Pennridge converts on corners, pulls away from Souderton in 2nd half

FRANCONIA >> Corner kick success has been a staple for the Pennridge girls soccer team. So it was a bit concerning for coach Audrey Anderson that the Rams had not been finishing the opportunities created off of them.

“We practice them a lot, it’s always been a strength of ours in the past,” she said. “We’ve had always had really good players in the air, so for us to struggle so much on corners — and that’s an important part of the game going into postseason is being able to finish off of set pieces.”

But Pennridge alleviate some of Anderson’s worries Thursday night. After controlling most of the play but sitting tied 0-0 with host Souderton at halftime, the Rams struck three times off corner kicks after the break, turning what usually is tight matchup between the SOL Continental Conference rivals into a comfortable 4-0 victory.

“They worked hard for them which is good because a lot of times we assume the keeper’s going to get it,” Anderson said. “But I was really, really happy with their effort the entire game but the second half to pretty much control the tempo the game and then put four balls in the back of the net in a gritty piece of the field, so I am super-proud of the girls.”

Leah Malone collected a brace for Pennridge (14-0-0, 10-0-0 conference), scoring back-to-back goals in less than three minutes, her second goal the Rams’ only tally not come off a corner.

“I know we were working on trying to put together passes and after halftime, I know we all had a talk that was about how we need to connect,” Malone said. “We kind of put together a gameplan about how we could be more successful in the second half and I feel like we were able to execute that a lot better in the second half than the first half definitely. So, it just makes it overall easier.”

Bookending Malone’s strikes were goals from Lauren McIntyre and Emily Kriney as the Rams, who have already secured their fourth straight outright Continental title, are out to finish the regular season with the pristine record intact and maintain the No. 1 seed in the District 1-4A power rankings.

“We just talked with our seniors the other day and we want to stay undefeated,” McIntyre said. “What we talked about is we don’t want to see another team celebrate against us winning and now that we have the conference under our belt, that’s behind us now and now we got to keep our eyes forward and focus on what’s ahead, cause ultimately our goal is to go to Hershey.”

Pennridge’s path to an unbeaten regular season has its challenges. The Rams host Abington 3:30 p.m. Friday in a SOL nonconference matchup then next week have Continental games with Central Bucks East at North Penn before taking on SOL American leader Hatboro-Horsham.

“It would be nice to kind of have a game where we can kind of just relax but we don’t have that,” Anderson said. “And I don’t know if we’d want that because I kind of think it sets us up for something bad when we’re playing within conference again.

“But definitely this season has been one of the toughest since I’ve been a coach here just with all the teams and talent that the Suburban One League has, it’s crazy if you look at the teams that are in the tough eight in the district, it’s ridiculous what we’re going to have to do to get the states, it’s crazy.”

Souderton’s defense held until the 51st minute but the Indians (10-6-1, 5-5-1) could not create much offensively as they lost for the third time in four games. Hannah Alderfer put a pair of shots wide in the first half and down 1-0 in the second half Big Red earned a corner kick but the ball sent into the 18-yard box was punched away by Rams goalkeeper Meghan Kriney. The Indians, who came into Thursday 15th in the district rankings, end their regular season next Thursday hosting Quakertown.

“I think in the first couple minutes they tested us a little bit and towards the end more, too,” McIntyre said. “But I think we did good talking, winning balls out of the air and just connecting with our midfield.”

Lindsey DeHaven came close to providing Pennridge the opening goal on a first-half corner but her header was denied at the goal line by Indians keeper Morgan Molyneaux and defender Gianna Natale.

The Rams had to wait until 29:35 in the second half to take the lead. After the Rams sent a corner into a crowd in the box, an attempted to clear by Souderton went directly to McIntyre, who popped a one-time shot into the net.

“The last time I scored off a corner, too, a couple games ago against (Central Bucks) West the same thing kind of happen,” McIntyre said. “It was bouncing around and I just got the rebound and just put it in the back of the net.”

Malone made it 2-0 on another corner — the Rams earning this one after Molyneaux parried Grace Myers’ shot over the crossbar. Malone won the ball in the box and slid a shot inside the left post at 15:23.

“It was bouncing around and I just kind of took a touch and had to try to put it in the back of the net,” Malone said. “Didn’t have to be pretty — and I don’t think it was — but I mean it worked, so.”

Malone put Pennirdge up three just 2:48 later on a ball lobbed forward into the box by Maddie Anderson. Both Malone and Emily Kriney made a run at the loose ball but it was Malone who volleyed a right-footed shot into the far right corner at 12:35.

“It bounced kind of off me and we were both in the same spot but I thought I had a better angle on the ball,” Malone said. “So I like quietly called her off and as long as it’s in the back of the net that’s what matters.”

Emily Kriney went on to give the Rams their fourth goal with 2:50 remaining off a corner. Her initial shot in front of the net was blocked at the goal line by Indians defender Sophia Ofalt but the rebound went right back to the Pennridge sophomore, who knocked it in.