Month: September 2024

Fourth in the fifth

Pennsville wins fourth straight in Foglein Bowl V between coaching brothers, Pennsville girls give Casey Slusher her first coaching win, and more; this story will be updated

MONDAY’S SCHEDULE
BOYS SOCCER
Pennsville 3, Paulsboro 1

GIRLS SOCCER
Pennsville 3, Paulsboro 1

FIELD HOCKEY
Salem 2, Clayton 0
Woodstown 5, Pennsville 0
Schalick 8, Overbrook 1

GIRLS TENNIS
Pitman 5, Woodstown 0
Schalick at Pennsville, susp.
Cumberland at Penns Grove

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE — Derek Foglein won another one in the annual Foglein Bowl between soccer coaching brothers Monday, and this time he won’t have to wait until the Thanksgiving family gathering to enjoy the benefits of his latest success.

Derek’s Pennsville team knocked off brother Doug’s Paulsboro squad 3-1 in Foglein Bowl V. In addition to getting another year of sibling bragging rights, when the family retired to their favorite West Deptford pizza place to revisit the match, it didn’t look like Derek was going to have to go into his pocket.

“We’ll be sitting right next to each,” Doug said. “We’ve got some other friends who were at the game today; I think they’re going to join us. I  just know that it’s a good thing I have a black card, even though it has Darth Vader on it, because I think I’ve got the  tab tonight.”

“Hey, if that’s the deal, that’s news to me, so I’ll take it,” Derek said. “I like it. I like dinner.”

That’s the fun of what this rivalry has become. It started in 2019 when Doug was at Clayton and both brothers had head coaching job and they’ve made it kind of a red-carpet event. Instead of coming out in coaching attire, they dress for success. Doug was decked out in a dark sport coat, red tie and khakis Monday, while Derek wore a dark suit with a gold patterned tie.

Doug won the inaugural game at Clayton, but Derek has had the best of it since it resumed in 2021 after Doug moved to Paulsboro. The games always made for some good banter at the holiday family gatherings.

“It’s always good fun coaching against him,” Derek said. “Soccer is the thing we’ve grown up with since we were both 5, so any time we get to interact with the game, we love it, but any time we get to interact with the game and interact with each other is even cooler.

“It’s moments like this where we’ll look back on it when we’re sitting down in our old people chairs and telling our grandkids, the next generation of Fogleins, about some of the moments we had and playing in the rain on a random Monday afternoon.”

“Soccer has given so much to my family,” Doug agreed. “A lot of good times, a lot of good memories. We really are a soccer family.”

John Thomas (15) scored two goals in his return to the Pennsville lineup.

Monday’s match was the most competitive game of the series played in misty conditions similar to the inaugural game in 2019. Pennsville scored twice in the first 10 minutes to control the scoreboard, but Paulsboro didn’t fade. The Red Raiders kept the pressure on Pennsville keeper Coen Rinnier and made it a 2-1 game early in the second half before the Eagles got an insurance goal with seven minutes to play.

John Thomas scored two goals for Pennsville in his first game back from a four-game suspension over a red card in the season opener. The senior wasted no time making an impact, scoring the first goal 3:53 into the match on a big bender from 30 yards out. He banged home the insurance goal on a rebound with 7:06 to play.

“I was telling my guys in the locker room it’s great to be back,” Thomas said. “I know I wanted to come out here and I wanted to get a couple goals, and that’s what I really did. I just wanted to accomplish something for my team because I really feel like they missed me a lot in the four games I was suspended.”

“Super happy for him,” Derek said. “Everything with that Wildwood game was pretty messy, but for a senior to learn from his mistakes, to get back on the field the way he should and then not only to do that but to come and take care of business with goals and really hold down the midfield … was really cool.”

As important as the game is to the coaching brothers, the Pennsville side has little time to celebrate the win. The Eagles play an even more important game at home Tuesday, hosting Wildwood in a game they have to win for a chance to win a division title.

“I love Foglein Bowl and I love the fact we can do this together as a family, but the reality is I have to turn my boys around for probably our biggest game of the season tomorrow,” Derek said. “We’ve got to be on tomorrow.”

But tonight was a night to relish another win in the rivalry.

Cover photo: Paulsboro coach Doug Foglein (L) settles up with Pennsville coach and brother Derek after Pennsville won the latest installment of the Foglein Bowl 3-1 Monday.

Pennsville 3, Paulsboro 1

Paulsboro (1-6)01-1
Pennsville (3-3)21-3

SCORING
PV-John Thomas (Shane Puckett), 3:53
PV-Sam Hassler (Shane Puckett), 10:00
PB-Matt Hill (Brandon Hampton-Beverly), 48:47
PV-John Thomas (unassisted), 72:54

Foglein Bowl
(Derek Foglein leads, 4-1)

YEARPLACEWINNERSCORE
2019ClaytonClayton5-2
2021PaulsboroPennsville3-1
2022PennsvillePennsville7-1
2023PaulsboroPennsville6-1
2024PennsvillePennsville3-1

Girls soccer

PENNSVILLE 3, PAULSBORO 1: Kallie Morrison and Annabella Manning scored goals in the first half and McKenzie Scott scored in the second half as the Eagles scored their first win of the season, giving coach Casey Slusher the first victory of her coaching career. The Eagles (1-5) were aggressive, pumping 22 shots on goal.

Field hockey

SCHALICK 8, OVERBROOK 1: Luci Virga and Ava Scurry both scored a hat trick as the Cougars (5-0) remained undefeated. Alexis Ship and Lena Virga scored their other goals and Phoebe Alward recorded four assists.

SALEM 2, CLAYTON 0: Juliana Love scored a goal in the last 90 seconds of the first half and the final minute of the game. The Rams are 4-0 for the second year in a row.

WOODSTOWN 5, PENNSVILLE 0: Zoe Lipovsky and Megan Donelson scored two goals apiece. Sienna Land netted the other goal for the Wolverines.

Girls tennis

PITMAN 5, WOODSTOWN 0
Anna Fisicaro (P) def. Gabby Kurds, 6-0, 6-1
Colette Rollins (P) def. Camille Osborn, 6-3, 6-2
Ava Mollehhauer (P) def. Aubrie Rennie, 6-1, 6-2
Kendall Bennett-Amanda Bradley (P) def. Julianna Lindenmuth-Alyssa Berry, 6-3, 7-5
Jessica Bretz-Abigail Heil (P) def. Nathalie Neron-Noelle Neron, 7-6 (10-8), 6-4
Records: Pitman 8-1, Woodstown 5-2.

Marching on a milestone

Schalick’s Mannella, Woodstown’s Huck on track to become Salem County’s only 300-win soccer coaches

COUNTDOWN TO 300WINSNEEDS
Joe Mannella, Schalick2964
Darren Huck, Woodstown28911

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – Joe Mannella and Darren Huck are intense coaching rivals. They’re also good friends that extend beyond the pitch.

