Month: October 2023

Playoff pairings

Four of five Salem County teams qualify for Group I football playoffs; non-football playoff projections based on power points also listed

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

Four of the five football-playing schools in Salem County are in the NJSIAA Group I playoffs this year and two have pulled down No. 1 seeds.

In the final regular-season UPR ratings produced by the gridironnj website and released this evening, Woodstown and undefeated Schalick pulled down the Nos. 1 and 2 spots in the South Jersey Group I top 16 and will be the No. 1 seeds in the South Jersey and Central Jersey brackets, respectively, when the NJSIAA makes it official.

Only two-tenths of a UPR point separated the two teams. Schalick had the winningest team in South Jersey Group I (9-0), but Woodstown (6-2) had the highest OSI.

Horizon Division champion Schalick, with its first undefeated regular season since 2006, had been in line for the overall No. 1, but Woodstown overtook it after Saturday’s 21-6 win over Penns Grove for the Diamond Division title.

We’re guaranteed home field advantage through the sectional final,” Schalick coach Mike Wilson said. “Strength of schedule is a very important indicator. From where we went from last year – we were the 15th seed last year now we’re the No. 2 seed – that’s a huge improvement in one year.”

Penns Grove (4-5) came in at No. 9 and sets up a potential second-round rematch with Woodstown. Salem (2-7) came in at No. 14. Both will open the playoffs on the road.

“We would’ve liked to been home but obviously too many times we came up a little short,” Penns Grove coach John Emel said.

Pennsville wound up being the county’s odd-man out. The Eagles came in at No. 17, 1.8 UPR points behind the final qualifying spot, which went to Dunellen. They went into the week as the No. 16 team, then lost Friday night at Pitman.

It would have been the first time since 2017 all five county teams made the field. Four teams have made it four of the six years since.

“We didn’t take care of business last night so it’s on us,” Pennsville coach Mike Healy said. “We didn’t get the job done. We still improved a ton this year but obviously would have loved a shot in the playoffs.”

The Eagles will now play in the four-team sectional consolation tournament.

The playoff bracket did undergo some changes after the original 1-16 standings were posted due to various tiebreakers. South Hunterdon and Middlesex switched places due to South Hunterdon’s head-to-head win; Woodbury, Glassboro and Shore tied for fifth and shuffled by the OSI tiebreaker; as did Clayton and Keyport, who were tied for 10th.

Here are the projected first-round matchups (lower seeds at home). All games Friday unless indicated otherwise:

No. 1 Woodstown (1) vs. No. 8 Dunellen (16)
No. 4 Florence (8) vs. No. 5 Penns Grove (9)
No. 2 Middlesex (4) vs. No. 7 Burlington City (13)
No. 3 Woodbury (5) vs. No. 6 Riverside (12), Saturday

No. 1 Schalick (2) vs. No. 8 Audubon (15)
No. 4 Shore (7) vs. No. 5 Clayton (10)
No. 2 South Hunterdon (3) vs. No. 7 Salem (14)
No. 3 Glassboro (6) vs. No. 6 Keyport (11)
NOTE: Number in parenthesis is South Jersey Group I UPR rank

Soccer, field hockey projections

Based on the power points in each sport posted Saturday, here are the projected first-round pairings in the South Jersey Group I tournament for boys soccer, girls soccer and field hockey. The NJSIAA will determine the official brackets later.

BOYS SOCCER
No. 1 Schalick (14-4) vs. No. 16 Pennsville (5-12)
No. 8 Maple Shade (10-6) vs. No. 9 Pitman (12-4-1)
No. 5 Audubon (11-5-2) vs. No. 12 (Burlington City (7-10)
No. 4 Glassboro (12-4) vs. No. 13 Penns Grove (6-9-1)
No. 3 Woodstown (12-3-1) vs. No. 14 (Haddon Twp. (5-10-2)
No. 6 Buena (12-4) vs. No. 11 Wildwood (10-5-1)
No. 7 Riverside (12-3-2) vs. No. 10 Gateway (9-8-1)
No. 2 Palmyra (14-2-1) vs. No. 15 Woodbury (8-8)

GIRLS SOCCER
No. 1 Audubon (15-1-2) vs. No. 16 Penns Grove (1-11-1)
No. 8 Glassboro (9-6-1) vs. No. 9 Clayton (10-5-1)
No. 5 Pitman (12-4-1) vs. No. 12 Gateway (7-9)
No. 4 Maple Shade (11-4) vs. No. 13 Buena (6-9)
No. 3 Schalick (13-4) vs. No. 14 Salem (4-12-1)
No. 6 Haddon Twp. (6-9-2) vs. No. 11 Pennsville (5-9-3)
No. 7 Gloucester (12-5) vs. No. 10 Woodstown (9-7)
No. 2 Palmyra (13-3) vs. No. 15 Woodbury (1-14-1)

FIELD HOCKEY
No. 1 West Deptford (9-3-3) vs. No. 16 New Egypt (7-5)
No. 8 Salem (11-4) vs. No. 9 Haddon Twp. (7-7)
No. 5 Woodstown (12-2-1) vs. No. 12 Bordentown (4-10-1)
No. 4 Collingswood (8-5-2) vs. No. 13 Gateway (5-9)
No. 3 Middle Twp. (12-2-1) vs. No. 14 Pennsville (5-10)
No. 6 Schalick (11-5-1) vs. No. 11 Maple Shade (8-4)
No. 7 Gloucester (11-4) vs. No. 10 Lower Cape May (6-6-4)
No. 2 Florence (13-2-1) vs. No. 15 Audubon (7-6)

Cover photo: Riley Papiano (16) and Reggie Allen celebrate a touchdown in Schalick’s win over Gloucester Catholic Friday night. (Photo by Heather Papiano)



How they stand

Here are the standings for the three WJFL divisions holding the Salem County football teams; records are overall, division; division games in bold

