After a slow September, both Solebury School boys and girls soccer sides will soon be neck deep in the regular season.
The Spartan boys (1-3, 1-1 Penn Jersey Athletic Association) opened their season on Sept. 14. Despite the outcomes in their two opening games – a 3-0 non-league loss at Abington Friends and a 4-0 loss at the Phelps School – the Solebury side played well and had chances. Last year Phelps, the reigning PJAA champion, was nationally ranked and boasted the Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year.
“Against Abington Friends, I think for a large portion of the game, we played very well,” noted head coach Eric Soroka. “On offense, we missed some chances. It was a very solid effort from the boys. Phelps is always tough but we did have a few chances. Phelps rested some guys but I was very happy with how they played against a very difficult opponent.”
Solebury got in the win column with a 2-1 victory over Kohelet Yeshiva on the 20th. Soroka credited “the effort and ability to stay focused. Kohelet is a difficult opponent to play,” he continued. “They are athletic and all over the field with intense pressure any time you get the ball. Our guys were able to make quick decisions and the right decisions in the face of that pressure.”
They will face their remaining two PJAA Blue Division opponents – Cristo Rey and New Foundations on Oct. 2 and 6 respectively.
Sophomore keeper Laszlo Fabritius anchors a strong defense. “Defensively, we’re pretty sound. Our two center backs, Jacob Konrad and Will Kramer, are both very athletic and aggressive,” Soroka said. “They calm everything down and allow us to move the ball to the center midfield where we have lots of talent with Austin Corwin and Lucas Franco leading the way of controlling the ball and dictating which way we play. Everything up the middle solidifies us to hopefully open up the game.”
On Tuesday, the Spartans and South Hunterdon renewed their River Cup rivalry. The teams, who are separated by just 7 miles, met regularly before the pandemic. South Hunterdon improved to 6-1-1 after the 4-2 win. Alex Romano’s hat trick gave him 14 goals on the year. Diago Hori and Sawyer Wesp found the back of the net for Solebury.
Tuesday also kicked off an 11-day stretch where the Spartans will take the pitch six times. They host Kohelet Yeshiva on Thursday and play Princeton Day’s junior varsity on Friday.
A talented Solebury girls side just wants to play a game. Two fellow PJAA White squads – Girard College and natural rival Villa Victoria – are not fielding teams this fall while two more games were postponed due to weather. Solebury (2-1, 2-0 PJAA) will play just three games all month.
The Spartans girls debuted on the 12th in a tough loss to Perkiomen School but rebounded two days later to hand Kohelet Yeshiva a 4-1 loss. On Sept. 22, Solebury took out their frustrations on Life Center Academy, dismantling the Warriors 11-2.
The girls battle Community Academy of Philadelphia on Oct. 3, Cristo Rey on Oct. 5 and Abington Friends on Oct. 6. Community Academy starts a stretch of five matches in 11 days.
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