They’ve played against each other in high school. They’ve coached together as assistants. They’ve gone against each other as head coaches, Mannella at Schalick and Huck at Woodstown. Their families have gone on vacation together. Last Monday, after their teams had another intense battle, Mannella walked around the corner to Huck’s house and they watched the Eagles game together.

HUCK

“There’s a lot of respect there,” Huck said. “There’s a camaraderie there.”

Inexorably linked, they’re now closing in on a major coaching milestone together. If all goes well, they will both become the only soccer coaches in Salem County with 300 wins before the season ends.

Mannella, in his 22nd season, almost certainly will cross the line first. Going into this week he’s only four away. The milestone could happen as soon as Sept. 30 when the Cougars host Penns Grove. It should be safely behind him by the time he plays old friend Huck again Oct. 10.

Huck, in his 26th season, has more of a hill to climb. He needs 11 to get there (with 13 games plus the playoffs left). His entry into the 300 Club could happen as soon as Oct. 18 at Overbrook. 

Interestingly, both are coaching at their alma maters. Both are the fourth coaches in the history of their programs. And both are in tenures longer (and with more wins) than their three predecessors combined.

“I always said I’d love to be able to share that within the same year of him,” Huck said. “It also means we’ve been around a long time, too. We’ve had some very good players and, if anything, 300 is just a true testament to staying consistent and doing the right things.”

The feeling is mutual.

“He’s been part of my journey for a long time,” Mannella said. “My last year I think was his first year as an assistant at Woodstown. We played against each other in high school although we didn’t really know each other then, but we share a lot of stories of common friends and stuff like that.

“Knowing it’s closer to the end, this could be the last big milestone, I kind of kept an eye on it. To get it with Huck, knowing that we’ll be done soon, to have two guys living not even a quarter-mile away from each other with 300 (will be special).”

Entering the season there were 58 soccer coaches in New Jersey with 300 or more boys-only wins. All the wins Mannella and Huck have registered have come with their current programs.

MANNELLA

Like Huck, for Mannella the milestone is just a sign that he’s been around a while; Huck calls him “a staple here.” But the Schalick coach also said it’s a tribute to all the players and coaches who have made it possible.

“I was here for a lot of firsts,” Mannella said, recalling the days when the team played on a back field and other games were scattered throughout the community. “Winning the first division, qualifying for the first South Jersey tournament back when you had to be .500 to qualify, making our first South Jersey final. It meant a lot for me to be able to come back here and coach.

“Three hundred? I’ve had a lot of good players. I’ve been here a long time. It’s my blood. It’s in my family’s blood. All those guys who were first and got the ball rolling, they’re all part of the success we’ve had and I’m just happy to be here for this many wins.”

He said it would be especially nice to get the milestone with this current team, which won 17 games last year largely as sophomores and juniors.

“I’d like to get to 400; I think with this group of guys and the group of guys coming up I think that’s realistic,” he said. “I hadn’t really thought about that before. I figured I’ll get 300, we get another state title, I could see myself going out on top.

“This team, it’s kind of special because it’s such a great group of kids. I remember one of (the milestones), I don’t know if it was 100 or 200, I liked them … but I really like this team. I’m so glad I get to share a milestone with these guys and hopefully a lot more with them.”

In the meantime, the countdown continues. You can bet both coaches will be keeping an eye on the other’s progress.

“In the end we’re still going to remain friends, no matter what,” Huck said. “At some point we’ll be retired and who knows what we’ll do. Maybe we’ll travel or something; who knows.”

BOYS SOCCER COACHES
SCHALICKWINSWOODSTOWNWINS
Joe Mannella296Darren Huck289
John Donovan204Doug Hathaway46
Kevin Jackson21Steve Petner67
Shawn McHugh12Glenn Merkle69

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Sept. 23-28; all games 4 p.m. unless noted, all football games 7 p.m. unless noted

MONDAY
BOYS SOCCER
Paulsboro at Pennsville (Foglein Bowl)
GIRLS SOCCER
Pennsville at Paulsboro
FIELD HOCKEY
Clayton at Salem
Pennsville at Woodstown
Schalick at Overbrook
GIRLS TENNIS
Pitman at Woodstown
Schalick at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Cumberland at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.

TUESDAY
BOYS SOCCER
Glassboro at Schalick
Gloucester Catholic at Salem
Overbrook at Woodstown
Wildwood at Pennsville
Pitman at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Clayton, 7 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Pennsville
Salem at Gloucester Catholic
Schalick at Glassboro
Woodstown at Overbrook
Salem Tech at Clayton, 5 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Glassboro at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Gloucester Catholic
Schalick at Pitman
Woodstown at Salem
FIELD HOCKEY
Bridgeton at Pennsville

WEDNESDAY
FIELD HOCKEY
Deptford at Schalick, 6 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Salem
Overbrook at Woodstown
GIRLS SOCCER
Overbrook at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Woodstown at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Triton at Salem Tech

THURSDAY
BOYS SOCCER
Clayton at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Overbrook
Salem Tech at Gloucester Catholic
Schalick at Pitman
Wildwood at Salem
Woodstown at Glassboro
GIRLS SOCCER
Glassboro at Woodstown
Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech
Pennsville at Schalick
Salem at Wildwood
GIRLS TENNIS
Overbrook at Schalick
Penns Grove at Pennsville
Salem at Gloucester Catholic
Woodstown at Cedar Creek
CROSS COUNTRY
Salem Tech at Burlington Tech
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Kingsway at Salem Tech

FRIDAY
FOOTBALL
Woodbury at Glassboro, 6 p.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Camden Catholic
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick at Cumberland
GIRLS TENNIS
Woodstown at Kingsway
BOYS SOCCER
Salem at Overbrook

SATURDAY
FOOTBALL
Collingswood at Haddon Twp., 10:30 a.m.
Overbrook at Paulsboro, 11 a.m.
West Deptford at Audubon, 11 a.m.
Schalick at Salem, noon
BOYS SOCCER
Schalick at Cinnaminson, 11 a.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Schalick at Cinnaminson, 9:30 a.m.
CROSS COUNTRY
Schalick at Six Flags Great Adventure, 9 a.m.

Melo Erickson and his Penns Grove teammates play another Salem County rival Friday night when they host Woodstown. (Photo by Heather Papiano)

New kid in town

Senior transfer makes a splash in season debut, helps Schalick end 14-game losing streak over 18 years to Penns Grove; McDade has big game in Pennsville rout, Belinfanti breaks out for Woodstown

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – Roneem Thomas has been waiting all summer for Friday night to get here. When he finally got the chance to play, he definitely made an impression.

THOMAS

Thomas had to sit Schalick’s first three games of the season to satisfy the state’s senior transfer rule, so his senior debut came Friday against Penns Grove. He was a factor on both sides of the ball and played a big role in helping the Cougars win 21-2 and end 18 years of frustration against the Red Devils.

