Soccer scrimmages

Penns Grove boys, Pennsville girls take the field in first scrimmages of camp

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

BRIDGETON – Some days you play good, and some days you learn good.

The Penns Grove boys soccer team learned good Tuesday. The Red Devils lost their first preseason scrimmage under new head coach Mano Massari 4-0 at Cumberland Regional, but the rebuilding group picked up a lot to digest.

“We played a really good team,” said Massari, a homegrown talent elevated to head coach following the retirement of longtime head coach George Rhea. “I knew going into this year there were some big holes to fill and we probably wouldn’t get to the success we had last year. That being said, we’ve been working really hard this off season.

“We have a lot of new guys, a lot of young freshmen, a lot of first-year players. Going into this scrimmage we were plugging players in, seeing where they exceled at and still had a lot to learn at. I don’t want to say it was a bad day, because it wasn’t. I always tell the guys there are two things that happen at the end of the game – we can win or we learn, and if we learn it’s still a win.”

The Red Devils lost three-quarters of their 14-4-1 sectional semifinalist of a year ago and were missing two of their top returnees Tuesday, but they showed “flashes” of the team it can be going forward. Massari had been getting good reports before leaving on his honeymoon and was pleased with what he saw when he returned to the team from the trip Monday.

They fell behind the cohesive Colts 3-0 in the varsity portion of the match and the JVs yielded another goal in the final 20 minutes. Although the Red Devils didn’t score, Jayden Merga had one of their best chances, a shot that was turned away at the lower corner.

“I was pleasantly surprised with the effort, the heart that we showed today,” Massari said. “We were throwing together some pretty nice passes. We were able to transition and counter-attack pretty well a couple times. Had some nice chances to score, just weren’t able to capitalize on them.

“When you play a good team, it benefits them, it benefits us. We’re seeing what’s out there, we’re seeing what we need to work on. We’ve got some work we need to do, but I know we’re ready for it and they’re ready for it. They’re completely bought in and so am I.”

PENNSVILLE GIRLS SPLIT: The Eagles opened their scrimmage schedule with a tri-scrimmage and beat Buena 3-0 and lost to Haddon Twp. 1-0.

Returning striker Taylor Bass kept her scoring touch from a year ago and found the net against Buena along with freshman Karsen Cooksey and Riley Bowman. They had a few scoring chances in the half with Haddon Twp.

“I was overall pleased with what I saw,” Eagles coach Sam Trapp said. “The girls worked really well together. They were focused on taking the drills we’ve been placing in practice and putting them into action in the game, and that was well demonstrated today.

“We had really good set up there working with our midfielders. They did a lot of nice passing and working together. Defensively, our goalie stepped up big time and really took a little bit of ownership.”

Sophomore keeper Mara Widener is playing the position for the first and held her own against heavy pressure from Haddon Twp.

“She stepped up and kind of gave us a little bit more to work off of today, which was exciting,” Trapp said. “She’s finding more confidence every time she steps in the goal and she’s trying to learn the position the best she can.”

The Eagles scrimmage again Thursday at home against Haddon Heights and at Gloucester City Sept. 5.