Diamond Division

WOODSTWN
(6-2, 4-0)		WOODBURY
(4-3, 3-1)		SALEM
(2-7, 1-3)		PAULSBORO
(1-7, 0-4)		PENNS GRV
(4-5, 2-2)
OPEN
OPEN
Executive (Pa.)
L 42-19		OPEN
Burl. City
L 33-22
Haddon Hts.
W 34-7		W. Deptford
W 31-0		Camden
L 34-0		Haddonfield
L 35-7		Pleasantville
L 14-6
Paulsboro
W 28-7		Penns Grove
W 42-6		Pleasantville
L 35-6		Woodstown
L 28-7		Woodbury
L 42-6
Deptford
W 49-7		Paulsboro
W 48-12		Penns Grove
L 21-6		Woodbury
L 48-12		Salem
W 21-6
Glassboro
L 13-7 (OT)		Haddonfield
L 21-6		Cedar Creek
L 20-14		W. Deptford
L 14-13		Haddon Hts.
L 14-0
Salem
W 27-0		Gloucester
L 14-8		Woodstown
L 27-0		Penns Grove
L 22-19		Paulsboro
W 22-19
Woodbury
W 27-21 (OT)		Woodstown
L 27-21 (OT)		Paulsboro
W 28-8		Salem
L 28-8		Glassboro
W 6-0
Haddonfield
L 48-16		OPEN
W. Deptford
W 38-14		Camden
L 41-6		Pennsville
W 32-3
Penns Grove
W 21-6		Salem
W 49-14		Woodbury
L 49-14		Audubon
W 14-7 (OT)		Woodstown
L 21-6
Gateway

Horizon Division

SCHALICK
(9-0, 5-0)		GL CATH
(2-5, 2-3)		WILDWD
(1-6, 0-4)		EUSTACE
(4-4, 3-2)		RIVERSIDE
(6-1, 4-1)		LNDNWLD
(0-9, 0-5)
Glou City
W 17-14		OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
Sterling
L 19-0
Pitman
W 14-13		Palmyra
L 26-21		Cumberlnd
W 28-21		Holy Cross
W 22-18		Princeton
W 14-7		Pennsville
L 49-6
Wildwood
W 25-0		Eustace
L 36-0		Schalick
L 25-0		Glou Cath
W 36-0		Lindenwold
W 59-0		Riverside
L 59-0
Riverside
W 47-18		Lindenwold
W 54-6		Eustace
L 13-7		Wildwood
W 13-7		Schalick
L 47-18		Glou Cath
L 54-6
Pennsville
W 38-20		OPEN
L. CapeMay
L 34-0		Princeton
L 24-0		Pitman
W 30-21		Holy Cross
L 54-6
Lindenwold
W, forfeit		Wildwood
W 7-0		Glou Cath
L 7-0		Riverside
L 46-8		Eustace
W 46-8		Schalick
L, forfeit
Eustace
W, forfeit		Riverside
L 50-7		x-KIPP Cooper
L 12-6		Schalick
L, forfeit		Glou Cath
W 50-7		x-Wildwood
L, forfeit
Cumberlnd
W 35-8		Holy Cross
L 32-27		HaddnTwp
L 20-0		Florence
L, forfeit		OPEN
Overbrook
L 48-12
Glou Cath
W 42-20		Schalick
L 42-20		Riverside
L 38-8		Lindenwold
W 32-28		Wildwood
W 38-8		Eustace
L 32-28
GloucesterCollingswdPalmyraPitman
Florence

Royal Division

PENNSVILLE
(4-4, 2-2)		PITMAN
(3-4, 2-2)		L. CAPE MAY
(7-1, 4-0)		CUMBERLND
(3-6, 2-2)		GATEWAY
(1-7, 0-4)
OPEN
OPEN
Bridgeton
W 44-6		Middle Twp.
L 40-0		OPEN
Lindenwold
W 49-6		Schalick
L 14-13		Clayton
L 26-21		Wildwood
L 28-21		Haddon Twp.
W 19-0
L. Cape May
L 28-7		Cumberland
L 6-0		Pennsville
W 28-7		Pitman
W 6-0		Collingswood
L 19-14
Gateway
W 23-7		Buena
W 41-0		Cumberland
W 40-0		L. Cape May
L 40-0		Pennsville
L 23-7
Schalick
L 38-20		Riverside
L 30-21		Wildwood
W 34-0		Bridgeton
W 37-27		Middle Twp.
L 40-7
Cumberland
W 25-12		OPEN
OPEN
Pennsville
L 25-12		Keyport
L 39-6
Overbrook
W 42-18		L. Cape May
L 46-22		Pitman
W 46-22		Gateway
W 26-20		Cumberland
L 26-20
Penns Grove
L 32-3		Gateway
W 20-6		Buena
W 60-0		Schalick
L 35-8		Pitman
L 20-6
Pitman
L 35-14		Pennsville
W 35-14		Gateway
W 48-2		Clayton
L 40-14		L. Cape May
L 48-2
LindenwoldWoodbury
Clayton

Diamond dazzlers

Woodstown wins WJFL Diamond Division title outright, eyes No. 1 seed in Group I playoffs

DIAMOND DIVISION SCORES
Saturday’s games
Woodstown 21, Penns Grove 6
Woodbury 49, Salem 14
Paulsboro 14, Audubon 7 (OT)

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNS GROVE — John Adams delayed his traditional post-game huddle to take a picture. He wasn’t about to let this moment pass without immortalizing it for posterity.

The Woodstown coach backed up a couple steps on the midfield grass at Jim Devonshire Field, pointed his phone into the happy group in front of him and clicked.

He wanted, he said, a picture of the champions.

The Wolverines won the WJFL Diamond Division title outright Saturday with a 21-6 win over Penns Grove. It’s their first outright division crown since 2013.

The win also has them in line for a No. 1 seed in the South Jersey Group I football playoffs.

“We knew the division was on the line to win it outright, we knew the playoff seedings were on the line, and we were coming off that tough loss to Haddonfield where we kind of just let the wheels fall off the bus,” Adams said. “They ended up responding well coming off that loss and this is what I wanted to see heading into the playoffs – good team football.”

“Last year we shared the division; we came in this year wanting to win it all — we did that today,” receiver Garrett Leyman said.

“It means a lot knowing all the adversity we went through with hurt players, players ejected, and we won it outright this year, so that’s a big thing,” running back Bryce Belinfanti added.

Belinfanti rushed for 133 yards and scored Woodstown’s first and third touchdowns. His first score was the first touchdown the Red Devils (4-5) had allowed in 11 quarters.

Woodstown’s Bryce Belinfanti (3) tosses the ball to the official after scoring the Wolverines’ first touchdown against Penns Grove.

In between the running back’s two scores, the Wolverines (6-2) extended their lead to 14-0 at halftime when, after pulling the stadium in with 16 straight running plays and 20 in their first 21 snaps, they quickly went to the air and hit three straight passes for 74 yards in about 60 seconds. Penns Grove coach John Emel called it the difference in the game.

