Record smasher

Schalick’s Miller sets school’s single-season goal-scoring record with five in Cougars’ 7-0 win over Salem

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT
Thursday’s games
Audubon 9, Penns Grove 0
Clayton 2, Glassboro 1
Pitman 5, Gateway 0
Maple Shade 8, Buena 0
Schalick 7, Salem 0
Haddon Twp. 6, Pennsville 0
Gloucester 4, Woodstown 1
Palmyra 9, Woodbury 0
Second-round games
Clayton at Audubon
Pitman at Maple Shade
Haddon Twp. at Schalick
Gloucester at Palmyra

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – For a player who didn’t want to be a striker, Schalick’s Emily Miller has sure made the most of it playing there.

Miller has turned into a veritable goal-scoring machine this season for the Cougars. She scored five goals Thursday in their 7-0 rout of Salem in the South Jersey Group I girls soccer tournament and set the school record in the process.

The senior now has 45 goals on the season, breaking the record of 43 set by Kerri Jackson last year. It was the second time this season she has scored five in a game.

It was her 14th multi-goal game this year and seventh with three goals or more. She has scored 23 goals in the 10 games since the Cougars (14-4) were shut out by Sterling on Sept. 29, the only game she hasn’t scored in this season.

“She definitely fell into the role,” Schalick coach Will Kemp said. “She had this inside her last year, but I think was a little timid. She had just returned last year (after missing the previous two seasons) and when one of our strikers went out for an injury we moved her there.

“She never wanted to be a striker. I told her she was going to be and she is one, and now she loves it.”

The Cougars scored their seven goals in 15 minutes.

Miller scored their first two to inch closer to the record. She tied the mark by converting a cross from Olivia Bergholz into the upper corner to make it 4-0 and then broke on the goal that made it 5-0. 

They stopped the game after she got the record-setting goal and Schalick thletics director Doug Volovar presented her the game ball on the spot. Her teammates all gave her a hug.

“It was a great, great moment,” Kemp said.

But Miller wasn’t finished. She punched in goal No. 45 moments later to make it 6-0.

The Cougars’ other two goals were scored by Cali Fisler and Karlie Bakley.

“Our girls played at the top of their game today,” Kemp said. “I was really impressed with them.”

The third-seeded Cougars will host fourth-seeded Haddon Twp. (8-9-2) in the second round Monday.

Asked if he thought his record-breaking scorer had 50 goals in her, Kemp didn’t hesitate.

“Yes, I definitely believe so,” he said.

GLOUCESTER 4, WOODSTOWN 1: Anabelle Conley scored in the first half to snap a 1-1 tie and the seventh-seeded Lions ((14-5) added two goals in the second half to put away the Wolverines, who had been unbeaten in their last six games. 

Talia Battavio scored the tying goal for Woodstown (9-8-1). It was her 15th goal of the season and 10th in the last five games.

AUDUBON 9, PENNS GROVE 0: Nine different players scored for the top-seeded Green Wave (16-1-2). Erin Connelly, Molly Sullivan and Emily Powers all had a goal and an assist. Morgan Wiltsey had a goal and two assists.

HADDON TWP. 6, PENNSVILLE 0: The sixth-seeded Hawks (8-9-2) scored all their goals in the first half with Emerson McDonald getting three. McDonald has 16 goals this season.