It was Schalick’s first win over Penns Grove since Oct. 7, 2006 (a span of 6,558 days) and snapped a 14-game losing streak in the series.

“That’s nice to know, history and stuff like that,” Cougars coach Mike Wilson said, “but it’s all about winning tonight; that’s what matters.”

Thomas was back on familiar ground when he joined the Cougars. He went to school with most of the current players on the team through eighth grade (he’s the cousin of junior slot/safety Levi Feeney-Childers). He moved away to Brunswick, Ga., came back to New Jersey last year and played at Williamstown, then returned to Schalick this summer so he could finish his high school career with the players he started with.

Wilson knew the versatile 5-foot-7, 170-pounder was going to be a factor on offense — he had a run for 3 yards and a catch for 13 Friday — but Thomas made his biggest impact in his first game on defense.

Pressed into a start at MIKE linebacker because of an injury, Thomas was credited with 10 tackles, two assists and stopped Penns Grove quarterback Melo Erickson on back-to-back runs inside the 3 early in the fourth quarter. The last one stymied Erickson on fourth down short of the goal line to keep it a 7-0 game. He got the defensive game ball for his efforts.

“I just was hungry, man,” he said. “That senior transfer (rule) kind of stuck me back a little bit, but I was just ready, ready to go.

“I was just locked in. I stayed locked in, stayed focused, stayed to my grind, stayed with my keys, just focused. My coach told me I know you’ve been waiting for this moment, stay focused and be ready to play.”

He showed he was right from the start. On his first play on defense he came up and put a big hit on the center. From that point on, safety Reggie Allen knew the Cougars had something special in Thomas.

“He’s a ballplayer,” Wilson said. “He grew up playing with these guys before he moved to Georgia. Came back, got hit by the senior transfer rule – not his fault – and he’s a big part of the team now.”

Schalick’s Reggie Allen (4) rushed for more than 100 yards and a touchdown against Penns Grove. On the cover, senior transfer Roneem Thomas (25) watches the action before going into his first game with the Cougars. (Photos by Heather Papiano)

Penns Grove was position to get the tying touchdown after a bad punt snap was smothered at the 6 with 1:35 left in the third quarter. On second-and-goal from the 3, Allen anticipated the dive and stopped Knowledge Young for no gain, setting the stage for Thomas’ two big stops on Erickson.

The Red Devils did score out of the exchange. With the Cougars backed up against the goal line, the Devils wrapped up quarterback Kenai Simmons in the end zone for a safety to make it 7-2 with more than 10 minutes to play.

Schalick went 11-1 last year and earned a promotion into the tougher WJFL Diamond Division as a result. But the Cougars have struggled out of the gate and lost to their two most difficult opponents causing folks to wonder if the move was too big for them.

Cougars coach Mike Wilson rebuffed that assertion, saying the Cougars just had to “learn to play in bigger games every week.”

“It’s just the maturity of the program,” he said. “When you’re playing playoff competition every week, you have to be able to meet that level of expectation every game. We did that today. Now, we have things to clean up, but overall we played much better tonight than we have all year.”

“We showed everybody that we could play with anybody,” Allen said. “They’ve been doubting us from Woodstown, Cedar Grove. Those were two tough losses, but we bounced back tonight. It was a big win.”

The Cougars came to life in the fourth quarter, scoring two touchdowns, collecting three of their four interceptions and making their goal line stand. They held Penns Grove’s struggling offense to 75 total yards, but the Red Devils also were missing two key pieces, Isaiah Hill and KaRon Ceaser.

Schalick’s touchdowns came on a 15-yard run by Allen and a 53-yard pass from Simmons to Nylan Sutton. Allen rushed for 104 yards on eight carries and had Schalick’s three biggest gains of a night where yardage was hard to come by for either team before Sutton’s touchdown play.

“We’re usually a second half team,” Allen said. “We might score a touchdown or two (early), but then we’ll come out the second half and dominate them because we finally realize what we have to do.”

“We just wore them out as the game went on,” Wilson said.

The Red Devils had an 81-yard touchdown called back by a penalty in the first quarter. When the Cougars took possession they went 58 yards in 12 plays and two negative penalties capped by Simmons walking on from the 1 for the game’s first touchdown one play after being stopped at the 1 by Najee Paynter.

Schalick 21, Penns Grove 2

PG (2) SCHAL (21) 
41st Downs10
24-57Rush-yards32-146
6-18-4Passing (C-A-I)6-10-0
18Passing yds95
1-0Fum-lost5-2
4-26.3Punts-avg1-38.0
6-40Pen-yds7-55
Penns Grove 0002-2
Schalick70014-21

SCORING SUMMARY
S-Kenai Simmons 1 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 2:38 1Q
PG-Safety, Kenai Simmons tackled in end zone, 10:49 4Q
S-Reggie Allen 15 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 5:55 4Q
S-Nylan Sutton 53 pass from Kenai Simmons (Hunter Dragotta kick), 1:33 4Q

Schalick’s David Stewart (0) tries to get past Penns Grove’s Knowledge Young (7) with one of his two interceptions with Kylee Goodson in hot pursuit. (Photo by Heather Papiano)

Pennsville 46, Audubon 0

PENNSVILLE – Eagles head coach Mike Healy called it “the closest to a complete game” his team has played this season.

Quarterback Robbie McDade threw three touchdown passes, Malik Rehmer had a TD run and catch, Rylan Hardy ran for two scores, Jovanni Rios had a pick-six and the defense pitched its first regular-season shutout since 2021.

“We just did a great job playing how we feel we were capable of,” Healy said. “We’ve still got some stuff to fix, but if felt great to kind of get things rolling finally.”

The three touchdowns by McDade were a career high. They went to Cole Campbell, Luke Wood and Rehmer. For Wood and Campbell, they were the first TD catches of their careers.

“We’ve been rushing the ball great, but we were not effective in the passing game,” Healy said. “But tonight (McDade’s) passes downfield were on point; we were able to take advantage of some stuff and just really be more balanced on offense. He played great tonight. That’s what we needed to be able to do to go forward.”

The Eagles scored a shutout over Keansburg in last year’s regional consolation final, but Friday was their first in the regular season since blanking Cumberland in October 2021. It was their widest margin of victory against an opponent since beating Penns Grove by 49 on Thanksgiving Day 2013.

Given Camden Catholic’s win over West Deptford, the win pulled the Eagles into a three-way tie for second place in the WJFL Patriot Division and they have division-leading Camden Catholic next week.

“Winning your division is one of our goals preseason and the fact now we still have a chance to do it hopefully it’s a little extra motivation for the kids because that’s something we want to be able to do,” Healy said. “The ability to still be in the division race is awesome. Losing that first game (to West Deptford) took things out of your hands is tough, but it’s awesome to heard we’re still in it.”