The connections covered 24 yards to Carter Orlandini, 23 yards to Anthony Bokolas and 27 yards to Leyman for the touchdown with 1:34 left in the half.

“That definitely was important for our offense,” Leyman said, “because we like to run the ball down the field but if they stop it we have a backup now, so that’s nice. It just makes us way harder to stop. It’s definitely fun. Blocking almost the whole first half and then getting those plays it’s fun. It’s different.”

“Every week we practice our two-minute offense and the kids have done a really good job with it,” Adams said. “You never know when you’re going to need it, so at the end of the half there we called time out, let’s get one more possessions, we went to the two-minute offense and we executed exactly what we do in practice.

“We tell the kids we’re not a hurry-up offense, but when the situation presents itself we’re going to go with our two-minute and run what we run.”

The Wolverines have put more emphasis on the passing game this season, but those three were the only passes Max Webb completed in the game. He threw only two other passes in the game.

The touchdown pass came on a play Webb suggested for the playbook from his 7-on-7 arsenal that always worked for him. The Wolverines used it in a passing camp at Kingsway earlier this summer and they pulled it out of the archives Saturday. Leyman said when he saw the corner bite on it, he knew he was going to be wide open.

“It just shows our diversity that we can have in our offense,” Webb said. “I know we’re run first and that’s always how it’s been, but we can just flip the switch and throw it like anybody else in the state.

“It definitely surprised them. They looked like they weren’t ready for it, so it helped us a lot. I was happy it worked in our favor.”

Interestingly, the drive almost didn’t happen. Belinfanti fumbled the ball on the first play, but it came right back into his chest like a magnet and the Wolverines were able to retain possession.

Emel agreed scoring at the end of the half was a big momentum swing in a statistically even game with limited possessions, but the way Woodstown went about it didn’t catch the Red Devils by surprise.

“We knew they were going to do it,” he said. “It’s a matter of execution, so give them credit. They executed. They were able to pass protect and it was a combination on our part of (being) unable to get a pass rush or missed assignments and then on the back end blown coverage.”

Continuing in the good things happen in threes department, Penns Grove (4-5) was driving to cut into the 14-0 lead when the Wolverines’ defense made three straight stops for negative yardage to stop the threat. The Red Devils avoided being shut out by scoring in the final minute of the game.

“It was good to bounce back after our defense struggled a lot last week and it was good to be able to shut them out for the first three quarters and be able to lock it down for the win,” linebacker Jack Knorr said. “We had a lot of players step up who weren’t playing last week (like defensive linemen J.R. Reed and Andre Sinou) and it felt good to have them play well.”

Woodstown’s Bump Carter wraps up Penns Grove’s Karon Ceaser in one of the Wolverines’ three straight tackles for loss that stopped a fourth-quarter threat. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)

Woodstown 21, Penns Grove 6

WOODPG
111st Downs10
34-179Rushing43-172
3-5-0Passes1-2-0
74Passing40
3-0Fum-lost2-1
3-33.3Punts-avg5-35.4
2-20Penalties6-55
Woodstown (6-2)7707 –21
Penns Grove (4-5) 0006 –6

Scoring plays:
W – Bryce Belinfanti 2 run (Jake Ware kick), 6:21 1Q
W – Garrett Leyman 27 pass from Max Webb (Jake Ware kick), 1:34 2Q
W – Bryce Belinfanti 48 run (Jake Ware kick), 5:53 4Q
P – Karon Ceaser 5 run (run failed), 0:49 4Q

Cover photo: Woodstown quarterback Max Webb fires downfield in the two-minute drill on the way to a momentum-swinging touchdown near the end of the first half. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)

Woodstown’s Garrett Leyman (10) stretches out to slow down Penns Grove’s Karon Ceaser. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)

Waiting and hoping

Pennsville had a chance to likely lock up a Group I playoff berth, but lost to Pitman 35-14 and now holds its breath awaiting the final UPR numbers Saturday

ROYAL DIVISION GAMES
Pitman 35, Pennsville 14
Gateway vs. Lower Cape May, Sat.
Clayton 40, Cumberland 14

By Al Muskewitz
Riverivew Sports News

PITMAN – Pennsville had its post-season map all laid out in front of it. All the Eagles had to do was follow the signs.

A win would have set them up well for a Group I playoff berth. But now, after losing to Pitman 35-14 in their final regular-season game, they’re holding their collective breath hoping for some good news Saturday afternoon.

“We had a ton of mistakes today and they definitely capitalized on them,” Pennsville coach Mike Healy said. “We turned the ball over, they didn’t turn the ball over. They made big plays when needed and we really didn’t. We struggled across the board.

“To have an opportunity like this where we really kind of control our own future and not take advantage of it is disappointing and frustrating.”

It started out well. The Eagles (4-4) got a stop on the opening possession and then scored within a minute of getting the ball for the first time, but it was a struggle from there.

Pitman quarterback Kyle Kubat threw three touchdown passes in the second quarter – two in the final 90 seconds – and four in the game to put the Eagles in catch-up mode the rest of the night.

Quarterback Robbie McDade scored both of Pennsville’s touchdowns, on runs of 10 and 7 yards. He was the Eagles’ leading rusher with 83 yards, most of it coming on a 46-yard run. He also passed for 111 yards, but was intercepted three times.

“This is one of the hardest losses I’ve ever had a coach, for sure,” Healy said. “It’s tough to look at it from a wider perspective right now. Obviously, this year we accomplished a lot stuff we wanted to, but to work all season to try and get in the playoffs and now possibly lose it because we played bad, it’s tough.”

The Eagles came into the game holding the 16th and final qualifying spot for the South Jersey Group I playoffs and a four-point lead over his closest pursuer. 

If the Eagles don’t make the 16-team sectional playoff field, they will play in the consolation tournament next week.

“I did go back and talk to them during the bus ride,” Healy said. “I said one way or another we’re playing next week and whether it’s in the playoffs or the consolation tournament we need to be ready to go.

“Whatever happens we want to finish the season correctly. We’re on a two-game slide right now and if it’s playoffs we want to go out there and give our best performance or if it’s the other thing we just want to play good football and finish the season on a high note.”

