SOL Boys/Girls Soccer Wrap (9-11-26)

Check out the recaps for SOL boys/girls soccer teams in action Friday. Hatboro-Horsham/Upper Moreland photos courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos. (Abington photo courtesy of Tahj Hardy). CLICK HERE to go directly to Suburban One Sports' BOYS' SOCCER GALLERIES.

Boys
SOL non-league crossover

HATBORO-HORSHAM 3, UPPER MORELAND 0

Thursday’s game was more than just a battle between the neighboring rivals. It also was for an important cause – Morgan’s Message, which is dedicated to eliminating the stigma around mental health in athletics.
“We also had a moment of silence for Sept. 11, so there was more meaning to the game today than just the action soccer result, which is always important,” Hatboro-Horsham coach Kyle McGrath said. “
Lucas Smith scored a pair of goals, and Lucas Rodriguez also had a goal to lead the Hatters to the win in Friday’s SOL crossover game.
“Dating back to when I played in high school back in the late 90s and early 2000s, Upper Moreland/Hatboro-Horsham was the rivalry, and I work in the Upper Moreland School District in the facilities department, so obviously, the game had a little bit more meaning for me,” McGrath said. “I was just happy with the effort from the boys after our game on Tuesday (a 1-0 loss to Wissahickon.”
Scoring Summary
First half
Lucas Smith assisted by Owen Hartman (HH) 38th minute
Second half
Lucas Rodriguez assisted by Evan Paone (HH) 41st minute
Lucas Smith assisted by Noel Nation (HH) 73rd minute
Hatboro-Horsham Kyle McGrath:
--The game:
“We started out a little bit sluggish, but then we grew into the game, and we were able to score on a nice corner kick goal. Before the end of the first half, Owen Hartman played a good ball into the box, and Lucas (Smith) got on the end of it to give us the lead.
“We stressed at halftime – we’ve got to continue to play. We don’t want to just sit back. We had a throw-in deep in our end, and Evan (Paone) picked the ball up on our half of the field and played a perfect through ball to Lucas Rodriguez, who went in on a breakaway and was able to finish to give us some breathing room of a 2-0 lead.
“From there, there was a little bit of back and forth. They had a couple chances that our goalkeeper, Owen Fagan, was able to save. He finished with five saves today in the shutout. And then Lucas Smith got on the end of a through ball. Their goalkeeper was coming out, and Lucas got to it before him and was able to put it into the goal to really solidify the win at 3-0 late in the game.”
Up next: Hatboro-Horsham will host Abington on Monday, and Upper Moreland will host William Tennent  Monday.
Upper Moreland       0-0   0
Hatboro-Horsham    1-2   3

Non-league
ABINGTON 1, WESTTOWN 0

Abington boys soccer played against Westtown school in a marquee matchup of the returning PIAA 4A state champions versus the private school state runner-up from the 2025 season. The game was played at Westtown on their beautiful campus.
“The game had a much different feel to it than most of the games we played this year as Westtown was a very well coached and talented side that came in with the idea of playing a good brand of soccer, instead of the more direct and transition-based soccer we have been accustomed to playing at our home field on Schwartzman Stadium,” Abington coach Isaac Pitkow said.
Zachary Yurchyshyn scored the game-winning goal.
Scoring Summary
Zachary Yurchyshyn assisted by Sam Arruda (A)
Abington coach Isaac Pitkow:
--The game:
“The game started off with Westtown applying most of the initial pressure, creating multiple chances from some great buildup play. Our Ghosts settled in about 15 minutes into the first half and started playing a style of soccer that we haven’t really seen since our performances in the state playoff games we played at Chambersburg and Northeastern High School last year.”
A stellar outing: “Our midfield was clicking on all cylinders in terms of winning 50-50 balls and connecting passes with some great combination play that allowed us to control the flow of the game after those initial 15 minutes. Our two senior captains, Sean Westmoreland and Owen Gesing, were at the heart of this along with junior midfielder Stanley Waite. who played his best game so far as an Abington Ghost.
“We also had very strong defensive play from our right back Dennis Kozyak and our senior captain, center back Kyle Kretschman, who helped us control the flow of the game with great one-on-one defending and ball winning to prevent Westtown from transitioning into attack when we did turn the ball over.
“We had some excellent attacking play from two of our wingers, senior Jaza Vasquez and sophomore Kai O’Sullivan, who created many chances from their 1v1s and combinations with the midfielders and forwards in the attacking half
“The two most dangerous attacking players for us on the day were senior Samuel Arruda and Zachary Yurchyshyn. Sam assisted Zach on the one goal we scored against Archbishop Ryan, and he assisted Zach again on the one goal we scored against Westtown today. Sam has been the center of many of our great attacking plays so far this season when operating as an attacking midfielder with his incisive passing. Zach has provided energy and great link-up play from the striker position and had a beautiful finish for the one goal of the day today.”
--A big win: “The energy around the team today after this win was electric. It felt much like many of our wins we had in the state playoffs last year. The boys felt today was not only an important win, but also an important performance on a big turf field where they were able to show their true colors and play the beautiful brand of possession-based soccer they are capable of playing once again. We are looking forward to both of our away matches next week against Hatboro Horsham and Upper Dublin with momentum from this great result against Westtown.”
Up next: Abington will travel to Hatboro-Horsham on Monday.

