Berman (Spencer’s younger brother).
“The five kids in the back played exceptionally well today,” Stackhouse said. “And Jeremy played pretty heady for a sophomore. It’s funny because I yelled at him in the first five minutes of the game and said, ‘Jeremy, you can’t play like a 15-year-old. You have to play like an 18-year-old.’ I told him, ‘Put on the big boy pants. It’s time to go,’ and he did.
“He responded well. He didn’t make any mistakes. The own goal you can’t do anything about when one of your players puts it by you. He played really well. He played with some poise, he played with some character.”
Up next for the Indians (5-4-1, 3-3-1 SOL) will be Central Bucks East for a non-league game on the road Saturday (noon).
“We have a big game on Saturday against CB East on the road if we can pull that off,” Stackhouse said. “After the Bensalem game (a 4-3 loss last week), we sat the kids down and said, ‘Listen, you can’t look at what’s in our rearview mirror. Just go game to game, play to play and let the chips fall where they may.
“I think we’re a talented group. Three of our four losses have been in overtime, every one of our losses has been a one-goal loss. It’s just a matter of character, it’s a matter of fighting through adversity."
The Falcons (8-1-1 overall, 6-1 conference) are off until next Friday when they host Bensalem (3:30 p.m.).
Council Rock North 1 0 1 – 2
Pennsbury 0 1 0 – 1
Bensalem 2, Neshaminy 1
Bensalem’s remarkable turnaround continued Thursday as the visiting Owls battled back from a halftime deficit to score a 2-1 win over Neshaminy on Thursday.
The Owls, who started the season 0-5, improved to 6-5 overall with their sixth straight victory and 4-3 in the conference, good for a tie for second with Neshaminy behind Pennsbury.
“We came to Neshaminy to get a game back after we gave them the match at our place,” said Bensalem coach Rob Brown, whose team led Neshaminy 2-0 in their first meeting only to see Neshaminy roar back and win 3-2 in overtime.
“It was a good game, but we were up two goals with a man advantage for over 60 minutes. We should have finished out the game ahead. However, a lot has changed within our program in the last two weeks. We have come together and the boys have bought into our style.”
The Redskins took a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute on a goal by Cole Jackson (Mike Albarran assist)/
“We were down 1-0 on a nice goal by Neshaminy, but the good news was that we have been down a lot and it doesn’t bother us,” Brown said. “At halftime, we talked about being here before and not to worry, we will get chances.”
An unlikely source got the first chance for the Owls and converted to tie the game.
“(One of our defenders) Matt Edwards stole a pass around midfield and hit the ball forward and forced their keeper to come out to get it,” Brown said. “Their defender, the goalie and Matt all ran to the ball. Matt beat them there and put in the empty netter.
“It was a great hustle play. We talked to Matt yesterday about making the most of his opportunities when he’s on the field and I wanted him to make it hard for me to take him out. He certainly did that.”
The game-winner by Brian Gibson in the 63rd minute came off a free kick from about 19 yards out.
“We were fouled right on the edge on a clear foul but Neshaminy’s staff did not agree,” Brown said. “The Skins were really physical all game and committed a lot of fouls. They were warned a few times about fouling, but that’s high school ball and you just have to keep playing and fighting through.
“Brian Gibson stepped up and scored the free kick for us off a deflection in the wall on another great shot by him. The rest of the way we just dug-in and really played defense. We each had a few chances to score, and they moved players up to get more pressure and we countered and almost scored in the last minute. Jeremy DiPinto went to the corner then broke in, beat a defender baseline and crossed to one of our guys in the middle who missed the goal.”
The Owls’ coach tipped his hat to the team’s fans.
“I also want to mention the great student section we had come to the game,” Brown said. “They really traveled well today. That’s three-straight games with an awesome student section.”
The Redskins held a 14-7 advantage in shots.
“I was quite pleased with the way our team played today offensively,” Neshaminy coach Tom Foley said. “We made one unfortunate mistake on the afternoon and we paid dearly for it. Credit Bensalem for capitalizing on the mistake and burying a free kick from the top on the penalty area.”
Bensalem (6-5, 4-3 SOL) hosts Penn Wood on Friday (3:30 p.m.) and Neshaminy (7-3, 4-3) hosts Abington (3:30 p.m.).
Bensalem 0 2 – 2
Neshaminy 1 0 - 1
Continental Conference
North Penn 4, Souderton 2
North Penn put this one away before intermission as the visiting Knights collected four first-half goals on the way to a 4-2 win.
The victory kept the Knights atop the conference standings.
Mike Chaffee got the scoring started for North Penn early on off a feed from Carter Houlihan, before Houlihan made it 2-0 as he connected off a dish from Starett Vesper, marking the beginning of a three-goal scoring explosion in the final six minutes of the half.
The Knights offense kept rolling as Jamie Stewart scored to make it 3-0 on an assist from Roman Ilovsky. Ilovsky then found the net for his team’s final goal with the assist going to Josh Jones.
