TOWAMENCIN- The North Penn boys’ soccer team (8-0) came away with a dominant win over the Pennridge Rams (7-3) as they won 3-0.

The rain cleared up just in time for the opening whistle and the Knights came out fast and aggressive.  This approach would lead to an early goal from senior Luke McMahon off an assist from senior Aidan Jerome to give the Knights an early 1-0 lead.

The Knights would continue to play aggressive and played excellent defense by intercepting many of the Rams’ passes throughout the whole game.

“I thought we read very well…I also thought we did a much better job winning balls in the air, and then once we went in the air and we could get it down and now we get can get forward, we emphasized that at practice yesterday but yeah we have good defenders and they played well and to win high school games you have to defend well, that’s all there is to it,” North Penn Head Coach Paul Duddy said after the game.

And it paid off when junior Carter Houlihan was able to turn defense into offense and get by a couple Pennridge defenders.  The only thing between him and the net was the goalie as he poked the ball in for a goal and put the Knights up 2-0.

In the closing minutes of the first half, Marco Grenda of the Rams, was able to steal the ball and find an open field in front of him.  However, Houlihan had other thoughts as he chased down Grenda and tackled the ball away to keep the score at 2-0 into halftime.

“I knew that it was a slippery surface and any bad touch he had I had to capitalize on it, I also thought that I trusted my speed to be able to get back there and get him,” Houlihan said.

In the second half, both defenses were clicking as there were very limited chances for both teams to score.  North Penn got the ball into the penalty box and Houlihan was fouled.  Junior Ryan Stewart quickly placed the ball and with a heads-up play, took the free kick before the Pennridge goalie and defenders could get set as Stewart scored the goal with ease.  The Pennridge players argued the kick was taken too early but to no avail as the score was 3-0.

The Knights would sub in their bench players who kept the lead and got the win.  The Knights will be at Souderton Thursday for a matchup against the Indians.