Pitman 35, Pennsville 14

Pennsville (4-4)7007 –14
Pitman (3-4)02177 –35

Scoring plays:
Pe – Robbie McDade 10 run (Jackson Leino kick), 9:14 1Q
Pi – Porter Kostiuk 5 pass from Kyle Kubat (PAT kick), 11:48 2Q
Pi – Stephen Devanney 20 pass from Kyle Kubat (PAT kick), 1:28 2Q
Pi – Trey Tinges 10 pass from Kyle Kubat (PAT kick), 0:01 2Q
Pi – Chris Wyllie 2 run (PAT kick), 4:00 3Q
Pe – Robbie McDade 7 run (Jackson Leino kick), 11:53 4Q
Pi – Stephen Devanney 5 pass from Kyle Kubat (PAT kick), 7:35 4Q

Answering the bell

Backup QB comes in for injured starter, leads Schalick to win that wraps up undefeated regular season, likely secures a No. 1 seed in playoffs

HORIZON DIVISION GAMES
Schalick 42, Gloucester Catholic 20
Riverside vs. Wildwood, Sat.
Bishop Eustace 32, Lindenwold 28

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – Matthew LaMazza’s plan for his junior season on the Schalick football team was to take in as much as he could as the backup to a dynamic quarterback, get his regular reps with the JVs and maybe get a little mop-up duty with the varsity when games got out of hand.

But there he was Friday night, in the Cougars’ most important game of the year, under center in a tie game with a lot of time left, responsible for keeping the team’s date with destiny.

Armed with the simplest of instructions, LaMazza did everything required of him in the situation and led the Cougars to a 42-20 win over Gloucester Catholic that completed their first undefeated regular season since 2006 and potentially locked up a No. 1 seed in the South Jersey Group I playoffs.

“I knew Kenai was a really special player, so I just thought I’d be the next-man-up mentality; if I had to step in, I could step in,” LaMazza said. “Kenai’s such a tough player, he takes hits all the time, so I didn’t really expect to go in.

“The first drive I had some butterflies and some jitters, but overall I kind of stepped in. I just wanted to get the win, make history, 9-0, second time in school history, really be a game manager. I just had to run the offense, see what happens. I think I did pretty good for the situation that we were in. I feel like I can always step in now.”

Backup quarterback Matthew LaMazza accepts a game ball from coach Mike Wilson after coming off the bench in the second quarter to help Schalick finish an undefeated regular season. (Photo by Heather Papiano)

LaMazza was in a 7-7 game because starter and team leader Kenai Simmons hurt his left (non-throwing) shoulder in the first minute of the second quarter and was done for the night. Simmons got knocked around in a fumble that involved all three Schalick backfield principals – Simmons, Reggie Allen and Levi Feeney-Childers – that resulted in an 18-yard loss and turnover.

Simmons walked off under his own power, but he was done for the night. He spent the second half on the sidelines encouraging his teammates to persevere. As soon as it became evident the starter was in trouble, LaMazza started taking snaps with the starting center in the bench area.

He didn’t throw a pass, but he directed eight possessions, which produced 168 yards of offense and three touchdowns.

“Matt did a great job,” Schalick coach Mike Wilson said. “When the year started we had to find a backup quarterback. Matt won the job. And we were confident with our O-line, our running backs, if Matt had to go in there, he’d do what he had to do tonight.

“Any time you have a running quarterback you know in the back of your head you’re No. 2 might play a little bit. Matt’s a junior, he’s a leader and he did a very good job tonight. It’s Homecoming Night, big game, 9-0 was on the line, playoffs are on the line and the kid was cool, calm and collected the whole time. I thought he did a great job under the pressure.”

Schalick’s Jake Siedlecki checks his surroundings as he sprints towards the end zone with his 70-yard interception return. Siedlecki had two long TDs and was named Homecoming King. (Photo by Heather Papiano)

LaMazza got a lot of help from his friends. Jake Siedlecki had a big night. He caught a 75-yard touchdown pass from Simmons in the first quarter, returned an interception 70 yards for a score in the third quarter and was named Homecoming King at halftime.

“It was about the funnest night possible,” Siedlecki said.

Feeney-Childers faked out everyone when he picked up a punt that was about to die near the sideline late in the second quarter and raced 60 yards for a touchdown. A crowd of players from both teams started gathering around the ball as it was just about to roll dead, but Feeney-Childers saw an opening, grabbed the ball before anyone could react and sprinted up the left sideline to the end zone.

It was the Cougars’ second touchdown in less than two minutes and carried them into the Homecoming halftime with a 21-7 lead.

“My team needed something,” he said. “Coach (Frank) Amar told me something back in the summer and I just knew we needed a big play to get more energized. He told me when the punting team backs away from it if you see green take it.”

Allen’s role increased when Simmons went out and he rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns. He had 117 yards on 19 carries and both of his scores after Simmons left the game. He said he was doing it for his friend.

“As soon as I seen him go down I knew I had to step up and make something happen,” Allen said. “I know I fumbled twice, but I had a goldfish mentality where I just forget it and go on to the next play. I forgot about it, went right back and scored a touchdown. This was for 1. He’s my best friend.”

The post-game report on Simmons was encouraging. His range of motion in the shoulder was good and Wilson was confident if there’s no bone issue he’s “99 percent sure” the quarterback would play in next week’s playoff opener. Simmons is the Cougars’ leading passer (640 yards) and second-leading rusher (337), accounting for 14 touchdowns.

The quarterback injured his other shoulder during the Pitman game earlier this season and after one day of intense pain played the next week against Wildwood with heavy protection.

The win left the Cougars 9-0 for the year, the second winningest season in school history. Four years ago, in Wilson’s first season, they were 0-7.

“Me and (tight end) Ryan Johnson, our freshmen year we went 0-7 and we really got our butts kicked every game,” Siedlecki said. “This game meant a lot for both of us and the program. To go 0-7 to 9-0 in four short years, it’s unbelievable. To play a part in that and have a game like that in front of my school and community that means a lot. It was a lot of fun.”

Cover photo: Quarterback Matthew LaMazza comes to the sideline for a play during the second half of Friday night’s game with Gloucester Catholic.

