Boys Soccer: Marple Newtown stifles Upper Moreland in District 1-AAA 1st round

UPPER MORELAND >> Statistically, Marple Newtown controlled its District 1-AAA first round game at Upper Moreland.

Observationally, the game was much more even, as both the ninth-seeded Tigers and host No. 8 Golden Bears were in each other’s end and looking to threaten. The difference came in the defenses.

Marple Newtown’s back line stifled Upper Moreland and the Tigers got a pair of excellent goals to claim a 2-0 win and a date with top seed Holy Ghost Prep on Thursday.

“We told them to keep pressing, I thought we created chances when we stepped up and forced turnovers with our defense,” Marple Newtown coach Jared Harris said. “We told our forwards to step up, pressure the backs and when they got their chances, finish them. We knew they were coming.”

Marple Newtown put a total of 12 shots on net while holding Upper Moreland to just three. Still the Bears looked a better team early but couldn’t seem to generate anything on target.

Senior Randy Meehl put in a high energy showing, but was often isolated or unable to connect with his teammates inside the attacking third. That was just what the Tigers wanted.

“We talked to our defense about stepping up as a unit,” Harris said. “It started with our defenders stepping and keeping a high line. All 11 of our guys stepped up and put pressure on and we capitalized off the turnovers we created.”

In the first half, Upper Moreland was just as stout though and goalkeeper Ryan Varela made a couple of excellent saves, two on Marple Newtown attacking mid Adam Azad. Varela and second half keeper Brennan Coleman were very good for UM and Coleman wasn’t at fault for either goal.

Switching keepers has been Upper Moreland’s thing all season. Both are seniors and have done well and Bears coach Dan Mannella didn’t want to change things up.

“Both our goalies played really well today,” Mannella said. “I always think about goalkeepers. Those guys have been splitting a lot of time and I don’t think it’s fair to give one guy a full game in the only playoff game of their career so that’s why I made the switch at halftime.”

The Tigers were confident at the half they were going to score given the chances they were getting.

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