Girls
HARRY S TRUMAN 10, MaST CHARTER II 0

Gwen Marston put the Tigers on the scoreboard just under seven minutes into the game, and by halftime, they led 4-0. The second half was more of the same as eight different players combined for Truman’s 10 goals.
Scoring Summary
First half
6:50 - Gwen Marston (3) from (Lila Giunta) 
17:11 - Ariana Avila (penalty shot)
23:50 -  Skyla Leiva (Lily Hadfield, Gwen Marston)
25:05 - Gwen Marston (4)
Second half
0:53 - Lily Hadfield (Gwen Marston)
22:19 - Hadley Rizzo
25:00 - Lily Hadfield (2)
27:00 - Lila Giunta
32:00 - Harley Palencik (Dani Gilbert, Payton Morris)
34:15 - Maddie Egan (Julianna Aviles)
Saves:  Truman: Dani Gilbert 3,  Vivianne Pauley 1; MaSt II: Cassie Fleming  22 saves
Harry S Truman coach Brian Gilbert:
--The game:
“Junior co-captain Gwen Marston scored the first goal of the game for Truman for the third time this season.  Truman rolled to a 10-0 win which saw eight different goal scorers.   Marston’s goal proved to be the game-winner, giving her the game-winning goal in both of Truman’s wins.  Marston would add another goal, her fourth of the season, finishing the first half with two goals and an assist before dropping back to play center fullback, where she recorded her second assist of the game on a long throw-in.  In just five games, Marston has scored four goals, surpassing her season high of three which she matched in both her freshman and sophomore year.
“The young Tigers got a lot of energy from their freshmen, accounting for four of the team’s goals, and six players record their first ever varsity points.  Ariana Avila started the freshman scoring run after getting dragged down in the box and was awarded a PK.  Avila ripped a hard, rising shot which the MaSt keeper got a piece of, but the ball hit just under the crossbar and dropped down behind the goal-line for her first varsity goal.
“During Thursday’s practice, the team worked on free kicks.  Senior forward timed her run, and Gwen Marston ripped a shot towards the wall.  Freshman Lily Hadfield, playing fearless despite having her fractured wrist in a protective wrap, got up and got enough of her head on the ball to redirect it past the defending wall. Senior Skyla Leiva timed the run and had a step on the defender to the loose ball, took it down one on one with the goalie and buried a shot into the back of the net. 
“Having recorded her second assist of the season on Leiva’s goal, freshman Lily Hadfield started the second half by scoring two of the team’s next three goals.  The first coming off a long throw from Marston which crossed the 18 from the left and ripped a shot into the lower right corner. On her second goal, MaSt defenders appeared to clear a ball out of harm’s way, however, Hadfield read the play and one-times a shot from about 22 yards out up and over the goalie’s head for her second of the game.  Senior co-captain Lila Giunta added her first goal of the season, capitalizing off another MaSt turnover. 
“Freshman Vivienne Pauley, who is primarily a field player, stepped up to play keeper to give Truman goaltender Dani Gilbert a rare chance to see some field action.  She was paired up top with sophomore defender Harley Palencik.  Another freshman, Payton Morris, who has been utilized on the defensive side of the ball, displayed her transitional skills, stealing the ball and dribbling across midfield before finding the open Gilbert. Drawing the defender towards her, Gilbert laid off the pass to her right to a streaking Palencik, who buried the shot into the back of the net for her first varsity goal. Palencik, Marston and Gilbert were part of Truman’s bowling team that finished 21st in Nationals last year. They accounted for three goals and three assists in the game. Not sure if they track that, but that may be a record for points in a high school soccer game amongst active bowlers.