Schalick 42, Gloucester Catholic 20

GCSCH
151st Downs12
26-80Rushing41-191
9-24-2Passes1-2-0
100Passing175
2-1Fum-lost5-3
5-26.0Punts-avg3-26.7
6-60Penalties11-90
Gloucester Catholic (2-5)714147 –42
Schalick (9-0)7076 –20

Scoring plays:
S – Jake Siedlecki 75 pass from Kenai Simmons (Hunter Dragotta kick), 8:44 1Q
G – Joncarlo Coia 25 pass from Jack Mustaro (Mike Freeman kick), 4:54 1Q
S – Reggie Allen 35 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 4:44 2Q
S – Levi Feeney-Childers 60 punt return (Hunter Dragotta kick), 2:47 2Q
G – Joncarlo Coia 16 pass from Jack Mustaro (Mike Freeman kick), 5:20 3Q
S – Reggie Allen 15 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 4:18 3Q
S – Jake Siedlecki 70 interception return (Hunter Dragotta kick), 1:28 3Q
S – Sherrod Jones 18 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 7:14 4Q
G – Kyle Guldin 20 run (PAT failed), 3:03 4Q

Schalick running back Reggie Allen makes a move to avoid Gloucester Catholic’s Jude VanAuken (1). (Photo by Heather Papiano)

The final push

All 5 Salem County football teams playing to nail down playoff spots; Woodstown, Penns Grove playing for division title, Schalick chasing an undefeated season, No. 1 seed

SALEM COUNTY FOOTBALL
Friday’s games
Gloucester Catholic at Schalick, 7 p.m.
Pennsville at Pitman, 7 p.m.
Saturday’s games
Salem at Woodbury, 10:30 a.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove, noon

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

All any team wants is to have a chance to play for something at the end of the season. All five Salem County football teams will be playing for something this week.

Above all, they’ll all be playing for their playoffs lives or at the very least to better their positions in the Group I South/Central Jersey bracket.

Penns Grove and Woodstown will be playing Saturday morning for the Diamond Division title. A Woodstown win would give the Wolverines the title outright. A Penns Grove win could give the Red Devils a share and Woodbury beats Salem (also on Saturday), it would be a three-way tie.

But like Penns Grove coach John Emel said, “I don’t think anybody goes around saying we were co-champs. We’ll let the naysayers worry about the technicalities.”

A potential No. 2 overall seed (and No. 1 in Central Jersey) could also be awaiting the Woodstown-Penns Grove winner.

Salem will be looking to enhance its playoff position. According to the latest South Jersey Group I UPR ratings, the Rams are in, it’s just a matter of where they’ll place.

Pennsville is looking to nail down its place in the bracket as well. The Eagles are No. 16 this week and a win at Pitman would solidify its spot.

Schalick has a lot on the line. When the Cougars play Gloucester Catholic at Homecoming, they will be looking to complete their first undefeated regular season since 2006, secure the most wins in a season since 2004 (12-0), close out the Horizon Division title undefeated for the second year in a row and nail down the No. 1 seed for complete home-field advantage in the South Jersey playoffs.

“If we win Friday night I don’t see us dropping,” Cougars coach Mike Wilson said.

Schalick was last a No. 1 playoff seed in 2006. In the wacky world of mathematics that now controls the playoff criteria, there’s speculation the Cougars could get jumped if a couple things happen over the weekend. A big consideration is if Shore Regional upsets undefeated Group III Holmdel.

“I think it’s wide open, really,” Woodstown coach John Adams said. “When they started using this method I told our coaches you can’t even predict who you’re going to play anymore, so go out and try to take care of what you can control and hopefully go out a win and hope it falls right when they do the seedings.”

WOODSTOWN (5-2) at PENNS GROVE (4-4): Even when his team was 1-4 and trailing by 19 at halftime in its sixth game, Penns Grove coach John Emel believed his team had what it took to be a viable playoff team in Group I. They were skilled enough in most areas, all they had to do was tighten up a couple things.

The Red Devils have come around, justifying their coaches belief, and in the final game of the season have a chance to do what many didn’t think possible a month ago – win the WJFL Diamond Division and secure a prominent position in the South Jersey Group I playoffs.

The Red Devils have won three in a row to get to .500 for the first time since the second game of last season. They’ve gotten healthy and all their players available, cut down on their turnovers and have held the opposition out of the end zone the last 10 consecutive quarters. If they win Saturday, they’ll claim a share of the Diamond Division title.

“The big one for us was having Woodstown beat Woodbury and now we have an opportunity to, depending on what happens, earn a share of the division,” Emel said. “It’s just exciting to be playing well at the right time of year and to be able to play for a lot of things. This is a one-game season with an opportunity to win a division championship. For us, this is our Super Bowl. 

“Any way you split it, we control our own destiny. I’m excited for our guys to be in this position. When we were 0-3, 1-4 and down at the half (against Paulsboro) and things could’ve gone the other way, we didn’t allow it to. We’re excited to play a big game. You want to be in contention; we’re in contention on the last game of the regular season … I just want our guys to be up for the task.”

Bryce Wright, the Red Devils’ leading rusher (783 yards) and tackler (48), is excited about the way the season has turned and what could be waiting for his team after Saturday’s game. It also excites him the game could turn into a Battle of the Bryces. Woodstown’s leading rusher in Bryce Belanfanti.

“They’ve got a running back named Bryce; he’s got my name, so I’m coming. I’m really excited,” he said. “I never lost faith in my team. After the first game (a turnover-laden 33-22 loss to Burlington City), that was just a battery for me being a leader on my team. I just came in on Monday and told the guys you don’t want this to happen every game, it’s not the team we’re going to be and I think they turned it around themselves.”

The Wolverines, meanwhile, have beaten the Red Devils each of the last two years. A victory Saturday, regardless of the Salem-Woodbury outcome, would give them a sweep of the Diamond Division and their first outright division title since 2013.

“Our division is like the SEC of Group I, so to be able to play a meaningful game for the division, to win it outright this late in the season, is awesome,” Woodstown coach John Adams said. “We always talk to the kids about wanting to play meaningful games late in the season and we see ourselves right in front of one.

“I just love the fact we are to this game because kids specifically look past the game and look to playoffs, so having this meaningful game is something that could really help us out.”

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC (2-4) at SCHALICK (8-0): This is a true Homecoming game for the Cougars. Because of the schedule and two forfeits the last two weeks, they haven’t played on home turf since Sept. 15.

The Rams provided coach Mike Wilson his first victory as Schalick’s head coach in 2020 and now they could provide him with one of his most important victories, one that would bring his program full circle.

“You look at the growth of the program, my first year we were 0-7, so we can finish three seasons later at 9-0 I think it shows the testament to the kids’ hard work over the last couple years,” Wilson said. “It just shows the growth of the program and what we’ve been able to accomplish in a short amount of time.”

