Area soccer teams bring plenty of talent to 2020 season

The past few years, the SOL Continental more than earned its reputation as one of the top girls’ soccer conferences in the state.

While the Continental no longer exists, it’s replacement will have no problem living up to that billing. The new conference, which includes CB West, CB East, CB South, North Penn, Pennridge and Souderton, promises to be a grueling gauntlet for all involved this fall.

Between new-look conferences, teams retooling and a postseason picture that’s still a bit unclear, The Reporter/ Times Herald/Montgomery Media girls’ soccer squads are prepping for a very different season.

With Lower Moreland and New Hope-Solebury joining the SOL and bringing the total roster up to 24 programs, the league has split from three to four conferences for the coming year. Pennridge won the District 1-4A title last year and advanced to the PIAA semifinals while North Penn orchestrated a superb second-half turnaround, finishing in the final four of the district tournament and elite eight in the state.

Souderton, just two years removed from its 2018 state title, still has plenty of seniors back from that run and the trio of CB schools have all played for a state title since 2014 and all have plenty of quality back.

The new SOL Patriot will include Bensalem, CR North, CR South, Neshaminy, Pennsbury and Harry S Truman (not playing in the fall). Newcomers Lower Moreland and New Hope-Solebury join Springfield Twp, Upper Moreland, William Tennent and Cheltenham (not playing fall sports) in the SOL Freedom and the SOL Liberty adds Quakertown to former SOL American members Abington, Hatboro-Horsham, Plymouth Whitemarsh, Upper Dublin and Wissahickon.

Hatboro-Horsham and Plymouth Whitemarsh battled for the SOL American all the way to the Hatters’ win in the final game of the regular season last year. With eight of 11 starters back, the Colonials are look