“Truman capped off the scoring late in the game when senior Julianna Avilez recorded her first varsity point with an assist after freshman Madison Egan used her speed and stamina to follow Aviles shot and put the loose ball into the back of the net.”
Coaches take: After the game, I wanted to be the first person to greet the MaSt goalkeeper.  She made at least 22 saves that I counted, and despite the heat, fatigue, and the score, she just kept making saves and getting back up and making the next save.   Truman has been on the other end of many lopsided games, and if anyone knows what that feels like, it’s our keeper Dani Gilbert. No surprise, Dani was the first one there to give the opposing keeper a hug, offering support and empathy.  That is what the game is about.  I had to ask for her name and told her I was writing it down because she needed a huge shoutout for her performance - Cassie Fleming, Senior. Hats off to you, Cassie, you played a heck of a game.  Ignore the score because Cassie Fleming not only made 20+ saves, she came off the field smiling and never once showed any negativity towards her teammates.   That is the type of player that every coach wants on their team.”
For the TigersWins have been far in between, so it’s nice to get the win, but I’m especially proud of how the girls carried themselves.  They handled the game the same during a win as they have in defeat, by looking out for each other and picking each other up.  The game started without center fullback and captain Bella Romer who unexpectedly missed the game due to sickness. Who would have her back?  None other than her sister, Julianna Romer.  As a senior, Julianna transitioned to fullback for the first time this season. Solid and reliable, no one more deserving to wear the captain’s band for the game.  
“Gwen Marston scored two goals early in the game. In the back of my mind, I was thinking wow she could easily get a hat-trick.  I never once heard her mention it.  She took over at center fullback, and her focus was on preserving the shutout.  That leadership and team-first attitude from our captains and upperclassman trickles down to the younger players.  Freshman Lily Hadfield, having just scored her first varsity goal, passed up on many scoring chances, opting to pass it to a teammate who has not scored.  The girls played a team game, and it was a much-deserved win.”
Up next: Harry S Truman will travel to Pennsbury on Monday.
Mast Charter II    0-0   0
Harry S Truman  4-6   10
  

DOCK MENNONITE ACADEMY 4, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 3
The visiting Lions opened up a 2-0 lead, thanks to goals by Natalie D’Agostino and Camryn Karlovitch. That lead disappeared in a 13-minute span late in the opening half as Dock Mennonite reeled off four unanswered goals.
The Lions continued to battle and trimmed Dock’s lead to one on Karlovitch’s second goal with 10 minutes remaining, but that’s as close as they would get.
Scoring Summary
Natalie D’Agostino assisted by Liz Brennan (NH-S) 16th minute
Camryn Karlovitch assisted by Cece Capriotti (NH-S) 23rd minute
Dock goal, 25th minute
Dock goal, 28th minute
Dock goal, 35th minute
Dock goal, 38th minute
Second half
Camryn Karlovitch (NH-S) 70th minute
New Hope-Solebury coach Chris Shank:
--The game:
“We jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. We had a water break at the 20th minute, and then Dock just turned it on and pumped in four goals.
“We continued to fight and clawed back within one that had plenty of opportunities late in the second half. We have a tough week coming up, but every game we’re getting better and improving and that’s all I can ask for.”
Up next: New Hope-Solebury will host Springfield Twp Monday.
New Hope-Solebury            2-1   3
Dock Mennonite Academy   4-0   4

 

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