But it won’t be without challenges. The Cougars lead the series 8-3 and have won the last two meetings, but last year even while rushing for 345 yards they needed to recover an onside kick in the final minute to hold off a furious fourth-quarter rally.

With all the distractions that come with the week, Wilson is trying to keep things “as normal as possible.”

“We discussed those as a team this week, but as I told the kids the most important thing is you’ve got to treat every game the same; you just have to play football,” he said. “We’re all going to be amped up, we’re all going to be excited, we’re all going to be a little stressed out this week because so much is on the line, but the sooner you get settled into a normal game the better.”

PENNSVILLE (4-3) at PITMAN (2-4): For the Eagles, the playoffs start this week. They currently occupy the 16th and final qualifying spot in the UPR, but figure they need a win to solidify their spot.

“We’ve treated this week just like a playoff week,” Eagles coach Mike Healy said. “In our mind it’s win to get in for us and that’s really the only way to approach it. With where we are in the stack and knowing the teams around us, we can’t feel safe with anything. Also part of it is let’s try and move up a couple spots if we can.”

The Eagles would be “shocked” if they won Friday and were on the outside looking in when the final numbers are crunched Saturday. They would have their winningest team since 2016 with losses coming to current SJ-1 Schalick, rapidly rising Penns Grove and once-beaten Royal Division champion Lower Cape May. They hold a four-point UPR edge over current No. 17 Dunellen, which beat No. 19 NJ-I Brearley Thursday night. 

But they aren’t overlooking Pitman and they’re pulling out all the stops to make sure the math works. The Panthers may have won only two games, but the Eagles are approaching them with the respect of a team that came within a failed two-point conversion of beating projected No. 1 seed Schalick rather than the one with a losing record.

“We basically told them no one is leaving the field at all for any reason, you’re going to be out there for every play of every thing,” Healy said. “We need everyone to play every snap this week. If we don’t win this week, for us, there is really no next week because we’re not in the playoffs and that’s everyone’s goal so we have to do everything possible to get in that position.”

SALEM (2-6) at WOODBURY (3-3): There is some belief that with two wins and playing in the tough Diamond Division Salem already has a spot in the playoffs, but Rams coach Danny Mendoza is taking nothing for granted.

The Rams have their qualifying two wins, one win in the division and have played a demanding schedule even outside the division. They entered the week 15th in the South Jersey Group I UPR, nearly 5.5 points ahead of the first spot out, but until it all shakes out Saturday there’s no time to relax.

“For me, until it’s said and done you really don’t know,” Mendoza said. “Being in the bottom quarter you’re never comfortable. It’s a must win for us, for sure. This game is the biggest game of the year for us, not just because it’s the next game, but it’s an opportunity for us to show that we can still play with the big boys.”

The Thundering Herd hasn’t won a game since Sept. 16 and they haven’t been at full strength. Quarterback Dante Viccharelli hasn’t played during their three-game losing streak and running back Anthony Reagan Jr. turned an ankle in the second half of their Woodstown game two weeks ago. The Herd was open last week and Mendoza won’t know if they’re playing until Saturday morning.

“We’re going to find out like everybody else, I guess,” Mendoza said.

Meanwhile, the Rams have played their best football the last month and could be a dangerous opponent for an upper seed if they get in. The resurgence has coincided with the emergence of Pop Jackson. The junior has rushed for 868 yards in the last four games and went over 1,000 for the season last week in the win over West Deptford.

“We’re getting better day by day,” Mendoza said. “We’ve found an identity and once you have an identity you can build off of that.”

Schalick stopped short

Cougars girls tennis falls in first state semifinal appearance since 2016, swept by eventual state champion

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WEST WINDSOR TWP. — It probably didn’t feel like it in the immediate aftermath of the match, but tomorrow, maybe next week, maybe next month the Schalick girls tennis team will look back on the total experience and feel the warm sense of accomplishment.

The Cougars weren’t in much of a celebratory mood Thursday morning after falling to second-seeded defending and eventual state champion New Providence 5-0 in the state Group I semifinals at the Mercer County Tennis Center.

But that result in their biggest match of the year didn’t tarnish the luster of an historic season that’s not yet finished.

The Cougars were making their first appearance in the state Final Four since 2016, but they weren’t overwhelmed by the moment. The early morning bus ride from Pittsgrove was relaxed and uneventful. All five matches were decided in straight sets, but none were blowouts and the Cougars won multiple games in all of them.

They had an early lead at first singles and had the lead in the second set of first doubles.

“I think I’m still digesting it a little bit, but I will tell you, they’re a fantastic team,” Schalick coach John Romano said. “I thought we were going to have to win ugly; we just didn’t get the job done. But you saw where we were in those doubles matches; we had our chances.

“We’ve had great leadership all year long, we just didn’t get the job done today (possibly because of) a little bit of execution on our side, a little bit of probably the stage is too bright. It’s tough to come up here and win. The last (Group I) state champion from the South was, what, 2011, 2012, Pennsville.”

The Pioneers swept the three singles points to clinch a spot in the state finals opposite Glen Ridge, snapping the Cougars’ 10-match winning streak, then completed the shutout by sweeping doubles. New Providence won the state title match 3-2.

Schalick’s Ally Green goes after a shot in her third singles match.

Among the Schalick setbacks was the first loss of the season for senior Katie Little and freshman Emma Adams at No. 1 doubles. They were 19-0 as a pair and Little was 20-0 – all without losing a set. They were up 4-1 in the second set and were tied 5-5 looking to extend the match before the Pioneers pulled it out.

“It was quite nerve wracking,” Little said. “The first set my anxiety was through the roof and the second set me and my partner picked it up a bit and honestly we played the best that we’ve played this season.”

Outside of the result, the Cougars were happy to be playing in the Final Four, but they weren’t just satisfied with being there. Grateful is the word most of them used to describe it, but they did want more.

Throughout the year the players kept asking Romano how this year’s team compared to the groundbreaking 2016 squad. The coach finally went there, saying the 2016 group “probably had a little more grit in certain spots,” but the 2023 edition was technically a little more polished and in the final analysis gets the nod team.

“I thought it was just really amazing to get here and I thought the competition was really good; it’s something we don’t see a lot in South Jersey, but I just really loved the opportunity,” No. 1 singles Rachael Irizarry said “Obviously it didn’t end as we wanted it to, but I think the experience was great for everyone. I’m just so grateful that we got to be here and do this today.”