Woodstown’s Bryce Belinfanti (3) rushed for 200 yards against Woodbury for the second year in a row. His only 200-yard games have come against the Thundering Herd. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)

Woodstown 28, Woodbury 16

WOODSTOWN – New Woodstown coach Frank Trautz has a pretty good ride home after football Friday nights so anything that makes those rides enjoyable is a plus. The last three weeks that ride has been quite enjoyable.

Bryce Belinfanti rushed for 204 yards and scored three total touchdowns and the defense posted a shutout in the second half as the Wolverines rallied to turn back Woodbury 28-16 for their third straight win to open the season.

“It was close the whole game, it was a dogfight, for sure,” Trautz said. “We just made some adjustments (at halftime) on what I wanted to do and attack them offensively with. The kids came out and executed what we talked about both offensively and defensively.

“It was a real physical, tough football game, kind of like the games we’ve played with them in the past. It was a fight to the end. To get a win against an opponent of that quality is awful big.”

The Wolverines, 3-0 for the third year in a row, led twice in the first half, but each time the Thundering Herd answered to take the lead.

Belinfanti had an 85-yard TD run to open the scoring, but the Wolverines missed the extra point. The Herd answered with a 24-yard touchdown pass to go up 8-6.

Belinfanti’s second touchdown, a 37-yard pass from Jack Holladay, put Woodstown up 13-8, but Woodbury answered with a big pass play right before the half to take a 16-13 lead into the break. Woodbury quarterback Tim Holmes was 16-of-29 passing for 272 yards.

Belinfanti rushed for a career-high 204 yards on 27 carries. It was the second year in a row he rushed for more than 200 yards against the Herd. He went for 203 yards and three TDs on s career-high 30 carries against them last season.

“Wow, I didn’t even know I had 200 because the stat keeper couldn’t make the game,” he said. “We came in the game knowing Woodbury was going to take big shots.”

It was all Woodstown in the second half. The defense bottled up the Herd’s offense. Belinfanti scored his third touchdown on a 13-yard run and the Wolverines put it away on an 8-yard shuttle pass from Holladay to Garrett Leyman that capped a long fourth-quarter drive.

“Coming out of halftime I knew I was going to have to hit bit for sure and we took a lot of time off the clock,” Belinfanti said. “The score that put the game away was an amazing call by Coach Trautz.” 

One of those type things that give you a warm and fuzzy feeling for a long ride home.

Woodstown 28, Woodbury 16

WBURY (16)WTOWN (28)
81st Downs14
21-1Rushing37-224
16-29-0Passes3-6-1
272Passing90
2Fumbles1
4-25.0Punts3-37.0
6-54Penalties2-15
Woodbury01600-16
Woodstown6778-28

SCORING SUMMARY
WT-Bryce Belinfanti 85 run (kick failed)
WB-Elijah Young 24 pass from Tim Holmes (Thomas Lewis run)
WT-Bryce Belinfanti 37 pass from Jack Holladay (Jake Ware kick)
WB-Shiwoe Varpilah 74 pass from Tim Holmes (Tim Holmes run)
WT-Bryce Belinfanti 13 run (Jake Ware kick)
WT-Garrett Leyman 8 pass from Jack Holladay (Brett Rowand pass from Jack Holladay)

Woodstown’s Bump Carter (71) brings down Woodbury quarterback Tim Holmes for a sack. The Wolverines’ defensive line was particularly stout in the second half. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)
WJFL DIAMOND DIVISIONDIVALL
Glassboro2-03-0
Woodstown2-03-0
Schalick1-12-2
Woodbury1-11-2
Penns Grove0-21-3
Salem0-20-4

THURSDAY’S GAMES
Glassboro 46, Salem 0
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Schalick 21, Penns Grove 2
Woodstown 28, Woodbury 16

WJFL PATRIOT DIVISIONDIVALL
Camden Catholic2-03-0
West Deptford2-12-2
Paulsboro2-13-1
Pennsville2-12-2
Collingswood1-22-2
Audubon0-21-2
Overbrook0-22-2

THURSDAY’S GAME
Paulsboro 47, Collingswood 7
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Overbrook 26, Florence 0
Pennsville 46, Audubon 0
Camden Catholic 38, West Deptford 20

Thursday sports report

Here are the results of Thursday’s games involving Salem County high school teams

BOYS SOCCER
Gateway 3, Pennsville 0
Audubon 2, Woodstown 0
GIRLS SOCCER
Audubon 5, Woodstown 1
Gateway 6, Pennsville 0
FIELD HOCKEY
Glassboro 3, Pennsville 1
Salem at Overbrook
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville 5, Kingsway 0
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Pennsauken Tech, 3:45 p.m.

Man of the hour

Glassboro takes momentum from Salem early in game, Foster comes off bench to lead Bulldogs’ offense, regain QB1 spot

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

GLASSBORO — Football is such a momentum game. Salem had it early Thursday night after a huge drive-stopping takeaway in the end zone, but Glassboro took it right back with an equally big defensive play and kept Ol’ Mo on its side it the rest of the night.

Salem got the momentum late in the first quarter when William Dunn made an incredible one-handed interception two steps deep in the end zone and returned it out near the 25.

But all that good fortune was taken away when the Rams were hit with a block in the back right as Dunn exited the end zone. So, instead of the offense setting up with some comfortable field position, the Rams had to start from their own 1.

And then on the first play they jumped offside moving the ball back even closer to the goal line. When they finally got set, Glassboro’s defense smothered Terrance Smith in the end zone for a safety.

The Bulldogs returned the free kick to the Salem 33 and three plays later Jack O’Connell hit Amari Sabb for a 15-yard touchdown on the final play of the first quarter for the game’s first touchdown in an eventual 46-0 victory.

Interestingly, the Bulldogs (3-0) scored touchdowns on the final play of the first, second and third quarters.

“That was the game changer,” Salem coach Kemp Carr said of the safety. “We make a nice play (then) we get penalized. That causes an avalanche. We make an interception in the end zone, we get penalized. We return it to the 24 and we get backed up and they get a safety on the half-inch line.

“You know this game is about momentum. We were playing well up to that point; we caused three turnovers. That was the game changer. Come on, you get a safety down there? We aren’t a team that wants to play from behind. We haven’t had any success this year. You can’t play from behind.”

Salem junior William Dunn (0) snatches the ball away from Glassboro’s Amari Sabb with an incredible one-handed interception in the end zone in the first quarter.

But even after that frustrating start, the offense showed signs of life. They held the ball for most of the second quarter and in one six-minute drive got down to Glassboro 11 before DayShaun Day blocked Andrew May’s 29-yard field goal attempt inside the final minute.

The Rams (0-4), who have scored only one touchdown in their first four games, had only 100 yards of net offense. Half of that came on two plays in the second half – a 31-yard catch by Smith and a 14-yard run by Jamaal Shockley on their final play of the game.

