Travel soccer teams set tone for hard-fought matches

U-13 Boys

Keyed by their best offensive output of the season, the U13 boys won two games this weekend. On Saturday, Jason Symonette registered a hat trick as the Zipits beat Langhorne 3-1. Sunday's scoring was more balanced, with six different players getting goals in 6-3 win over Towamencin. In the first half, Chestnut Hill rallied from one-goal deficits three times on goals by Sam Mercuris, Michael Bilyk, and Dylan Ward. Going with the wind in the second half, Jordan Dean, Jason Symonette, and Patrick Resch scored as Chestnut Hill built a comfortable three-goal margin. The scoring bonanza was made possible in part by great ball distribution from Marcelo Osorio-Soto, Andrew Greenspon, and Ben Perelman.

U-10 Boys 2nd Division

The Blue Lightning faced off against the Lenape Valley Killer Bees in a battle for second place in the second division. In the teams' first meeting the Blue Lightning had come back to tie, using their foot-speed to foil the Bees' offense and capitalizing on a few opportunities to stay in the game. This time, however, playing on the small, fast field at the Crefeld School, the Bees' used crisp passing and strong shots on goal to get up 2-0 in the opening minutes. Nic Solomon, Philip Kelly and Joey Powell kept scored, but the Lighting could find no answer to the Bees' offensive pressure as the game finished out at 6-3 for Lenape Valley.

U-10 Boys 5th Division

The Blue Lighting boys U-10 fifth division finished up the season Saturday with a 2-0 win over Upper Moreland. Peter Anthony scored both goals with an assist by Sam York. George Kunkel and Chuck Lazarus preserved the shut out in goal. Elias Bartholomew and Mattias Norten both played a strong game.

The Blue Lightning finished the season strong, winning four of the last five games and allowing only one goal in the last four games.

U-13 Girls

The U-13 Girls Blue Lightning team defeated their big rival, the previously undefeated Springfield Explosion, by a 4-2 score on Saturday. Shelby Tucker, Robyn Low and Elizabeth Binzwanger each scored to help notch the win to keep the Lightning's undefeated season intact. The defensive prowess of Isabel Rieser and Christina Rodriguez help to hold the Explosion to only two goals. The Girls record now stands at 8-0-1.

U-11 Girls

Even though the U-11 girls dropped one to Pearls Saturday 0-1, Blue Lightning kept the pressure on, with the ball hardly leaving the Pearls half of the field. Phoebe Ingersoll seemed always to be right where she needed to
be, picking up loose balls and sending them straight to the feet of her advancing teammates. Allie Clarke followed up her powerful throw-ins, running in to catch the ball on the rebound. Sarah Thomas ranged through the
defense, knocking balls downfield, and carrying them down herself when called on. Likewise, Riley Cook was tough and fast on defense, turning the ball to the outside for several swift carries. Emma Ebert was creative at
the top of the midfield, making herself open for feeds and setting up dangerous opportunities for the Lightning offense. Finally, Tara Harrington, against a very physical defense, took several strong runs with the ball, and
Kelsey Chapman, though heavily marked, took run after run down the flank, delivering the ball to a staunchly defended goalie box.

U-12 Boys

The U-12 boys dueled to a 2-2 tie with the Buckingham Blizzard Saturday. Playing with a strong wind behind them in the first half the Blue Lightning scored twice. Jim Hall sent a strong crossing shot to Evan Miller, who
hammered it past the Blizzard keeper. Midfielder Cole McCourt later passed to striker Brian Sachs up the right side on a breakaway. Sachs was fouled in the box and put the penalty kick in for a 2-0 lead. Kevin Corelli played
a strong half in goal and worked with Mike Pinover, Alex deBerardinis, and Ben York to hold the Blizzard scoreless. But with the wind favoring the Blizzard in the second half, two shots got through the defense. Corelli
still made several strong saves to preserve the tie.

U-15 Girls

The U-15 girls had two tough games this weekend, tying the Ukrainian Nationals 1-1 in a close fought game in Horsham on Saturday. Laura Koehler netted the tying goal off a well placed cross from Katie Low. Erica Gendall Conrad played well in goal aided by excellent defensive work from Marisol McKee, Natassia Rodriguez and Gianna Pellicane.

On Sunday, at their home field, the Blue Lightning lost a heartbreaking game to league leading Quakertown. Quakertown scored early off a rebound and added a second on a phantom foul that resulting in a free kick. The, however had much the better of play as the game wore on and threatened repeatedly, but couldn't convert. The game was highlighted by the return of injured sweeper Rebecca Williams who played well.