“I’m grateful because of what Romano was just telling us,” Little said. “Just be happy that we’re here, take in the moment, enjoy it. It’s just a really good way to end up our seniors’ year. We’ve gotten so close so many times and we finally made it, so it’s kind of a breath of fresh air, like, oh my God, we did it. Obviously I’m upset that we lost – I wanted to win – but when it comes down to it, don’t be upset, be happy you’re here, take what you have.”

But it’s still not over. There is still more to play for.

The Cougars still have a home-and-home series set up with Woodstown Monday and Wednesday for the Tri-County Diamond Division title.

”I was able to talk with (Haddonfield’s) Jeff Holman before and that was the message I sent to the girls,” Romano said. “I said the guy with almost 3,000 career wins between the girls and the boys and 22 straight sectional titles in a row, he’s congratulating me on getting here, well, I said same thing to you and he was like, ‘John, I’m just happy to be here.’ 

“That’s what I told them. This guy’s been here 22 times in a row, has all the accolades in the world, probably the best coach in the nation and he’s happy to be here. I told them aside from this (result), and it doesn’t feel like it now, just enjoy this.”

NJSIAA GROUP I SEMIFINALS
New Providence 5, Schalick 0
Singles
Maggie Liu (N) def. Rachael Irizarry, 6-3, 6-0
Lily Liu (N) def. Grace O’Neill, 6-3, 6-0
Gianna Culver (N) def. Ally Green, 6-3, 6-1
Doubles
Maria Armenciu-June Blougouras (N) def. Katie Little-Emma Adams, 6-1, 7-5
Reena Silvester-Emma Timpone (N) def. Rachel Grandson-Miya Watkins, 6-4, 6-2

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES
Group I: New Providence 3, Glen Ridge 2
Group II: Holmdel 4, Demarest 1
Group III: Ramapo 3, Millburn 2
Group IV: Ridge 4, WW-Plainsboro South 1
Non-Public: Pingry 5, Princeton Day 0

Schalick’s Rachel Irizarry returns a shot in her No. 1 singles match in the Group I semifinals Thursday.


Tuesday roundup

Here are scores and highlights from Tuesday’s high school sports action involving Salem County teams; will be updated

By Riverview Sports News

SEABROOK — Schalick junior Jordan Hadfield continued her amazing first-year run in cross country Tuesday winning the girls race in the Tri-County Conference Showcase.

A week after winning the Salem County girls title, Hadfield ran the Cumberland Regional course in 18:50.24, 30 seconds ahead of runner-up Alyssa Boucher of Williamstown. Boys county champion Charles Fuerneisen, also of Schalick, finished 12th in his race (17:08.49).

County girls runner-up Sarah Seiden of Salem Tech was 13th in her race (21:18.62), beating her personal best by 29 seconds and becoming the first Charger to medal at the TCC Showcase.

Schalick’s girls finished sixth in their team standings and Salem Tech, just over 24 hours removed from the State TAC Championship, was seventh. Schalick’s boys were sixth in their standings. Salem Tech was ninth, while Woodstown, Salem and Pennsville came in 12-13-14.

Tri-County Conference Showcase
(at Cumberland Reg.)

BOYS SCORES: Washington Twp. 67, Clearview 81, Kingsway 96, Williamstown 99, Delsea 105, Schalick 172, Glassboro 221, Cumberland Reg. 237, Salem Tech 264, Timber Creek 268, Deptford 298, Woodstown 299, Salem 334, Pennsville 346, Pitman 350, Clayton 424.
GIRLS SCORES: Williamstown 44, Clearview 54, Washington Twp. 87, Delsea 97, Kingsway 118, Schalick 122, Salem Tech 182, Cumberland Reg. 227.

BOYS TOP 15GIRLS TOP 15
Elijah Whitaker, Glas15:47.78Jordan Hadfield, Sch18:50.24
Ryan Duffy, King16:00.57Alyssa Boucher, Will19:20.44
Dylan Saber, Will16:05.84Sophia Aldridge, Will19:20.85
Matthew Littlehales, Del16:23.62Macie McCracken, Wildwd19:46.19
Dominic Burgio, Will16:31.25Allison Roes, Clear20:11.06
Ethan Worst, Clear16:34.75Rachael Wilson, Wash20:13.97
David Kershner, Will16:41.05Margaret Wiśniewski, Clear20:24.61
Aaron Kolosowsky, Wash16:43.55Kaylee Russen, Wash20:29.44
Hunter Bostwick, Wash16:53.55Juliana Sieminski, Del20:39.86
Akshar Patel, Clear16:59.45Lyana Gutierrez, High20:50.65
Ty Blackman, Glas17:02.90Lilla Porter, Clear21:02.16
Charles Fuerneisen, Sch17:08.48Delaney Harbison, Will21:17.72
Patrick Lant, Wash17:10.72Sarah Seiden, SalemT21:18.62
Lincoln McCaffery, Del17:16.24Rachel Wiley, King21:22.08
Michael Driscoll, King17:17.29Julia Burgio, Will21:24.95

TUESDAY’S SCORES
BOYS SOCCER
Glassboro 7, Pennsville 3: Emirhan Kir scored four for Glassboro and Jake Isaac scored twice for Pennsville.
Gloucester Catholic 9, Salem 3: Four GC Rams scored two goals apiece.
Schalick 5, Penns Grove 0: Louis Sepers scored two goals in the first half and completed the natural hat trick in the second as the Cougars clinched a share of their fourth division title in the last five years.
Wildwood 5, Salem Tech 1
Woodstown 1, Overbook 0: Adrian Ibarra’s 19th goal of the season was the only goal of the game.

GIRLS SOCCER
Glassboro 3, Pennsville 1
Gloucester Catholic 8, Salem 0
Salem Tech at Wildwood
Schalick 7, Penns Grove 0: Emily Miller scored four goals, giving her 37 for the season, and Carly Hayman came out of the goal on Senior Night to score a hat trick.
Woodstown 3, Overbrook 0: Talia Battavio scored twice and Emma Perry scored once.

GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville 5, Haddon Heights 0
Pitman 5, Salem 0
Woodstown 5, Overbrook 0

VOLLEYBALL
Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech

You gotta believe

They did; Schalick girls tennis takes down top-seeded Haddon Twp., reaches Group I final four for first time since 2016, faces New Providence in semis

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

HADDON TWP. – Before they boarded the bus for the ride up the interstate, each player on the Schalick girls tennis team found a small notecard by their locker, just like coach John Romano leaves for them every time they reach the sectional semifinals or finals.