“We’ve got to get some things getting better,” Carr said. “We’ve got to get in the end zone, man.”

The first-quarter touchdown pass notwithstanding, Glassboro didn’t really move the ball with O’Connell at quarterback. The Rams intercepted him twice, recovered a ball he fumbled and held Glassboro to 59 net yards in the first quarter and a half he directed the offense.

Sophomore Kristopher Foster replaced him on the Bulldogs’ final possession of the second quarter (after the blocked field goal) and threw three touchdown passes and directed four straight touchdown drives the rest of the game. He completed 8 of 13 passes for 137 yards with scoring strikes of 31 and 55 yards to Xavier Sabb on either side of halftime and 13 yards to Day in the fourth quarter.

Foster was basically the only quarterback the Bulldogs had last year and he passed for 1,036 yards and 13 touchdowns in their run to the state finals, but he was beaten out by Gateway transfer O’Connell in a tight battle this summer in camp. 

“All practice I knew (O’Connell) was going to start, but in my head I was thinking if I get in I’m going to make it worthwhile,” Foster said. “I put trust in my teammates and my coaches and once I got in I just showed out. I don’t think we could’ve scripted it up better than that.

“I wasn’t sure (if he’d get another shot), but I knew I was going to keep working hard, doing what I do, studying the playbook, practicing hard, and all that.”

Glassboro coach Timmy Breaker said after the game the Bulldogs have “two varsity quarterbacks,” but the resiliency Foster showed in fighting for his spot and his poise and play against the Rams earned him the start next week against Woodbury.

“We always tell them we have two great quarterbacks, and tonight was just Kris’ night,” Breaker said. “We have two really good quarterbacks, two varsity quarterbacks, we are blessed to get two of them, and either night it could be either of their times and you saw Kris put on a masterful performance.

“Tonight, he showed a resiliency; he showed how to battle back. Even when he didn’t get the call he came to practice to work. I tell them all the time you never know when it’s your time, just be ready when it’s your time; you’ll never have to get ready if you stay ready, and this week has been his best week at practice. He’s the guy next week. He earned that. He outright earned that.” 

NOTES: Kaden Robinson had Salem’s other interception and Antwan Robinson had the strip sack and fumble recovery … Day had a 36-yard pick-6 for Glassboro’s final touchdown … The Bulldogs will add to their offensive arsenal next week when Hammonton transfer Kenny Smith becomes eligible. Smith rushed for 1,473 yards and 16 TDs last season and 3,143 yards and 37 TDs over the last two. “I’m excited to have him,” Breaker said. “The stuff he does in practice I can’t wait for everyone to see” … Salem is hoping to see the return of Omarion Pierce and Jared Pew from injuries next week. “We’re going to keep getting better,” Carr said. “It’s a long season. Once we get in, we’ll be a different team. We’ve got three key guys out right now – a coverage guy, a couple receivers – that makes a difference. We’re going to be fine. We’ve just got to get healthy.”

Glassboro 46, Salem 0

SAL GLASS
81st Downs11
28-56Rush-yards15-92
4-12-1Passing (C-A-I)13-24-2
44Passing yds188
1-1Fum-lost1-1
3-30.3Punts-avg1-28.0
4-36Pen-yds3-15
Salem 0000-0
Glassboro881614-46

SCORING SUMMARY
G-Safety, runner tackled in end zone, 1:30 1Q
G-Amari Sabb 15 pass from Jack O’Connell (kick blocked), 0:05 1Q
G-Xavier Sabb 31 pass from Kristopher Foster (Amari Sabb run), 0:00 2Q
G-Xavier Sabb 55 pass from Kristopher Foster (Hakim Theresa run), 10:18 3Q
G-Amari Sabb 8 run (DayShaun pass from Kristopher Foster), 0:32 3Q
G-DayShaun Day 13 pass from Kristopher Foster (DayShaun Day pass from Kristopher Foster), 9:26 4Q
G-DayShaun Day 36 interception return (PAT failed), 5:10 4Q

WJFL DIAMOND DIVISIONDIVALL
Glassboro2-03-0
Woodstown1-02-0
Woodbury1-01-1
Penns Grove0-11-2
Schalick0-11-2
Salem0-20-4

THURSDAY’S GAMES
Glassboro 46, Salem 0
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Penns Grove at Schalick, 7 p.m.
Woodbury at Woodstown, 7 p.m.

WJFL PATRIOT DIVISIONDIVALL
West Deptford2-02-1
Camden Catholic1-02-0
Paulsboro2-13-1
Pennsville1-11-2
Collingswood1-22-2
Audubon0-11-1
Overbrook0-21-2

THURSDAY’S GAME
Paulsboro 47, Collingswood 7
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Overbrook at Florence, 6 p.m.
Audubon at Pennsville, 7 p.m.
West Deptford at Camden Catholic, 7 p.m.

Newest Hall members

Sports agent Buck, journalist Cudemo to be enshrined in All Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey Hall of Fame Saturday

By Riverview Sports News

BRIDGETON – The All-Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey will welcome two new members into its Hall of Fame this weekend when it inducts sports agent Andre Buck and retired local sports journalist Mike Cudemo in formal ceremonies Saturday.

Buck, a Bridgeton native, graduated Cumberland Regional High School in 1989 where he was an outstanding student-athlete, earning varsity letters in basketball, soccer and track.

He went on to the University of Delaware, where he majored in Finance and played guard on the basketball team. The Blue Hens handily won the 1991-92 North Atlantic Conference with a 27-4 overall record, a 14-0 NAC conference championship record and with the NAC Tournament Championship to earn the school’s first automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The eventual Final Four Cincinnati Bearcats foiled the Hens’ bid to advance beyond the opening round.

Buck earned his Juris Doctor Law Degree from Widener University, and subsequently practiced law as a Certified Sports Agent with three corporate firms before starting his own firm, ASA, LLC. He also has given his time and experience to the legal community as an adjunct law professor at Wilmington University and as a guest speaker at several universities including Villanova Law School, Penn’s Wharton Graduate School of Business, Ohio State University Law School, commencements and sports banquets.

His desire to represent a select group of NBA players, devoting his personal attention to each client, has earned him the respect of the industry and recognition as a top 100 NBA agent.

Cudemo graduated Shawnee High School in Medford 1974, earning varsity letters in football and track. His interest and desire for a career in sports journalism led him to Glassboro State College, where he graduated in 1978 with a degree in Journalism/Communications.

His career in print media included sports reporter positions with the Bridgeton Evening News and the Vineland Daily Journal and Sports Editor, Copy Editor and Columnist for the Daily Journal. At the Journal, he was responsible for the planning, design, content and coverage of local, regional and national sports events. His Sports Section was twice voted “Best In The State” by the New Jersey Press Association.

