Tough schedule gets teams in this league ready for boys' soccer playoffs
While close to a month remains in the regular season, Suburban One League sides are already experiencing games with playoff-type significance.
Just getting through the rugged Suburban One schedule and qualifying for the District One Class 4A tournament field (expanded this year to 28 teams) is an accomplishment.
On Thursday, the teams in the Patriot and Colonial Divisions were scheduled to wrap up their set of six crossover games against each other before finishing the season with five straight intradivsional games. Pennridge coach Pete Valimont points out it’s not an easy gauntlet to navigate.
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“If coaches had the choice we might have one or two (crossover games),” he said. “We wouldn’t have the entire (Patriot Division) but we don’t have the ability to change that, so we’re focused on trying to win every single one that we can and we know it’s going to be an absolute chore. They’re tough as nails.
“It provides a different landscape in that we’re playing on more grass field versus turf fields. It’s a different style of play. But we’ve really been able to work our guys in training and tell them what they need to know.”
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The Rams were a perfect 5-0 in crossover games heading into Thursday’s game against Bensalem.
Council Rock South stood 3-2 in crosssovers heading into a Thursday game against Souderton.
“In Suburban One there’s so many good teams,” said Golden Hawks coach Alan Nicholl. “You look at how many one-goal games or overtime games that have been played over the last couple weeks and we’re out here just knocking the socks off each other. You look across some of the other leagues and there are 7-0 and 8-0 results with some consistency. So, come playoff time, I’d imagine nobody wants to see a Suburban One team.”
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Stars of the Week
Forward: Council Rock South’s Frankie Rafferty scored two goals and assisted on a third as the Golden Hawks won at North Penn 3-1 last Thursday in a SOL national crossover.
Midfielder: Central Bucks East’s Brandon Epstein scored a goal and assisted on another as the Patriots bested Pennsbury 3-1 last Thursday.
Defender: Bensalem’s Matt Wheaton opened the season as a midfielder but his coach Kevin Bock recently moved him to center back because of injury issues. The junior responded with big efforts in a 1-1 draw with Central Bucks West last Monday and a 3-2 win over Central Bucks South last Friday.
Keeper: Roman Sigafoos has been a fixture in goal for Faith Christian during its ongoing six-game winning streak. The sophomore has been part of four shutouts.
Team of the Week: Faith Christian won its sixth straight game on Tuesday with a 9-1 rout over Jenkintown. The Lions stand at 7-2 on the season; their only losses are to Class 4A sides Lower Merion and Pennridge. Over the course of their streak, the squad has conceded just two goals while shutting out four opponents.
Games to Watch
Episcopal Academy at Germantown Academy, Sept. 30, 4 p.m. The Patriots put a four-game winning streak on the line as they open their InterAc schedule.
La Salle at Roman Catholic, Sept. 30, 8 p.m. First place in the Philadelphia Catholic League is at stake as the defending champion Explorers face the first-place Cahillites.
Souderton at Central Bucks South, Oct. 6, 7:30 p.m. The Titans are looking to solidify their place in the District One Class 4A tournament field while the Big Red is in need of some positive results over the next four weeks to qualify for postseason play.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: High school boys' soccer notes for Bucks/Montco