It was one word. One powerful word for the day.

Believe.

Romano always believed his team had the ability to do it, but the players had to believe it. They did in a big way Tuesday, running over top-seeded Haddon Twp. 4-1 to win the South Jersey Group I girls tennis title and advance to the state tournament at Mercer County Park Thursday to face a yet-to-be named opponent.

Glen Rock, Glen Ridge and New Providence are the other finalists. The qualifiers will be reseeded prior to the semifinals. Based on their respective power points, Schalick (18-2) would be the No. 1 (160), followed by Glen Ridge (11-5, 100), Glen Rock (10-1, 73) and New Providence (7-4, 29).

(UPDATE WEDNESDAY: Schalick, seeded third, will play second-seeded New Providence at 9 a.m. Thursday at Mercer County Park; the winner will face the winner of Glen Ridge/Glen Rock at 1 p.m.)

It’ll be the Cougars’ first trip to the Final Four since 2016, when they lost in the semifinals to Kinnelon.

“All along, and this is no knock on Gateway or Haddon Twp., I truly thought we were the team … but they needed to believe,” Romano said. “From the time they started, this group of seniors, I really had a feeling they could play. They bought into it. They had to wait behind some really good talent that freshman year to get to the next level and once they did, all of them stepped up in a big way and they never looked back. It was the whole vision all along that you can do this.”

There were a lot of poignant moments in the match, moments that couldn’t have happened without that belief.

Grace O’Neill, a senior who had been on the short end of match-clinching points each of the last two tournament seasons, won her match at No. 2 singles 6-0, 6-3 to give the Cougars (18-2) a 2-1 lead in the match.

“This is our redemption year and we are ecstatic over this win,” O’Neill said.

They clinched the match at No. 2 doubles when senior Rachel Goranson and sophomore Miya Watkins battled back from a 2-5, 0-30 deficit in the first set to win 7-5, 6-3. It gave the Cougars an overall 3-1 lead and Ally Green, who clinched the sectional semifinal win over Gateway, closed it out at No. 3 singles with a 10-6 third set win.

You could say it was all in the card(s).

“It was definitely nerve-wracking,” Watkins said. “We were down 2-5, but we really persevered and we just focused on one point at a time and just thought of what Coach gave us, that card that said ‘Believe” and we really believed in ourselves to just get us to the end.”

“It was very inspiring,” Goranson said. “It hyped me up. I was super pumped and I was super ready to go out and execute. Of course, it was nerve-wracking for someone who hasn’t played tennis their whole life and picked it up very late in life. It was a very exciting moment to be able to have an encouragement from a coach. That’s something I feel like every athlete needs to have, the validation and the perseverance of a good coach.”

Besides the big “Believe” written on the front side of the card, Romano wrote the items the players needed to believe in. Things like themselves, the team and the goals they set at the beginning of the season.

“We got them all last year and we got a few this year, too,” O’Neill said. “Normally he’ll write a whole paragraph to motivate us, but this year he kept it short and simple and it all struck home for us. All of us believed in ourselves and we believed in each other. It was believing in ourselves that made the win.”

They didn’t have the notes for their sectional semifinal against Gateway, the team that had been their nemesis each of the last two years. They asked for them, but Romano decided to hold off, not wanting to overhype a match that already had a lot of emotion tied to it and believing they could get through it on their own merits.

But immediately after the Cougars dispatched the Gators, Romano knew what he was going to do and exactly what message he was going to convey.

Will there be a notecard for Thursday? Maybe not.

“I might have to tell them refer to the one for this,” Romano said. “It got the job done for this one, it might as well be for the next two.”  

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I
GIRLS TENNIS SECTIONAL FINALS
SCHALICK 4, HADDON TWP. 1
Singles
Ellie Smith (H) def. Rachael Irizarry, 6-1, 6-1
Grace O’Neill (S) def. Catherine Smith, 6-0, 6-3
Ally Green (S) def. Cara Mulligan, 6-3, 1-6, 10-6
Doubles
Emma Adams-Katelyn Little (S) def. Kiersten Callahan-Shreya Raju, 6-1, 6-2
Rachel Goranson-Miya Watkins (S) def. Brielle Erickson-Morgan O’Kane, 7-5, 6-3

SECTIONAL FINALS
North 1: Glen Rock 5, Kinnelon 0
North 2: Glen Ridge 4, Whippany Park 1
Central: New Providence 4, Highland Park 1
South: Schalick 4, Haddon Twp. 1
NOTE: Qualifiers will be reseeded prior to the state semifinals

The Schalick girls tennis team is all smiles after closing out top-seeded Haddon Twp. 4-1 to win the South Jersey Group I title and advance to the state final four. (Submitted photo)

Around the county

Here are scores and highlights of Monday’s high school sports action involving Salem County teams; check the full week’s schedule at the Riverview Sports News website

MONDAY’S SCORES
FIELD HOCKEY
Pennsville 2, Oakcrest 1: Kylie Harris, Cara Holt score goals and the Eagles snap four-game losing streak.
Schalick 7, Deptford 0: Seniors Ella Shimp (two goals, two assists), Kaleigh Coombs (two goals, one assist) and Sophia Longo (one goal) all scored on Senior Night. Lydia Gilligan recorded her seventh shutout.
Salem 4, Gloucester Catholic 0: Marissa Bower and Autumn Foote both had a goal and an assist as the Rams snapped a three-game losing streak and complete an undefeated Classic Division slate.
Woodstown 6, Overbook 0: Tulana Mingin scores twice.

BOYS SOCCER
Gloucester 7, Salem 2: Kevin Wall had a second-half hat trick as the Lions rallied from a 2-1 halftime deficit. Jeremy Jimenez and Jose Vilalpiando gave Salem a 2-0 lead.
Woodstown 2, Penns Grove 0: Ayden Ellis and Grant Prater scored second half goals.

GIRLS SOCCER
Gloucester City 6, Salem 0: Meghan Gorman scored twice as the Lions scored six in the first half.
Overbrook at Penns Grove

GIRLS TENNIS
Salem 3, Bridgeton 2: Salem’s No. 1 doubles team of Gianna Pelura and Tytiana Miller won a third-set pro set 7-3 to key the victory. Yanderin Castellanos and Cassidy Werkheiser at 1 and 2 singles also won for the Rams.
Pennsville 5, Gloucester Catholic 0
Woodstown 5, Glassboro 0

VOLLEYBALL
Clearview at Salem Tech