Charging ahead

Salem Tech field hockey on cusp of winning a division title in only second year of existence

MONDAY’S SCORES
FIELD HOCKEY
Salem Tech 6, Pennsville 1
BOYS SOCCER
Salem at Gloucester Catholic
GIRLS SOCCER
Gloucester Catholic at Salem
Pennsville 6, Penns Grove 0
GIRLS TENNIS
Moorestown Friends 5, Woodstown 0
Cumberland 4, Salem 1
Vineland 5, Schalick 0
VOLLEYBALL
Triton 2, Salem Tech 0 (25-14, 25-16)
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL
Cecil 3, Salem CC 0 (25-8, 25-3, 25-80

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – When Salem Tech decided to start a field hockey program last year, the Chargers didn’t think it would take them long to be a competitive program. For that matter, they didn’t think it would take them long to win a division championship, either.

The Chargers proved they were competitive last year, winning nine games against a soft-ish regular season schedule designed to get their feet wet as a Group 2 independent. Now, they are on the cusp of winning their first division title in their first year eligible.

The Chargers moved a step closer to raising a banner Monday with a wind-swept 6-1 win over Pennsville. They can clinch no worse than a tie for the TCC Classic Division crown if they beat Gloucester Catholic Tuesday. A win in that game would leave them undefeated in the division with two winnable games remaining. The two teams chasing them would each have two division losses and the Chargers would have given both of the them both of them.

The nine games they won last year were as many as Classic co-champs Pennsville and Gloucester Catholic won overall, and they had a better won-loss record. They weren’t included in the division mix because they had come on board in the middle of a scheduling cycle.

“I think we were really competitive from the get-go because we were just really competitive girls coming into this and everyone wanted it,” junior forward Gina LaRosa said. “Everyone worked really hard and it became a vision.”

“I didn’t think it would take very long,” sophomore forward Hazel Eachus added. “We have a very skillful group of girls and we all work together very well.”

The Chargers (7-2, 5-0) took control of this one early. Eachus scored the first of her two first-quarter goals less than two minutes into the game. LaRosa scored two goals in the fourth quarter. In between, Hayden Crispin and Jessilyn Chambers found the back of the net. 

To show their dominance in the game, the Chargers sent 20 shots in on Pennsville goalie Avery Manguez and had 16 corners. The win extended their school-record streak to six games.

“I think they played well,” Tech coach Melissa Lewis said. “They’ve been going out strong and I think that’s the key for our team.”

The Eagles had maybe three attacks in Salem Tech’s end. They scored their goal with five seconds left in the game when Laura Tamberella collected a loose ball at the top of the circle and broke in on Chargers keeper Caroline Tighe.

Top photo: Salem Tech’s Gina LaRosa shoots through traffic to score her first goal in the fourth quarter against Pennsville.

Pennsville (2-7)0001-1
Salem Tech (7-2)2112-6

GOALS: Hazel Eachus (ST) 2, Gina LaRosa (ST) 2, Hayden Crispin (ST), Jessilyn Chambers (ST), Laura Tamberella (P).

GIRLS TENNIS
VINELAND 5, SCHALICK 0
Kaitlyn Jones (V) def. Olivia Lunemann, 6-1, 6-0
Angelina Apel (V) def. Sebrina Bradford, 6-1, 6-4
Cassidy Keller (V) def. Jasmine Hunt, 6-4, 6-1
Liliana Beni-Alla Kobys (V) def. River Wojcik-Janae White, 6-2, 6-2
Ivy Eldridge-Lily Carr (V) def. Brooke Brown-Abigail Sotela Hernandez, 6-3, 6-4
Records: Vineland 5-7, Schalick 8-6

MOORESTOWN FRIENDS 5, WOODSTOWN 0
Erika Capella (MF) def. Madison LaPalomento, 6-1, 6-2
Kari Rotter (MF) def. Emma West, 6-1, 6-4
Bryn Fullerton (MF) def. Angelina Lindenmuth, 6-1, 6-2
Peyton Zauber-Diem Still (MF) def. Elliana Norman-Emilee Kehr, 6-0, 6-3
Emmie Huynh-Anika Vasisth (MF) def. Isabella Lindenmuth-Eleanore Lawson, 6-2, 6-3
Records: Moorestown Friends 10-2, Woodstown 8-6

CUMBERLAND 4, SALEM 1
Heaven Jones-McCullough (S) def. Emma Kelly, 7-6 (7-5), def.
Hannah Gray (CR) def. JaNye Hubbard, 6-0, 6-2
Mollie Willis (CR) def. Eric Brewer, 6-0, 6-0
Gabryella Keener-Madison (CR) def. Aleena Allen-Aniya Lyles-Clark, 6-0, 6-0
Dalila McDowell-Kami Anderson (CR) won by forfeitRecords: Cumberland 9-4, Salem 0-8.

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