Pennridge, CB South withstand downpour, settle for 2-2 draw

EAST ROCKHILL >> Thursday’s matchup between the Pennridge and Central Bucks South boys soccer team had a little bit of everything – except a winner. But was something the Rams’ Bobby Brashear was willing to accept.

“It’s better than walking away with a loss certainly,” the senior midfielder said. “We played through a semi-hurricane for the first half so it was a little difficult going down 1-0, trying to rally everybody and make sure the team stays in the game.”

The SOL Continental sides battled through a torrential downpour during parts of the first half, traded comebacks after halftime and in overtime both came close to a goal. But after 100 minutes at Helman Field, Pennridge and the visiting Titans ended up settling for a 2-2 draw.

“We couldn’t even see, you couldn’t see the end, the track is red and it looked white,” said Rams coach Pete Valimont of the conditions. “We won’t forget this game for a long period of time. Fortunately again we didn’t have a lightning delay, we got the whole game in, we each walk away with a point and rightfully so at the end.”

Anastasios Malitas gave the Titans (4-1-1, 2-1-1 conference) the lead at in the first half but when the weather cleared up after the break so too did the Rams (4-1-1, 1-1-1) play. Colin Monohan tied things at 30:41 in the second half while Aiden Castle finished his run with his goal to make it 2-1 at 20:49.

“I think in the first half we were able to keep them more quiet because the wind was at our backs,” South coach Joe Coscia said. “And they got that extra five yards out of it in the second half we didn’t quite adjust to that.”

The Titans, however, pulled level 2-2 with 10:06 left in regulation as Pennridge’s clearance attempt after a Jack Veith free kick lofted into the net for an own goal.

“Just an unfortunately thing we went to clear it and the ball goes in the back of the net,” Valimont said. “Unfortunately it just is what it is. So it’s just kind of freak on our side, breakdowns on our side but we’ll see them again, we’ll see what happens.”

Pennridge put a shot just wide for the best chance of the first overtime. The Titans, meanwhile, came up empty on two quality opportunities in the second extra period as the draw added to an interesting start to SOL Continental play that has seen all seven teams already lose a conference game.

“Our conference is super-strong, not just in District 1, in Suburban One but in the state,” Valimont said. “The amount of teams getting national recognition, it’s not easy, it’s not easy at all. And anybody can beat anybody on any night.”

In the first overtime, a ball bounced to Rams’ Connor Gabel with an open net and South keeper Gavin Campbell well off his line but Gabel sent his shot wide to the left.

Pennridge had a run of four throw-ins in the second OT but Campbell stood firm, punching the ball away from danger on the final three tosses into the box.

It was then the Titans’ turn to come achingly close to earning a sudden victory.

Jake Heilig settled a cross in the box a blasted a shot that Rams goalie Owen Gunn dove to his left and parried it away.

“He came up in some big moments and he’s just got to have that confidence that he can do that all the time,” said Valimont of Gunn. “And he’s got a strong leg and just really take charge back there. He saved us a couple of times and I’m proud of him for what he did.”

AJ Peev then had nothing between him and the net for a moment after sidestepping Gunn but before Peev’s shot rolled in a hustling Dalton Guthrie cleared the ball away.

“I feel like this is the best competition that we’ve seen thus far this season,” Coscia said. “Even after the Souderton result didn’t go our way on Tuesday, I think that just goes to show you that these are two really evenly-matched programs and we’re going to be seeing more of them later in the season.”

Both teams step out of conference play for their next games. Pennridge hosts New Hope-Solebury 7 p.m. Saturday while CB South is home against Avon Grove 3:30 p.m. Monday.

Malitas gave South the 1-0 advantage in the first half Thursday when he found himself with an open path to goal and he buried his shot at 23:31.

“The ball was coming back, the keeper kind of came out and Tas was just able to sneak it by him before they met,” Coscia said.

A throw-in from Brashear knotted the contest 1-1 in the second half, as his toss cleared a crowd and found its way to Monohan, who knocked in the equalizer from right in front of the net.

“I’m looking for Colin, he’s one of our biggest guys,” Brashear said. “It’s good to get his head on the ball and then makes good things happen like on the first goal.”

The Rams grabbed the lead when Castle chased down a long pass from Guthrie and despite having a defending on him ripped a shot by Campbell to make it 2-1.

“Dalton played him a good ball that just skipped through the defense because it was so wet out,” Brashear said. “Found its way 70 yards up the field I’d say up to Castle and he took a touch, took another touch and put away a good finish.”

But the Titans tied the game when Veith’s free kick from the right sideline was headed farther along into the box by South’s Owen Davis. A Ram got a leg to the ball but it deflected up and into the right side of the net.

CB South had a chance to go ahead in the final minute of regulation when a cross slipped out of Gunn’s hands and to the feet of Malitas. But the sophomore’s shot was right at Gunn, the save keeping contest at 2-2.