District 1-4A: Pennridge blanks Neshaminy, clinches spot in states

EAST ROCKHILL — Pennridge’s 2-0 victory over Neshaminy on Saturday night sends the Rams to the district semifinals and also punches their ticket to states.

The Rams want to believe this journey is just beginning.

“This is something we’ve worked for all year,” says senior Riley Hepler. “Even winning the state championship last year, coming into the preseason, it was a whole new season. So it doesn’t matter what happened last season. We want another one.”

The Rams played like it on Saturday night, looking strong at every level and advancing out of the District 1-4A Quarterfinals in style.

“They’re a good team. They’re talented, they have speed. They fly around the ball,” Skins coach Renny Pappendick said. “They’re very well coached. They’re fast. We could have been a little more physical tonight. I thought we had some opportunities we didn’t convert and I thought we had a couple breakdowns where they got in on us. Their speed is hard to match.”

The win sends the No. 9 Rams to Tuesday’s semis, 7 p.m. against No. 4 Downingtown East at Downingtown West. No. 16 Neshaminy will travel to No. 5 Central Bucks East on Tuesday at 3 p.m. in district playbacks.

Although Saturday wasn’t an elimination game, the postseason as a whole brings with it a certain finality, felt largely by the seniors.

“It hurts that, going into every game, you know it could be your last,” Hepler says. “So on behalf of all the seniors, we’re very thankful for all of our freshmen, sophomores and juniors helping us to pull out another win.”

Hepler did her part.

The senior midfielder was instrumental in many ways, and one of them was her first-half goal that gave Pennridge a 1-0 advantage.

“The team definitely came together, on and off the field, and it really showed,” she said. “I think (that first goal) was really big. And we were so close so many times. It was right there. It really helped us go into the second half with a positive attitude.”

Pennridge put on more pressure after the break and got the insurance goal it wanted with 12 minutes, 17 seconds remaining, off the foot of Joey Tomlinson.

Sierra Shaeffer had some nice stops in net to preserve the shutout, and the back line of Anna Croyle, Casey Malone, Hannah Primwhere and Lauren Murphy was tough to penetrate.

“Their offense was definitely very dangerous and I think our back line did amazing tonight,” Hepler said. “Winning the first ball and the second ball, I think it helped us all come together as a team. Because when our defense plays with our midfield and our midfield plays with our offense, it really brings the whole team together and it helped us pull out the win today.”

Pennridge moves on and Neshaminy, led by seniors Jordyn Fregia and Kiera Bradley, still has life.

“The girls are still positive, to come back and try to get a win on Tuesday,” Pappendick said. “We have some work to do on Monday – we’re gonna give them a day off (Sunday) and get back at it. We have a few days to rest and get a practice in.”