William Tennent vs. Wissahickon: Soccer Battle

Ambler, Pennsylvania. 3:30, late-August heat rising off the turf. The gate swings, the drumline thunders. The Trojans snap into a blue-and-gold wall; across the stripe, the Panthers prowl in black and red. Cleats click. Captains step. The coin climbs, turns, and drops. Whistle tight. Student sections on their feet. Eighty minutes to turn sweat into story press, win second balls, switch the point, slice lines. Wissahickon drives. Tennent answers. One moment tips it. One finishes writing it. Block entrance. Step in. Own the night.    Charlie Fortescue (#3, Wissahickon) profiles as a direct, left-footed attacker who toggles between left midfield and center-forward; in this game, he operated mostly from LM and up top. He's a powerful runner with good straight-line pace and balance, using strength to ride contact and win shoulder-to-shoulder duels. On the ball, he prefers the inside cut onto his left to strike or slip quick vertical passes; from wide, he hits driven, low crosses. Off the ball, he's aggressive, constantly looking to advance play on first touch, timing diagonal runs across the back line, and pressing with intent, angling runs to trap the ball near the touchline. Areas to refine: first touch under pressure, quicker decisions in congested zones, and right-foot utility. Best fit projects as an inside-forward LW in a 4-3-3 or a second striker in a pressing 4-4-2.     Gavin Hinchcliffe (#10, Wissahickon) is a big, fast center forward who combines power with straight-line pace. Primarily left and right-footed but comfortable finishing or releasing under pressure with his right, he can bully center backs, pin them to hold up play, and then burst into channels to face the goal. He shows a heavy strike off his left-driven shots and cut-backs from the inside-left corridor and is a constant aerial target on crosses and set pieces. Pressing cues are solid: he closes with long strides and angles to force play wide, then competes well in second-ball moments. Areas to polish: cleaner first touch when back to goal, quicker layoff decisions in tight spaces, and greater right-foot range to stay unpredictable. Projects as a true No. 9 in a 4-3-3 or a fast target/runner in a 4-4-2.     Justin Mullin (#2, Wissahickon) is a high-motor right back with an “ant-like” work rate constantly surging forward to support the right mid or underlapping into the half-space, then recovering quickly to restore the line. He presses on the front foot, wins duels with a strong body shape, and shows reliable 1v1 timing to channel attackers outside. In possession, he plays simple, positive passes and can deliver driven crosses on the move; his overlaps/underlaps open lanes for the RW and free the CM to step higher. Areas to refine: earlier scan/body orientation before receiving, cleaner first touch at pace, more consistent cross selection (cut-back vs. lofted), and back-post awareness when the ball is on the opposite side. Projects as an energetic RB in a 4-3-3 or a rangy RWB in a 3-5-2.     Damien Griffin (#4, William Tennent) profiles as a safety-first defender, the back-line “insurance” who's reliably in position when the play breaks. He reads danger early, drops to cover space behind advancing teammates, and uses recovery pace to track runners in behind. Strong in the tackle, he times step-ins well and cleans up loose balls, then plays simple, risk-managed clearances to reset shape. Communication and organization are evident as he tucks the line and provides cover across the box. To level up, he can work on distributing the ball under pressure (switches and line-breaking passes), developing earlier body orientation when receiving, and improving aerial timing on back-post service. Projects as a dependable RCB/CB in a compact 4-4-2 or a sweeper-style CB in a back three.     Nazariy Kukhniy (#7, William Tennent) played as a pure vertical threat, repeatedly threatening the back line with five-plus well-timed runs in behind. He reads the off-shoulder space early, angles diagonals between fullback and center back, and accelerates cleanly to separate. First touch is tidy at speed, he can take on the stride and carry into the box or lay off one-touch to advancing mids while his feet stay organized under pressure for quick shifts and cutbacks. He shows intent and game IQ, pressing on cues, hunting second balls, and keeping defenders honest with constant depth. Next steps: sharpen composure on the final action (finish vs. square), vary run profiles (near-post, blind-side, check-and-spin) to stay unpredictable, and add a bit more strength for hold-up duels. Projects as a pacey second striker in a 4-4-2 or an inside-forward RW/LW in a 4-3-3.     Emmett Dougherty (#5) is a strong, high-motor box-to-box midfielder with extra burst. He covers huge ground, arrives first to second balls, and sets the press with quick closes. He scans early, opens his body to play forward, and can break lines either with a firm one-touch pass or a direct carry through midfield. In transition, he accelerates cleanly, releases wingers at the right time, and then sprints to provide a late runner at the top of the box. Defensively, he's reliable: angles pressure to the touchline, wins shoulder-to-shoulder duels, and resets shape quickly. Areas to refine: controlling tempo when the game gets stretched, cleaner first touch on his back foot under pressure, and weak-foot switches to change the point more consistently. Projects as a dynamic No. 8 in a 4-3-3 or a ball-winning 6/8 in a 4-2-3-1.

Ambler, Pennsylvania. 3:30, late-August heat rising off the turf. The gate swings, the drumline thunders. The Trojans snap into a blue-and-gold wall; across the stripe, the Panthers prowl in black and red. Cleats click. Captains step. The coin climbs, turns, and drops. Whistle tight. Student sections on their feet. Eighty minutes to turn sweat into story press, win second balls, switch the point, slice lines. Wissahickon drives. Tennent answers. One moment tips it. One finishes writing it. Block entrance. Step in. Own the night.