First round of the South Jersey Group I football playoffs, sectional XC at DREAM Park highlight the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Oct. 27-Nov. 2
MONDAY, OCT. 27 FIELD HOCKEY Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m. BOYS SOCCER Salem at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m. Salem Tech at Paulsboro, 4 p.m. Woodstown at Triton, 4 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Triton at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
TUESDAY, OCT. 28 FIELD HOCKEY Pennsville at Clayton, 4 p.m. Woodstown at Glassboro, 4 p.m. BOYS SOCCER Audubon at Schalick, 4 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Paulsboro at Pennsville, 4 p.m. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Highland at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29 FIELD HOCKEY Vineland at Woodstown, 4 p.m. Mainland at Schalick, 4:15 p.m. BOYS SOCCER Gateway at Woodstown, 4 p.m. Penns Grove at West Deptford, 7 p.m.
THURSDAY, OCT. 30 FOOTBALL South Jersey Group I playoffs Audubon at Glassboro, 6 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Woodstown at Gateway, 4 p.m.
FRIDAY, OCT. 31 FOOTBALL South Jersey Group I Playoffs Schalick at Pennsville, 7 p.m.
SATURDAY, NOV. 1 FOOTBALL South Jersey Group I Playoffs Salem vs. KIPP Woodbury at Paulsboro, noon CROSS COUNTRY NJSIAA Sectionals at DREAM Park
SUNDAY, NOV. 2 COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC Alumni Game, noon
Schalick projected the South Jersey Group I girls soccer top seed after beating Clayton; Woodstown eyes a home game after edging Pennsville; includes boys tennis, field hockey, tennis results
FRIDAY’S SCORES GIRLS SOCCER Woodstown 2, Pennsville 1 Schalick 4, Clayton 1 BOYS SOCCER Penns Grove 3, Wildwood 1 Pennsville 3, Gloucester City 0 South Jersey Coaches Tournament Shawnee 1, Schalick 0 FIELD HOCKEY Overbrook 3, Salem Tech 2 Woodstown 1, Gloucester Catholic 0 GIRLS TENNIS Woodstown 4, Cumberland 1
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – The prospect of waking up Saturday morning as the No. 1 team in South Jersey Group I makes Schalick girls soccer coach Will Kemp smile.
The Cougars moved into the top spot overnight after taking down Clayton 4-1 Friday behind Emily Miller’s first career hat trick.
The TCC Diamond Division champions jumped over once-beaten Gateway in the sectional power points standings and if they hold their two-point lead through Saturday’s cutoff, they will earn their first No. 1 seed since 2018. They were No. 2 in 2024 and 2021.
“I’m quite sure we got it, it just switched up,” Kemp said after checking the standings. “It feels great. If that happens and that’s our official spot, it’s exactly where I believe we belong and then now it’s time to handle business because it’s the business end of the season.
“It’s something the girls deserve; they’ve worked hard all season. Being the No. 1 seed is not the end all, be all, but it sets us up nicely for the actual playoff run. It gives our girls that confidence boost that they actually need going into the playoffs.”
Miller scored all three of her goals on headers off corner kicks by Quinn Berger. Berger scored the Cougars’ other goal and with her five scoring points in the game she is now four points shy of joining Cali Fisler in the 100-Point Club this season.
“I think Quinn played the perfect ball and I was just in the right spot,” Miller said. “It’s worth the headache after the game.”
Miller isn’t as prolific a goal scorer as the other Emily Miller that roamed the pitch for the Cougars a couple years ago, but she sure knows how to use her head to get the job done. She ran through two defenders to win the header on her first goal. The second came by redirecting a rebound off the post and the third came after losing her mark and heading it home.
Berger, meanwhile, distributes it as well as she scores. The three corner assists Friday gave her 16 this season and 36 in her career. The goal, which came off a pass from Fisler and gave the Cougars a 3-1 lead, was her 13th of the season and 30th of her career.
“Quinn’s service today was phenomenal,” Kemp said. “I know she was striking the ball extremely well, whether it was in play or from a restart. And Emily Miller is probably one of our best players in the air; she loves going for any type of aerial challenge and she was consistent with winning the ball.
“Quinn continued to find her every single time, so it was just a great combination today. A mix of wanting to get the ball and wanting to get the ball to the right place.”
As the projected No. 1 seed, the Cougars would line up with a first-round game against No. 16 Penns Grove, but school officials have said the Red Devils were opting out of the playoffs. If they draw a bye, the Cougars’ first tournament game would be against the winner of the 8-9 game, currently Woodstown and Glassboro.
Whoever it’s against, as the No. 1, the Cougars will be home all the way through the sectional playoffs.
“It makes me feel great that we will be the No. 1 seed because I think home field advantage will be good for our soccer team,” Miller said.
Covely’s left is all right
WOODSTOWN 2, PENNSVILLE 1: Lia Covely found the upper left corner from the middle of the box with 9:12 to play to give the Wolverines a two-goal lead and they survived a late goal by Taylor Bass to win their first match since falling to Schalick in the division title match eight days ago.
Covely could’ve picked any corner when she got the ball on a throw in the dead center of the box, but chose the upper left to prove a point to her teammates.
“I saw the defender go for it and I knew I could beat her there, so I just got my foot on it, looked for the top left corner and that’s where it went,” Covely said. “They make fun of me for not knowing my left from the right.”
