Fine finales

Woodstown soccer, Schalick field hockey head into their respective SJ Group I tournaments off shutout victories in their regular-season finales; Salem Tech field hockey wraps its inaugural season with a win

WEDNESDAY’S SCORES
BOYS SOCCER
Woodstown 3, Gateway 0
West Deptford 5, Penns Grove 0
KIPP at Salem
GIRLS SOCCER
Salem at Gloucester Catholic
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick 4, Mainland 0
Salem Tech 2, Burlington City 0
Vineland at Woodstown

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – Can you imagine what was going through Woodstown soccer coach Darren Huck’s mind when the South Jersey Group I tournament brackets came out Wednesday afternoon. Given the time of day, he might have choked on his lunch.

The Wolverines were expecting to pull down a No. 4 seed and host nemesis Palmyra in the opening round, based on the close of the power points standings. Imagine the coach’s surprise when he looked at the official pairings and saw his team on the other side of the bracket, a 6 seed and hosting Clayton.

“I knew right away that they made a mistake,” Huck said. “I knew something was not right. I got a text from another coach and it was like, ‘Have you seen the bracket? I hadn’t at the time, but I open it up and see us at 6, playing Clayton as an 11.

“Right away, I go maybe I’m not on the right year. No, this is right. How was that possible that Haddon Twp. dropped to 3, (listed No. 1) Audubon’s biggest win of the year was against us and after they beat us they still didn’t have enough to jump Schalick or Haddon Twp. I knew something was not right. There was something rotten in Denmark.”

He expressed his uncertainty to athletics director Joe Ursino, but discouraged him from calling the NJSIAA office because he was certain plenty of others already had and he was confident “they’ll figure it out.”

He checked it again about a half hour before the Wolverines went out for their 3-0 shutout of Gateway in their regular-season finale and found the bracket taken down, so he knew someone was working on it. A short time later, it was back up and the Wolverines were back on the favorable 4-line hosting Palmyra in Tuesday’s opening round.

The other three Salem County teams in the field kept their projected places – Schalick (No. 2), Penns Grove (No. 7) and Pennsville (No. 9). Schalick and Penns Grove will have opening-round home games, while Pennsville will be on the road.

Ironically, Huck caught a mistake in the bracket last year as it related to the Wolverines. He said he hadn’t gotten any explanation for the initial miscalculation this year.

“We were talking about it briefly in the locker room prior to the game and were wondering what had happened as we thought we had the 4-seed secured,” said senior Josef Hummel, who scored the Wolverines’ third goal against Gateway. “But we knew we had to focus on the match at hand against another playoff-bound team.

“We were glad to hear after the game that we are back in the 4 seed, and we are looking forward to our game against Palmyra on Tuesday.”

It’ll be the third year in a row the Wolverines will face Palmyra in the playoffs, but the first time in the opening round. The Pals knocked them out in the third round each of the last two years.

“Talk about of all the possible teams to face as a 13th-seed it’s Palmyra of all things; I mean, come on,” Huck said. “At some point I always say in the playoffs you either have to go through Haddon Twp., Palmyra, Schalick. If you want to win South Jersey you’re going to have to beat one or two of those are some point.”

The Wolverines (11-3-4) go into the playoffs off what Huck called “a nice, solid win from start to finish.”

Nick DiTeodoro and Jake Lewis scored goals in the first half with Bryce Ayars getting both assists. DiTeodoro beat the keeper to the far post from the left side and Lewis scored what Huck called “one of the best goals I think we’ve had this year,” a rocket that he tucked inside the right post.

Hummel finished off the scoring in the second half with his second career goal. It came on a cross from Brendon Curtis that he squared up and buried from about 10 yards.

“I had seen (Curtis) attacking the corner really well and I knew the cross was coming in,” Hummel said. “I tried to position myself on the backside of the center back and as the cross came in I was able to get a quick, one-time shot off into the bottom corner away from the keeper. I’m glad I was able to contribute to the team’s win against a playoff quality team like Gateway.”

Meanwhile, Trey Markward and his reliable backline teamed up for the Wolverines’ ninth shutout of the season.

“The defense really stood out today,” Huck said. “The starting defense was back in there today and they just cut down the shots and the opportunities. We haven’t given up many goals this year. We’ve been stingy that way.”

WEST DEPTFORD 5, PENNS GROVE 0: The Eagles scored four goals in the first half and then closed out the Red Devils. Five different players scored in the game.

With their first home playoff game since 2022 on the horizon, the Red Devils played their varsity about 20 minutes. In that opening salvo Juan Ortiz nearly scored a goal. For the junior varsity players who went the rest of the game it was a chance to show what they’ll bring to the table next season when there will be plenty of spots available.

FIELD HOCKEY
SALEM TECH 2, BURLINGTON CITY 0: Olivia Lydon had a goal and an assist as the Chargers wrapped up a successful inaugural season with a shutout. Lydon assisted on Hazel Eachus’ first goal of the game and then converted a pass from Abigail Beals for the second goal. Caroline Tighe posted her eighth shutout, The Chargers were eligible for the Group 2 playoffs in their first varsity season, but didn’t make it, and finished their year 9-5, one of 26 South Jersey Group 1 or 2 teams with a winning record.

SCHALICK 4, MAINLAND 0: Ava Scurry and Lucy Virga each scored two goals for the Cougars in their regular-season finale. They finished the schedule with five straight wins, four straight shutouts. Goalie Lydia Gilligan hasn’t given up a goal since the third quarter of 10-2 rout of Glassboro (17 consecutive quarters). The Cougars host Florence in the opening round of the South Jersey Group I tournament Tuesday.