“We were very good defensively in the first half,” North Penn coach Paul Duddy said. “We let up a little bit in the second half, but credit to Souderton.
“We always know we’re in for a tough game when we play there."
The Indians didn’t get on the board until late in regulation as Matt Groves scored with eight minutes remaining. Ali Noori completed the scoring (off a feed from Brandon Fornwall) with three minutes to play to account for the final margin.
“Starrett Vesper had a great game for us,” Duddy said.
Up next for North Penn (9-1, 5-1 SOL) will be a game at Holy Ghost Prep on Wednesday (3:45 p.m.) while Souderton (6-3-2, 3-2-2) plays at Central Bucks West on Wednesday (5 p.m.).
North Penn 4 0 - 4
Souderton 0 2 - 2
Central Bucks East 2, Central Bucks West 1
Junior Michael Ferrante scored with five seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Patriots to the dramatic win over the visiting Bucks in a battle of neighboring archrivals.
“It was a great team effort all around with many players positively contributing,” said Central Bucks East coach Josh Isaacsohn, whose team combined forces with West to raise funds for the battle against pediatric cancer.
The Bucks scored a first-half goal and took that lead into the closing minutes when the Patriots’ offense came to life. Nolan Case scored the equalizer with 10 minutes remaining in regulation, setting the stage for Ferrante’s game-winner.
“Mason Stein dribbled through and assisted Michael Ferrante,” Isaacsohn said. “It was a hard-fought win against a well-coached team.”
The Patriots were coming off a 3-0 non-league loss to Bensalem on Tuesday.
“It was a huge bounce back for sure,” Isaacsohn said. “Although it was a bit back and forth for some of the first half, West had the better of the play.
“They scored early on about 10 minutes in and we were inconsistent with not much going offensively. The second half was a different story where it seemed the game slowly shifted. Our fitness and will to see games through really showed with more consistent possession and offensive chances.”
East goalie Tyler Okin turned away seven shots to pick up the victory.
“I would give shout outs to Tyler Okin, who was stellar in net, as well as freshman Brandon Epstein, defender Ethan Green and midfielder Graiden Carter,” Isaacsohn said. “I think that after a lackluster first half the team felt pride in not losing the game especially at home.
“The captains - Jack Wilde, Nino Barbati and Nolan Case - have been great leaders and they brought a certain spirit that really seemed to lift the whole team.”
The Patriots (5-4-1, 4-2-1 SOL) host Council Rock North on Saturday (noon) while the Bucks (3-4-4, 2-3-2) host Souderton on Wednesday (5 p.m.).
Central Bucks West 1 0 - 1
Central Bucks East 0 2 – 2
Central Bucks South 3, Quakertown 1
Central Bucks South wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in what turned out to be a 3-1 win over host Quakertown on Thursday.
The Titans (4-2-2 conference), who remained in sole possession of second place in the conference behind North Penn, did all of their scoring in the first half.
Chris Hall netted the first tally in the game’s opening minute before Jake Heileg scored on a free kick shortly thereafter.
Freshman Colin O’Hara capped the Central Bucks South scoring with his first varsity goal to make it 3-0.
“Corey Bethel, Shane Landue, Jack Veith, A.J. Peev, Jake Heilig, Chris Hall and Owen Davis were all solid as we were able to dominate possession and put the game away in the first half,” Central Bucks South coach Joe Coscia said.
“Give credit to Quakertown for pushing us in the second half and for keeping us from capitalizing on numerous good chances at goal. It was a very good team performance for us and a good test ahead of the tough games we’re going to have in the coming weeks as we continue to push for a District One playoff berth.”
Jolly Ekpe accounted for the Panthers’ goal, using an assist from Ethan Harris.
The Titans (7-2-2, 4-2-2 SOL) play at Upper Dublin on Friday (3:30 p.m.) while the Panthers (2-8, 0-7) travel to Southern Lehigh (4 p.m.), also on Friday.
Central Bucks South 3 0 - 3
Quakertown 0 1 - 1
American Conference
Abington 4, Springfield Township 0
Abington remained unbeaten in conference play thanks to a 4-0 blanking of host Springfield Township.
The Ghosts led just 1-0 at halftime by virtue of a goal from Thomas Santangelo off a feed from Nevin Baer.
Abington put things away after intermission as Shawn McConnell, Santangelo (again) and Reese Gibbs scored goals to seal the verdict.
McConnell scored off an assist from Bryce Lexow while McConnell had the helper on the goal from Gibbs.
Up next for the Ghosts (8-1-1, 7-0-1 SOL) will be a home game Friday against Neshaminy (3:30 p.m.) while the Spartans (4-5, 3-5) host The Christian Academy on Monday (3:30 p.m.).
Abington 1 3 - 4
Springfield Township 0 0 - 0
Upper Moreland 4, Cheltenham 1
Upper Moreland used a balanced attack to post a 4-1 win over visiting Cheltenham on Thursday.
