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Girls Soccer: Penncrest is in this together

RADNOR — For Daniela Faux, the one constant in her four seasons with the Penncrest girls soccer team has been the teammates around her.

Through three seasons, they’ve had three head coaches, three alterations to the process on and off the field, three voices leading the pack.

The effect for the girls involved has actually managed to be beneficial … thanks in large part to the players constituting those groups.

“We all get along,’ Faux said Tuesday after helping her team to a 2-0 nonleague win over Archbishop Carroll. “I know everyone says that, but it’s actually true. It’s just a lot better than previous years. We all work for each other on the field.’

When the one factor uniting past and present are the players in uniform, it can engender the kind of tight bonds that the Lions have started this season with, winning their first two games under coach Mike Deleo.

Tuesday’s win came courtesy of a pair of unassisted goals — by Olivia Mancarella in the 21st minute, then Tara Higgins nine minutes from time, both with the Lions speedy attackers capitalizing on defensive slips by the host Patriots.

Anchoring the offense was a stout defense, fronted by Faux in the holding midfield role. She has the luxury of playing in front of one of the faster defenses around, with Penncrest track stars Mariah Kozub and Katie Arbogast composing the central defense pairing.

“We want to build it from the back, and me and Katie have been playing together for a while,’ Kozub said. “We work well together.’

In a game that involved spells of attacking impetus for both sides, Penncrest (2-0) had more sustained pushes forward, utilizing some composed one- and two-touch soccer. If not for a couple of desperate defensive interventions from the Patriots (0-1), the margin could’ve been wider.

There were flashes of attacking chemistry that didn’t look like they belonged in early September, especially on the slower track of Carroll’s grass field under the high, hot sun. While consistency is something they’re still searching for over 80 minutes game-in and game-out, it’s clear that the Lions have some important pieces in place.

Click here to read the remainder of the article. http://www.gametimepa.com/delaware/ci_26455518/girls-soccer

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Football: Bonner-Prendergast, Upper Darby highlight Week 1 slate

The 2014 regular season begins in earnest Friday night with 12 games involving Delco teams. Opening weekend continues into Saturday with six more contests, three of which take place down the New Jersey shore. Here are five games to watch:

Friday

Bonner-Prendergast at Upper Darby, 7

There is a lot of hype surrounding the Friars this season. After a three-win 2013 campaign and a trip to the Philadelphia Catholic League AAA title game for the third consecutive year, the popular belief is that B-P has the potential to be one of the top programs in Delco. The Friars get to show what they’re made of tonight against neighborhood rival Upper Darby, which is coming off a tremendous 8-4 season and an appearance in the District One Class AAAA playoffs.

It all starts with quarterback Collin DiGalbo, who enters 2014 as arguably the best quarterback in Delaware County and among the top at his position in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Christian DiGalbo — Collin’s twin brother — anchors the offensive line as the team’s starting center. Senior tight end Tyler Higgins is a big target in the passing game. Last year, DiGalbo threw 16 touchdowns and passed for a county-leading 1,658 yards.

The Royals hope to build on 2013’s success with, for the most part, a new cast of characters at several key positions. Christoff Minot gets his first crack behind center replacing All-Delco Chris Rossiter, who passed for 1,400 yards and 19 TDs last fall. Lawrence Bowden takes over for All-Delco Cyrus Barlee as the team’s No. 1 running back.

Upper Darby beat Bonner-Prendie in thrilling fashion on opening night last season, 28-27.

Marple Newtown at Academy Park, 7

The Tigers are one of six teams in Delco with a new coach. Chris Gicking returns to his alma mater following a successful 12-year tenure as an assistant for John Vogan at Conestoga.

The running back position looks to be a big strength for the Tigers, who netted only three wins last fall. Junior Abel Hoff and senior Adrian Sapnas are a potentially very dangerous duo.

MN is tasked with opening the year in Sharon Hill to face the defending District One Class AAA champs. The new-look Knights will start several first-year players including quarterback Allon Ingram, who takes over for All-Delco Brian Ingram. Running backs Jermaine Wesley and Jeremy Dembry hope to fill the void left by Daily Times Player of the Year Jerry Lanier.