In 1993, Cudemo ventured into the non-profit corporate service industry, utilizing his knowledge of multimedia relations as the Vice President of Planning for Gateway Community Action Partnership. For the next 30 years, he developed and implemented nationally recognized programs, wrote federal and state funded grants and managed the Agency’s communications functions, contributing to the Agency’s tremendous growth.

Also a community volunteer, he served as an officer and director for numerous professional and civic organizations, particularly and proudly as an eight-term President of the Bridgeton Lions Club, and as current Board Chairman and 10-year member of the Cumberland County 4-H Advisory Board.

The All Sports Museum and Hall of Fame recognizes sports luminaries with a connection to the state’s eight southernmost counties. Buck and Cudemo bring to 137 the members of the Hall of Fame.

Among the more than 15,000 artifacts on the premises are Willie Mays’ 1960 Gold Glove Award, Harry Gamble’s Bert Bell Award, Goose Goslin’s personal collection, memorabilia of the late Johnny Gaudreau, Lydell Mitchell’s game-used jersey and a full wall recognizing the career of Mike Trout.

“This is a real gem,” recent Hall of Fame inductee Al Morganti said. “It’s incredible what they’ve got here. You could spend a day (going through it and) the stories that go into it.”

The museum is open Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free.

Tough one to lose

Pennsville gives its best effort in Foglein’s six seasons as coach, but falls on an overtime golden goal; includes full schedule of Salem County games

WEDNESDAY’S BOYS SOCCER
Pitman 2, Pennsville 1 (OT)
Schalick 7, Clayton 0
Woodstown 8, Gloucester Catholic 1
Wildwood 4, Penns Grove 2
Salem at Overbrook
Salem Tech at Glassboro

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Coen Rinnier buried his head in his hands as he sat in the middle of the bench after the game. He was brilliant in the Pennsville goal all afternoon, but there was one shot he just couldn’t get at.

The Eagles had one of their best chances to beat long-time nemesis Pitman and, in fact, played what Derek Foglein called their best full-game effort in his six years as coach. But it just wasn’t to be as Panthers senior Jaiden Ammons headed back a rebound just beyond the keeper’s reach five minutes into overtime to send the Eagles to a bitter 2-1 defeat.

“That was the best 80 minutes of soccer I’ve seen in my six years,” Foglein said. “We were already down guys because I have a guy who was suspended from the first game with Wildwood, one of our center mids went down in the first half with an injury and never came out.

“I made zero subs in the second half. Every single guy on the field gutted out the second half and overtime. And that’s because they were fit. They played soccer every day since May and they were fit enough to hang with them.

“All I needed them to do was battle. We knew this was going to be a battle and they really battled. They battled really hard for 85 minutes.”

The Eagles (2-2) were trying to buck a lot of history. They hadn’t beaten the Panthers since Sept. 13, 2017 – that’s 11 in a row now – and hadn’t beaten them at home since before 2010. But they gave the Panthers (4-1) all they could handle.

And they struck first, and early to show they meant business. Shane Puckett took a through ball from freshman J.P. Laughrey, found Pitman keeper Joey Zubert out of position and ripped it into the back of net just 4:41 into the game.

“We specifically talked in film today about the fact off the tap and early we didn’t want to give up possession in the defensive third,” Foglein said. “We wanted to send the ball down their way quickly and force them to defend or do something with it.

“We’ve seen that other teams have been able to get on them quick. We saw Wildwood scored on them in the first five minutes as well. The first five minutes is going to be our chance to jump on them and then we’ve got to see if we could hold on and we held on for as long as we could.”

The Eagles kept the lead until Owen Hurley converted a throw-in from Nate Newcomb that bounced crazily in the box to tie it. After that the teams battled to keep the other from scoring again, with the Pennsville defense clearing numerous Pitman challenges and Rinnier turning back several shots to keep the game tied.

Newcomb got the game-winning exchange started with a throw-in from deep down the left sideline. Pitman’s Jake Bowen-Ashwin fought through the defensive challenge of Stevie Fatcher to keep it alive along the baseline and flicked it into the middle of the box. It deflected into the air off Pennsville senior Maddox Efelis’ foot, Trevor Leach moved in and headed it off the middle of the crossbar, Eagles’ back Jake Steiner appeared to clear it away, but Ammons charged in from the right side and headed it back into the left side of the goal just past the outstretched arms of a diving goalie.

“It was very hard,” Rinnier said. “It was deflected I think twice. There was just so much going through my head when that happened and unfortunately it just went in.

“As a goalie you know when the ball is going to go in. As soon as he headed that second ball in I know the game’s over. I still dove for it, but as soon as he heads the ball I know the game’s over.”

The goalie agreed with his coach that it was the best the Eagles have played in a while and the loss notwithstanding it bodes well for their fortunes going forward.

“We’ve never been close to Pitman, never, well, besides last year it was 1-0, but we didn’t play well,” he said. “This year we played amazing. He’s right, it’s the best soccer we ever played today.

“I’m just looking forward to the next games now. If we can compete with Pitman, we can compete with every other team. Competing with Pitman, we can beat Wildwood and win our division for the first time in God knows how long.”

Cover photo: Pitman’s Jaiden Ammons heads a shot back towards the Pennsville goal for the game-winner in overtime.

Pitman 2, Pennsville 1 (OT)

Pitman (4-1)101-2
Pennsville (2-2)100-1

SCORING
Pv-Shane Puckett (JP Laughrey), 4:41
Pt-Owen Hurley (Nate Newcomb), 13:14
Pt-Jaiden Ammons (Nate Newcomb), 84:59

SCHALICK 7, CLAYTON 0: Freshman Marco Spinnato assisted on the Cougars’ final goal against Woodstown in its last game Monday and he followed that with the first two goals of his career against the Clippers. Anthony Sepers also scored twice for the Cougars (3-0), while Steve Chomo, Mikey Nelson and Louis Sepers all scored once.

The shutout was coach Joe Mannella’s 296th career win. The earliest he could reach the 300-win milestone is Sept. 30 against Penns Grove.

WOODSTOWN 8, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 1: The Wolverines got goals from eight different players. Bryce Ayers, Blake Bialecki, Adrian Ibarra, Great Prater, Tyler Szatny and Brendon Curtis scored in the first half. Sid Leevy and Connor Williams scored in the second half.

The win was the 288th of coach Darren Huck’s career. The earliest he could reach the 300-win milestone is Oct. 16 at Salem Tech.

WILDWOOD 4, PENNS GROVE 2: The Warriors (4-1) scored a pair of goals in each half to win its fourth game in a row. Noureddine Bedderi broke a 1-1 tie in the first half and extended the lead to 3-1 with the first goal of the second half. Edwin Aviles and Edward Swank scored Penns Grove’s two goals.