The Golden Bears received first-half goals from Mateo Infante and Michael Kane to build a 2-0 lead.
“It was a total team effort today,” Upper Moreland coach Matt Duffey said. “We really played a solid game from start to finish.”
The Golden Bears put things out of reach in the second half as Tyler Holman and Ivan Salazar netted goals.
Up next for the Panthers (3-9, 0-8) will be a home game on Wednesday against Upper Dublin (3:30 p.m.) while the Golden Bears (5-6, 3-5) play at Abington, also on Wednesday (7 p.m.).
Cheltenham 0 1 - 1
Upper Moreland 2 2 - 4
Wissahickon 4, Plymouth Whitemarsh 2
Wissahickon netted a pair of second-half goals to pull away from host Plymouth Whitemarsh for a 4-2 victory.
The Trojans got on the board right away as Jake Slackman scored in the game’s first minute and teammate Luis Burillo found the net four minutes later to give the visitors a 2-1 advantage. In between, the Colonials’ Chad McNally scored to tie the game briefly.
Plymouth Whitemarsh’s Tom Croft forged the halftime tie as he scored with just two minutes left before intermission.
However, in the second half, it was Christian Vorchheimer putting the Trojans ahead for good with a goal with 20 minutes left in regulation. Slackman then iced things eight minutes later with his second goal of the game.
Jack Schmidt had two assists in the win while Leo Morales had one.
Wissahickon (4-7, 4-4 SOL), which received five saves from goalie Hunter Graefe, plays next at Hatboro-Horsham on Wednesday (7 p.m.) while the Colonials (3-7, 3-5) host Wissahickon on Wednesday (3:30 p.m.).
Wissahickon 2 2 - 4
Plymouth Whitemarsh 2 0 - 2
Hatboro-Horsham 3, Upper Dublin 2
Hatboro-Horsham exacted some revenge on host Upper Dublin by posting a 3-2 win.
The victory kept the Hatters (in second place in the conference behind Abington while the Cardinals are in third place.
“They beat us the first time on our home field (2-0), so my guys were excited to get another crack at them,” Hatboro-Horsham coach Kyle McGrath said. “Obviously, they’re a pretty close rival in terms of distance, and my guys were up for the game.”
The Hatters scored in the game’s second minute as sophomore Nathan Scavo scored, marking the second-straight time H-H scored early (in Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Plymouth Whitemarsh, the Hatters scored four minutes into the game).
“He shot the ball from outside the box and it found its way into the goal, so we got off to a good start again,” McGrath said. “Our goal is to always start the game on the positive and on the front foot, and we did.
“Similar to Tuesday, we kind of then took our foot off the gas a little bit, and Upper Dublin controlled play, and they deservedly scored a goal before the half (to make it 1-1 at halftime)."
Fifty seconds into the second half, it was Scavo again to put H-H on top 2-1, as he finished off a throw-in that bounced around the penalty area before he knocked it home.
Bradan Mallon scored in the 55th minute to give HH a 3-1 lead
“It was a great individual play and an even better shot,” McGrath said.
The Cardinals scored with 15 minutes remaining to make it a 3-2 game
“At halftime, we just regrouped a little bit and said we needed to bring the same energy to start the second half,” McGrath said. “Fortunately, we were able to score early and then add a second goal in the second half to make it 3-1 and give ourselves a little bit of a cushion because we knew Upper Dublin was going to continue to pressure us.”
The Hatters’ coach lauded the play of his center midfielders.
“JD Mallinder, Matty Harmon and Jake Freedman all did a good job today,” McGrath said. “Upper Dublin’s midfield is very talented, and my guys went toe to toe with them, and in portions of the game, we were better in the midfield and in portions they were better. Ultimately, in the end, we came out on top."
Up next for the Hatters (7-2-1, 6-1-1 SOL) will be a home game on Saturday against Archbishop Wood (7:30 p.m.) while the Cardinals (5-6, 5-3) will host Central Bucks South on Friday (3:30 p.m.).
Hatboro-Horsham 1 2 - 3
Upper Dublin 1 1 – 2
Non-league
Pennridge 3, Southern Lehigh 2
Pennridge used a furious second-half rally to net a 3-2 non-league win over host Southern Lehigh.
“We were down 2-0 at the end of the first half, but came back with three goals in the second half for a hard-fought win against a great Southern Lehigh team,” Pennridge coach Pete Valimont said.
The Rams, who were coming off 2-0 loss to North Penn, cut their deficit in half when Peter Overby scored off a corner kick before Ben Scary netted the second and third goals to seal the win.
“Shane Velez and Ryan Cook played great for us, and Carlos Erazo was a workhorse in the middle along with Dillan Natitus,” Valimont said. “It was a good team effort all around.”
Up next for Pennridge (6-3-1 overall) will be a home game Saturday against Phoenixville (7 p.m.).
Pennridge 0 3 - 3
Southern Lehigh 2 0 - 2
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