The Central Bucks East & Central Bucks South girls’ soccer teams both notched wins in Tuesday’s PIAA 4A State Tournament semifinals, setting the stage for an All-SOL state final. Andrew Robinson will be there to recap all the action. (CB South photos courtesy of Mike Tait/CB South soccer)
Central Bucks East 1, North Allegheny 0
One more step.
As they huddled on the track at Chambersburg on Saturday after defeating Seneca Valley, the Patriots talked about taking one more step than they had a year prior and getting past the semifinals. Three nights later and on the same field, that’s exactly what they did, taking one more step and advancing to their first state championship match in 10 years.
It took a laser from Kiera Sleicher late in the first half and a determined effort across the board to beat a talented Tigers team, but CB East will be playing for a state title on Friday.
“It was a hard fought win,” Sleicher said. “No part of that game came easy to us, but we worked hard until the end and pulled out the win. They were a very good team and fought until the last minute, so I’m extremely proud of our team for working together and never giving up.
“Our defense was great and really limited their chances today.”
North Allegheny, the WPIAL champions, posed a formidable threat with a total of nine All-WPIAL Section Three selections including five first-teamers.
Sleicher, an Ole Miss recruit, assisted East’s final goal on Saturday but opted to put matters onto her own foot Tuesday night. The midfielder worked into space on the right side and lashed a ball that NA’s keeper couldn’t stop from finding a home in the net with eight minutes left in the first half.
“It felt great to get that first goal when I was able to take advantage of a tipped pass from Mia (Forney) and find the back of the net,” Sleicher said.
East coach Jake Nesteruk gave NA plenty of deserved props and felt the Tigers were on the front foot for a good chunk of the first half, but the Patriots were able to sneak a couple chances in. Given the unfamiliarity in opponents, it took some time for East to find its pace, but once the SOL side settled in, opportunity knocked.
“Even through some tough spells, I thought our group started to see glimpses of how we could shift the game in our favor,” Nesteruk said. “We settled in a bit as the game wore on, and eventually after some tight ball movement in the attacking half, Kiera Sleicher got on the ball from about 25 out, cut wide right of the 18 and just hit a really good ball to break the deadlock in the first half.
“She's got such an ability to deliver in the biggest moments and she did so again tonight.”
Props: “In the second half, I thought we were much better on both ends of the ball. I thought we managed the game well, and there's a lot of deserved credit for the shift our midfield put in tonight. Ava Mignon was excellent in probably the most demanding game she’s had since she's been back. Ella Roumy was key for us in possession, and I thought she was a big reason we found our rhythm later in the first half. And the backline performance tonight was stellar. To limit that team to very few high-quality chances and grind out a shutout in a state semi-final is massive. Credit to our back four and our keeper, Aralynn Patterson for the night they had.”
The Patriots defense, along with senior Dickinson commit Aralynn Patterson in goal, held firm against a skilled Tigers midfield and forward unit. NA threatened several times, coming closest on a free kick with 18 minutes left that sailed just wide of the goal but the group of Skyler Lipp, Addie Langolis, Paige Dougherty and Cece Hayes were more than up to the challenge.
“I thought it was a really well-deserved and well-fought win,” Lipp, a senior Widener recruit, said. “We were able to manage our emotions well in a high-stakes game, we stayed focused and played for each other. I also think our backline showed up in huge moments and I’m super proud of Addie, Paige, Cece and Aralynn for their efforts to keep the clean sheet.”
All four of the Patriots’ defenders on the state playoff run are full-time starters for the first time this season. They’ve forged a terrific bond in the back but also dispel the notion the efforts like Tuesday’s are solely on the back line.
“Our midfield and forwards also played very well, connecting and communicating to earn us our chances throughout the game,” Hayes said “Overall, we played well as a team, which has been key for us the entire season, so I know that we will carry the energy and momentum we have built up into the final.”
Scoring Summary
1st Half
CBE - Kiera Sleicher
2nd Half
None
CB East coach Jake Nesteruk on the win: “A good coach friend of mine, Mike Poller, always jokes that it's ‘all coaching at this level.’ The truth of the success of this team, keeping the state streak alive over five years now and getting us to a final is completely on these kids. The care they put into the program and for one another, their willingness to take on any role necessary, for buying in and committing to how we want to play, and then for showing up and delivering, it's all them. It starts with our captains and senior leadership but this group, there are so many kids across the classes that have just stepped up in different ways when we needed them.”
--One last step: “I'm just incredibly proud of this group, I'm grateful to get to play after (Abington coach) Randy Garber's boys and see him get to a final because he's so deserving, and I'm thrilled we get to see another CB school in our last game. Thankfully a few days to rest and prep and then we're at it again on Friday.”
CB East midfielder Kiera Sleicher on moving on: “Making the state finals is a huge accomplishment, and I’m so proud of CBEGS for improving each year and earning a spot in the biggest game of the season.”
East defender Skyler Lipp on the group success: “Overall, I’m so proud of the entire team because we couldn’t have gotten here without everyone. Playing together and for one another has been a huge key to our success this season. As a senior, this state run means so much to me and I’m just super grateful I’ve been able to play with these girls as long as possible.”
East defender Cece Hayes on the win: “A hard-fought game by both teams. We just came out on top because of our effectiveness in both boxes. I am very proud of the backline's ability to hold the shutout after scoring halfway through the first half, which is huge for us as we continue into the final.”
Up next: The Patriots will face SOL Colonial foe CB South in an all-SOL title match in the Class 4A final. Start time is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Northeastern Senior High School in Manchester.
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 1 0 – 1
NORTH ALLEGHENY 0 0 – 0
Central Bucks South 3, Central Dauphin 2
At long last, the SOL has a win over Central Dauphin in the PIAA playoffs.
The Rams had proven quite the nemesis for Suburban One opponents in recent years, including their first-round upset at District 1 champion Pennridge just a week prior to start this state run. 
Midway through the second half on a frigid Tuesday, the District 3 power sat in good position to do it again.
Then the Titans really dug in.
Khole Montini’s blast with 5:20 left gave CB South its first and only lead, that goal providing enough to spur the Titans to their first state title match since 2016.
Each of CB South’s three state playoff matches have played out vastly differently. The Titans rolled over Williamsport with a nine-goal outburst in the first round, then needed a header in the waning moments of double overtime to escape Nazareth Area in the quarterfinals.
In the semifinals, it was a game of comeback runs. Central Dauphin took the lead 13 minutes into the first half on a goal by senior Cami Ofak, who has been on a strong run in states.
The Titans came back to level the score 1-1 when Charlotte Manley headed in a corner kick with 19 minutes left. However, the momentum didn’t stay with them long as Ofak sprang loose and put away her second a minute later.
CB South’s pressure the rest of the half was relentless, the Titans looking to win the ball and test Rams keeper Riley Fisher as much as possible.
It was co-captain Tessa Hughes who was able to capitalize on a CD turnover in its defensive end, the midfielder hitting a second equalizer with 12 minutes remaining.
Montini deposited her chance a few minutes later, sticking the would-be winner into the top left corner.
Scoring Summary
1st Half
CD - Cami Ofak
2nd Half
CBS - Charlotte Manley
CD - Cami Ofak
CBS - Tessa Hughes
CBS - Khloe Montini
Up next: The Titans will face SOL Colonial foe CB East in an all-SOL title match in the Class 4A final. Start time is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Northeastern Senior High School in Manchester.
Central Bucks South 0 3 – 3
Central Dauphin 1-1 – 2
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