Successful start-up

Salem Tech blanks Absegami to assure a winning regular season, still in the running for a playoff berth

FIELD HOCKEY
Salem Tech 2, Absegami 0
Gateway 3, Pennsville 0
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville 3, Schalick 2

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

GALLOWAY – Every first-year athletic program has a set of benchmarks it aspires to meet for a successful start.

They’re pretty easy early in the year – first game, home opener, first win. As the year goes on, they tend to become a little more complicated – winning season, playoff berth, things like that.

Salem Tech’s first-year field hockey program reached a pretty big milestone Tuesday. The Chargers blanked Absegami 2-0 to guarantee a winning regular-season record. They’re now 8-3 with three regular-season games remaining – all on the road.

They have beaten all three of the remaining teams on their regular-season schedule, two by shutout.

“Having a winning record in our first season means a lot,” coach Maureen Lewis said. “To see all their hard work pay off with wins is really rewarding. It shows what’s possible when a team plays together and has fun.”

The Chargers got goals from Hazel Eachus and Jessilyn Chambers and another shutout from Caroline Tighe. Chambers got the assist on Eachus’ team-leading seventh goal of the season with 3:10 left in the second quarter and then scored her fifth goal 4:16 into the third quarter. 

The shutout was Tighe’s seventh of the season. After giving up 12 goals in their first four games of the season, Tighe has surrendered only two since.

“We started off a little slow, but once the girls settled in, they found their groove and played really well,” Lewis said. “They moved the ball nicely down the field and communicated well. We are proud of how they adjusted.”

The school started field hockey this year as part of an athletics expansion that includes baseball and softball in the spring. The new teams play as a Tri-County Conference independent until the next conference scheduling cycle, but are eligible for the playoffs.

At 8-3, the Chargers are No. 18 in the South Jersey Group 2 power points standings, less than one point out of the 16th and final qualifying spot for the tournament. All three of their remaining games come before Saturday’s cutoff.

They have the highest winning percentage of any SJ Group 2 team outside of the top five, playing a schedule designed to promote success. They’ve won six of their last seven.

“Being a first-year team it’s hard to say exactly where we’ll end up, but I couldn’t be prouder of the effort and growth we’ve shown,” Lewis said. “If we make the playoffs, that would be great. It would be a nice bonus to an already successful season.

“But no matter what, this is just the beginning. These girls have set the foundation for something special.”

GATEWAY 3, PENNSVILLE 0: Emma Mason had a goal and two assists as the Gators scored three times in the second quarter. Isabella Egenoff and Lucy Matthews had the other goals.

GIRLS TENNIS
PENNSVILLE 3, SCHALICK 2
Lily Edwards (P) def. Miya Watkins, 6-2, 6-1
Annmarie Podehl (S) def. Isabell Schrenker, 6-4, 6-4
Morgan Holt (P) def. Macy Clow, 6-3, 6-0
Naomi Hess-Graillyn Weber (P) def. Olivia Lunemann-Sebrina Bradford, 6-2, 7-5
Sammi Twigg-Jasmine Hunt (S) def. Emma Hankin-Yerlian Charon, 6-1, 6-2
Records: Pennsville 13-7, Schalick 9-8.