Girls soccer

WEDNESDAY’S SCORES
Glassboro 6, Salem Tech 0
Pitman 2, Pennsville 0
Schalick 2, Clayton 1
Woodstown 2, Gloucester Catholic 1
Overbrook 7, Salem 1
Penns Grove at Wildwood

SCHALICK 2, CLAYTON 1: Quinn Berger scored the game-winner on a free kick in the final 20 minutes of the second half. Abby Willoughby scored the Cougars’ first goal. It was their third straight win.

WOODSTOWN 2, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 1: Lia Covely and Emma scored goals in the first half for the Wolverines (3-2). Ellie Wygand made 10 saves to turn the Rams away.

PITMAN 2, PENNSVILLE 0: Emery Sharpnack scored her fifth goal of the season in the first half and Madison Peek got her fifth in the second half.

GLASSBORO 6, SALEM TECH 0: Marianna Dempster and Amina Brown both scored a pair of goals for the Bulldogs.

OVERBROOK 7, SALEM 1: Gianna Simon and Maria Olea-Vinalay scored two goals apiece for Overbrook. Isla Bohn scored Salem’s goal in the first half.

Breaking through

Schalick field hockey snaps a three-year winless streak against rival Woodstown, goes to 3-0 for first time since 2020

TUESDAY’S SCORES
Schalick 7, Woodstown 2
Gloucester Catholic 1, Pennsville 0

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE — If there’s one team on the schedule Schalick field hockey wants to be more than any other, it’s that orange and blue bunch 14 miles up the road.

But for all the current players on the Cougars’ roster that’s all it has been, a want-to, a desire and a lot of frustration. None of them had ever beaten Woodstown in their varsity careers.

And then Tuesday happened.

The Cougars snapped a six-game winless streak against their biggest rival in a big way, coming out aggressive from the start and posting a 7-2 victory. 

“It feels like it’s been forever since we’ve beaten Woodstown,” Schalick coach Heather Cheesman said. “It’s been a long time. It’s a nice feeling.”

The Cougars last win in the series came in November 2020. They were 0-4-2 in the six games since and were outscored 15-6.

It has been a tough go. They are 7-9-4 in the series during Cheesman’s nine years as their coach, but since sweeping the Wolverines in her first year the win Tuesday was only their fourth in the last 17 meetings. The seven goals were the most they’ve scored in the series since at least 2010 and their biggest margin of victory.

“We came in the game and were like ‘We have to win,’” junior Ava Scurry said. “They’re our biggest rival.

“It felt so good. For years this is one our biggest goals, to come in and beat Woodstown. We were coming into this like we have to put our weight behind this, we have to come out more hungry than them and I think we did that. We started off really good.”

Scurry, Phoebe Alward and Luci Virga scored two goals apiece for the Cougars. Freshman Paisley Warner scored her first career goal for their other score.

Scurry assisted on the first two goals of the game in the first quarter and scored the next two in the second. She was denied a second straight hat trick when Woodstown keeper Shelby Foote turned back her penalty shot with 2:48 to play.

Alward scored both of her goals in the first half after taking a shot off her right ankle early in the first quarter. She said adrenaline kept her from feeling it during the game. She sat in the trainer’s cart with ice wrapped around the ankle after the game and will be held out of Wednesday’s game with OLMA at Rowan West as a precaution. 

The Cougars looked even more aggressive than they were last season when they played for the South Jersey Group I championship. They were in attack mode right from the start and peppered the net with 18 shots. Woodstown did all it could to keep up, sending 15 shots towards Lydia Gilligan, but only got past the Schalick keeper twice.

“I do think they are more aggressive,” Cheesman said of her team. “They’ve gotten older so they matured a little bit and they’re growing with the game. They’ve been playing this game since they were like three feet high so they know the game and that comes with experience. They might have been a little skittish last year, but they are super aggressive – and that’s what we like.”

The win moved the Cougars to 3-0 on the season, the first time they’ve been 3-0 since 2020 when they started the season 11-0. Cheesman said it’s hard to compare teams but said of her current squad “collectively there are more talented people on this team, really ready at the varsity level, than I’ve had in the past.”

And their ceiling just seems to be getting higher. This team has no seniors.

“We’re trying not to look ahead,” Cheesman said. “One game at a time. I tell them all the time, chip away and get to where you want to be.”

Schalick 7, Woodstown 2

Woodstown (1-2)0101-2
Schalick (3-0)2311-7

SCORING
S-Phoebe Alward (Ava Scurry), 9:05 1Q
S-Lucy Virga (Ava Scurry), 4:58 1Q
S-Ava Scurry (unassisted), 13:20 2Q
S-Ava Scurry (unassisted), 11:38 2Q
Wo-Shyann Higinbotham (penalty shot), 8:35 2Q
S-Phoebe Alward (Caylan Taylor), 1:34 2Q
S-Paisley Warner (Lena Virga), 13:13 3Q
Wo-Sienna Land (Hannah Hitchner), 5:14 4Q
S-Luci Virga (Alex Shimp), 0:40 4Q

Schalick’s Ava Scurry (far right), Phoebe Alward and Caylan Taylor celebrate Alward’s second goal in the first half that gave the Cougars a 5-1 lead over Woodstown.

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 1, PENNSVILLE 0: Leila Belusik raced downfield and scored in the opening minute of the game and then Gloucester Catholic spent the rest of the game trying to keep the Eagles from getting the equalizer. Each team had three shots on goal and Pennsville had 10 penalty corners.

“They played consistent, but we just couldn’t get in the circle and make anything happen,” Eagles coach Lisa Doran said.

Passing the test

Schalick scores 4 goals in second half to turn back Woodstown in boys soccer; results of Monday’s sports action involving Salem County teams

BOYS SOCCER
Schalick 5, Woodstown 2
Pennsville 6, Salem 0
Wildwood 5, Salem Tech 2
Penns Grove at Glassboro

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – Mikey Nelson admitted he was way too anxious about the game later in the day to be any good in class today. The anticipation of playing in a rivalry with so many connections just made it too difficult to stay focused.

NELSON

“I couldn’t sit still in school; I was thinking about this game way too much,” the junior midfielder said. “All I wanted to do was get out on the field and play today.

“I have a cousin of the team and I have teammates from a club team on the team. I know Woodstown is a good rival. It’s one of the best competitive games all season. I’ve been trying to recreate my goal from last year at the night game against Woodstown because that was Coach’s favorite goal of the season, so I want to get some more of those.”

Nelson might not have recreated that one Monday, but he did notch a pair of goals in the second half to help the Cougars turn back the Wolverines 5-2 in a way-too-early-in-the-season showdown between Tri-County Diamond Division rivals. 

Actually, Nelson’s anticipation for the game began the night before and carried over into the school day. The toughest part about it was he had to find ways to release all that energy without being disruptive. He can’t remember ever being so amped for a game. He admitted he expended a lot of energy in the first half, too.

