Pre-Season Scrimmages Held at Saucon Valley

After a week of grueling two-a-day practices dealing with less than desirable temperatures and humidity, the Saucon Valley football and girls’ soccer team were rewarded with season opening scrimmages under Saturday’s picture perfect weather conditions.

Saucon Valley’s 2015 football team looked sharp as they seemed to have little trouble with the visiting Fleetwood Tigers. Saucon Valley, the reigning Colonial League football champs, appeared to dominate both sides of the ball before sending the Tigers packing. Score is not truly kept in a preseason football scrimmage, but Saucon players Christian Carvis, Evan Culver and Dino Zaharakis agreed that the hometown Panthers cruised to a lopsided victory. Saucon Valley football will again host their second scrimmage against the Dieruff Huskies Friday night before opening the regular season at Salisbury on Friday night, Sept. 4.

The Saucon Valley girls’ soccer team also had an early preseason test as they competed against Whitehall in their opening scrimmage. Saucon senior Annika Sundlof started the scoring with an early blast but the Zephyrs, returning seven starters from their 2014 District XI Class 3A championship team, would answer with the next three goals. Sundlof would also end all scoring by capitalizing on a penalty shot with about six minutes remaining. The Panthers, just missing on a few other quality chances, were impressive in their opening contest but fell short 3-2. Saucon girls’ soccer will travel to Phoenixville Saturday morning for their second scrimmage before kicking off their regular season home opener on Tuesday, Sept. 8 against Notre Dame-Green Pond.

Keith Riefenstahl is a deeply-rooted sports fan, former coach and freelance writer. A Penn State grad and veteran educator, he lives in Saucon Valley with his wife Jill and four children: Brooke, Kiele, Travis and Tanner.