The Knights pummeled the Tigers in last year’s opener, 38-7.

Interboro at Springfield, 7

Interboro is looking to reclaim its position as one of the most feared programs in Delco. The Bucs are coming off a 6-5 season that ended with a dominating, 12-0 win over Ridley on Thanksgiving morning. This year’s club will be led by senior quarterback Sean Menold, who is a first-year starter behind center. Mark Everton returns as one of the top receivers in the county.

Springfield could be a wild card in the Central League. Adam Krauter and Brian Allen are integral to the Cougars’ success in 2014. Allen is a top athlete and a dual threat under the center, and Krauter is arguably the top returning linebacker in the county.

The Bucs’ and Cougars’ 2013 seasons ended prematurely in the District One Class AAA playoffs. Last season, Springfield earned a hard-fought 13-7 win at South Avenue Complex.

Ridley at Glen Mills, 7

The Green Raiders and Battlin’ Bulls have met in Week 1 in each of the previous two seasons. Ridley is 2-0 in those meetings. Dennis Decker, who begins his sixth year at the helm of Ridley, is the former offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Glen Mills.

After stumbling to a 6-5 record in 2013, Ridley looks to get back to its winning ways this season. Mike Cropper had a fine 2013 season on the defensive line and has the ability to be a tremendous d-end with pass-rushing prowess. Ryan Dougherty is a second-year starter at linebacker and Pat Najmola is the lone returning starter on the offensive line. Tre Hinchey and Jake Hoffman, both seniors, were battling it out for the coveted starting QB position.

Glen Mills is the defending Del Val League champion and came up short in the District One Class AAA title contest against Academy Park.

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Baseball: Radnor makes every play count in win over Marple Newtown

NEWTOWN SQUARE — Arguably the most important play in Radnor’s 8-5 win over Marple Newtown Tuesday is nowhere to be found in the boxscore. It was a play, though, that typified the Raiders’ approach in picking up a key Central League win.

With one on and one out in the fourth inning of a tie game, Garrett McGurl hit a comebacker to the mound for what looked to be a tailor-made double play. But Ben Cohen’s hard slide into second base took out shortstop Nick Giordano and prevented him from turning the twin *******.

The inning extended, Andrew Austen and Connor Wilson delivered RBI singles to make it 4-2, and by the middle of the fifth, the Radnor advantage was 8-2, too much for the host Tigers to overcome.

Cohen may not have showed up in the boxscore for his heady play, but there were plenty of other examples from Radnor that did.

Whether it was the 12 hits — all singles — or the balance of eight players crossing the plate, or the economical pitching of starter Sean Corelli working into the seventh inning, the win had the earmarks of the style Radnor’s youthful roster will dictate this season.

“Everything in baseball counts,” Wilson said. “You never know if one thing is going to lead to another thing, and in this case it did. The take-out slide by Ben led to that rally.”

Despite being down two before it had gotten two outs, Radnor (1-1, 1-1) rallied quickly. Tom Austen dunked a single into center field in the third inning that drove in two runs — including Wilson, who reached on an error. The two-spot posted in the fourth relied on Radnor forcing its way into an extra out. And a pair of mistakes by Marple (1-0, 1-0) in the fifth threw fuel on the fire.

Radnor’s batters were willing to capitalize on the openings they were given. With the bases loaded in the fifth, pinch hitter John Lord leaned into a pitch to drive in a run and chase Marple starter Matt Young after four-plus innings. The next batter, Terrance Quinn, worked the first walk of the day for either side to plate another run.

To read the remainder of the article click here. http://www.gametimepa.com/delaware-archives-baseball/ci_25471641/baseball-radnor-makes-every-play-count-win-over

Radnor's Connor Wilson dives back to first safely on a pick-off play during Tuesday's Central League game against Marple Newtown. (Robert J Gurecki)

Marple Newtown's Seth Bower knocks in the first run for the Tigers in Tuesday's game against Radnor. (Robert J Gurecki)

Radnor's Terrance Quinn slides home as Marple Newtown catcher Jack Shevlin fields the ball. (Robert J Gurecki)

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