“I had Jax Weber and Ant Sepers in my second period (U.S. History) class and me and Ant were both shaking our tables pretty much the whole class trying to get out of school to play soccer; we love the game,” Nelson said. “I kept looking up at the clock a lot, I kept tapping my feet and moving my leg a lot. I got most of my schoolwork done, so that’s good.”

The game was a lot closer than a three-goal margin would indicate, as you might expect in a battle between rivals. It was as close to a chess match on grass you could find, but it always has been when these teams and their veteran coaches who go way back get together.

“It was a great test of our toughness,” Schalick coach Joe Mannella said. “We said beforehand in the intensity of a game like that you’ve gotta be cool, you’ve gotta keep your cool and just know, be confident, that we’re gonna find a way to win.”

The Cougars never trailed after Jaxon Weber converted a penalty kick with 5:34 left in the first half for the game’s first goal, but they never shook the Wolverines until a pair of beautiful goals by Eli Cummings and Oscar Hernandez 10 minutes apart in the second half gave them some separation.

Whenever Schalick went ahead Woodstown quickly got the equalizers. The Wolverines tied it at 1-1 on Grant Prater’s free kick from 25 yards out three minutes after Weber’s PK and Bryce Ayars tied it 2-2 two minutes after Nelson’s first goal. And they had two good chances to take the lead early in the second half.

“They hit two unbelievable shots there to make it 4-2,” Woodstown coach Darren Huck said. “Those two goals were gamechangers.

“I told my team at the end of the game one thing I’m proud of is we came back twice. I was proud about how handled the situation of being down, coming back, being down again, coming back. And even down 3-2 we had an opportunity to tie it 3-3.”

Cummings doesn’t get the chance to score many goals because he’s such a reliable defender – a role he took on when the Cougars needed to rebuild their backline last season — but when he does he delivers some beauties. The tie-breaking goal he scored with 21:32 left in the second half Monday came as a result of staying with his man and was a carbon-copy of his only goal last season.

He had his back to the goal, spun and while falling backwards floated a shot with his right foot into the upper right corner just out of the reach of the keeper. It was such a glorious goal one of his teammates exclaimed he didn’t think the senior could do that and then remember his similar goal last year against Wildwood.

“I knew Bryce (Ayars) was on my back so if I wanted to get it out I had to get it out quick,” Cummings said. “There weren’t many options for me at that point so I knew I just had to take a shot. It would’ve been fine with it just going over the net and us resetting, but it luckily found the net.

“I just happened to be up there. I followed my man. I didn’t want (Ayars) to turn on the ball so I just stayed with them and I happened to have a chance to step in front of him and I knew once I’m in that outside-of-the-box range, close enough, I’m going to have a rip. I don’t know, after scoring that I might get put up top.”

Hernandez’ goal 10 minutes later was equally a thing of beauty. He took a long pass from Cummings, then took a long shot with his left foot that followed the same flight as the goal before his. Nelson wrapped up the scoring with 2:13 to play. 

There’s a healthy respect between the two programs and the two coaches, who were Woodstown assistants together back in the day and are now closing in on 300 career head coaching wins (Mannella is at 295, Huck at 287). But the tension of the rivalry doesn’t extend beyond the white lines. 

Later in the evening, Mannella was heading over to Huck’s house to watch the Eagles’ game on Monday Night Football.

Woodstown (1-1)11-2
Schalick (2-0)14-5

GOALS: 1. Schalick, Jaxon Weber (penalty kick), 34:26; 2. Woodstown, Grant Prater, 37:22; 3. Schalick, Mikey Nelson (Anthony Sepers), 45:41; 4. Woodstown, Bryce Ayars, 47:49; 5. Schalick, Eli Cummings, 58:28; 6. Schalick, Oscar Hernandez (Eli Cummings), 68:34; 7. Schalick, Mikey Nelson (Marco Spinnato), 77:47.

PENNSVILLE 6, SALEM 0: Eagles freshman Sam Hassler scored a pair of goals two minutes apart in the second half to complete his first career hat trick. His first goal gave the Eagles a 3-0 halftime lead. Stone Mumink, Stephen Fatcher and John Sassi scored Pennsville’s other goals.

Salem (0-2)00-0
Pennsville (2-1)33-6

GOALS: 1. Pennsville, Stone Mimink (Maddox Efelis), 4th minute; 2. Pennsville, Stephen Fatcher (Shane Puckett), 7; 3. Pennsville, Sam Hassler (JP Laughrey), 37; 4. Pennsville, Sam Hassler, 47; 5. Pennsville, Sam Hassler, 49; 6. Pennsville, John Sassi (Brant Regner), 75.

WILDWOOD 5, SALEM TECH 2: Aiden Bobo and Graham Fields scored second-half goals for Salem Tech.

Schalick’s J.T. Fleming (23) heads a ball out of harms way in the first half against Woodstown. On the cover, Schalick’s Luke Price goes on the attack before being taken down in the box to set up a penalty kick.

GIRLS SOCCER
Glassboro 5, Penns Grove 0
Overbrook 4, Pennsville 0
Pitman 6, Salem 0
Schalick 2, Woodstown 1
Salem Tech at Wildwood

SCHALICK 2, WOODSTOWN 1: Olivia Vanacker and Kyleigh Cutler scored second-half goals as the Cougars (2-1) rallied from a 1-0 halftime deficit.

“It’s just an emotional rivalry,” Schalick coach Will Kemp said. “The girls calmed down in the second half and started to take control. It was great to see their determination in moments such as that.”

GLASSBORO 5, PENNS GROVE 0: Alana Figueroa scored a hat trick from the Bulldogs (2-1).

PITMAN 6, SALEM 0: Teagan Canna scored two goals and assisted on two others for the Panthers (3-2). Emery Sharpnack assisted on three of Pitman’s five goals in the first half.

OVERBROOK 4, PENNSVILLE 0: Gianna Simon scored two goals for the second game in a row and Victoria Bupp had two assists.

GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick 5, Penns Grove 0
Woodstown 4, Overbrook 1
Glassboro at Salem

WOODSTOWN 4, OVERBROOK 1
Keira Riess (O) def. Gabby Kurpis, 6-4, 4-6, 10-6
Camille Osborn (Wo) def. Nesrine Fosso, 6-1, 6-0
Aubrie Rennie (Wo) def. Sophie Burgos, 6-0, 6-1
Alyssa Berry-Nathalie Neron (Wo) def. Jennifer Giovanni-Hillary Cao, 6-3, 6-4
Noelle Neron-Leah Waterman (Wo) def. Gianna Hardy-Madison Rikard, 6-0, 6-0
Records: Woodstown 4-1, Overbrook 0-5.

SCHALICK 5, PENNS GROVE 0
Miya Watkins (S) win
Julia Langley (S) win
Helana Tyers (S) won by forfeit
Kayleigh Veach-Annie Podeh (S) win
Schalick won by forfeit
Records: Schalick 4-1, Penns Grove 0-5