Covely has known right where to go in the last couple weeks. She has had three two-goals games in her last four, the best run of her career., and has scored from all three forward spots.
“It’s my team,” she said of her recent success. “I wouldn’t be able to score if it wasn’t for them. I just happened to be the one who finished today. We just really know how to work the field and I’ve been able to find the back of the net, which I have not in the beginning of the season, so we finally turned that around.”
The Wolverines needed the game to get some separation from the Eagles; the teams were ranked eighth and ninth in the South Jersey Group I power points standings. With the win, the Woodstown remained eighth – the final spot for an opening-round home playoff game – but closed to within 0.167 of a more favorable seventh. Pennsville dropped to 10th ahead of Saturday’s cutout date.
“An eighth seed is fine, “ Wolverines coach Kieran Keyser said. “We’re happy with having a home game, but I think that seed is not reflective of how our season has gone. We’re probably a little better than that, but that’s how it goes.”
The Wolverines dominated the play, but both teams’ defenses kept either team from getting an upper hand. Pennsville kept Woodstown’s threats at bay and Woodstown kept the Eagles’ attack from getting going.
Covely scored the first goal of the match on a bouncy ball she redirected that got away from Pennsville keeper Tatyana Crawford. She made it 2-0 in the second half.
“She’s one of the hardest workers we have in the field,” Keyser said. “It’s not just right place, right time; she’s making things happen for us.”
The Eagles closed to 2-1 on Bass’ goal with 5:10 to play. Her initial shot was stopped by Woodstown keeper Ellie Wygand, but the momentum of the play left the goal open and Delia Hahn came in to clear away the rebound.
But Bass flagged it down and the angle of her shot back towards the goal was just steep enough to catch the net inside the far post.
Boys soccer
SHAWNEE 1, SCHALICK 0: Cooper Adinolfi’s goal in the 77th minute was the only goal in the South Jersey Coaches Cup opening-round match. The fourth-seeded Renegades (9-4-2), the defending tournament champions, now play fifth-seeded Egg Harbor in the quarterfinals. The Cougars (12-3-9) are currently No. 2 in the South Jersey Group I power points standings going into Saturday’s cutoff.
PENNS GROVE 3, WILDWOOD 1: Stuart Mondragon, Juan Ortiz and Mario Fuentes scored goals for Penns Grove. The Red Devils (8-4-3) look solidly in command of a first-round home playoff game as they currently sit seventh in the South Jersey Group I power points standings going into Saturday’s cutoff.
PENNSVILLE 3, GLOUCESTER CITY 0: Justin Michaca scored three second-half goals to help the Eagles wrap up the TCC Classic Division title they clinched earlier in the week. Coen Rinnier made 10 saves in recording the shutout. The Eagles (10-6-2) are currently ninth in the South Jersey Group I power points standings, but are hoping to secure a home game going into Saturday’s cutoff.
Field hockey
OVERBROOK 3, SALEM TECH 2: Argenita Llugani, Amani Grace and Lucylaine Bannan scored goals as the Rams snapped a seven-game losing streak. Reagan Gillespie and Olivia Lydon scored for Salem Tech. The Chargers (8-5) are eligible for postseason play, but are currently 19th in South Jersey Group 2 going into Saturday’s cutoff.
WOODSTOWN 1, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 0: Estella Hitchner’s converted a pass from Zoe Lipovsky in the second quarter for the only goal of the game. The Wolverines (9-7-1) go into Saturday’s cutoff date No. 10 in the South Jersey Group I power points standings.
Harris nets two as Pennsville field hockey edges Overbrook to keep playoff hopes alive, Penns Grove boys soccer wins in OT to enhance position for a home playoff game, and more
THURSDAY’S SCORES FIELD HOCKEY Pennsville 2, Overbrook 1 BOYS SOCCER Penns Grove 2, Maple Shade 1 (OT) Audubon 1, Woodstown 0 (OT) GIRLS SOCCER Salem 6, Salem Tech 0 WJFL FOOTBALL Atlantic Tech 33, Egg Harbor Twp. 7 Burlington Twp. 21, Cinnaminson 0 Pennsauken 40, Clearview 6 Seneca 28, Willingboro 21 Shawnee 21, Hammonton 0 GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Timber Creek 2, Salem Tech 0 (25-11, 25-20) GIRLS TENNIS Schalick 3, Woodstown 2
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – The Pennsville field hockey team had a lot to play for Thursday and it delivered on all counts.
The Eagles were playing in their final home game and wanted to send their seniors out on a good note. They also were playing for their playoff lives. And they were playing for their coach, Lisa Doran, a Pennsville Hall of Famer who missed the game for health reasons.
But they made good on all of it, beating a late-arriving Overbrook team 2-1. Kylie Harris scored both goals for the Eagles, slamming home the game-winner in traffic with 4:22 to play.
“They did it for a lot of reasons,” said assistant coach Cassandra Kirk, who ran the team in Doran’s absence. “They did it for the playoffs, they did it for the seniors and they did it for Coach Doran. She’s a huge missing piece right now I think the girls wanted to really step it up for her.”
“We all love Doran to bits and pieces,” Harris said. “She’s such an important person for me, in my career, so I wanted to do it for her. I wanted to do it for her, I wanted to do it for the seniors, for the underclassmen, to show them you don’t stop fighting. It was for everyone, especially for Doran, because she loves all of us to bits and pieces.”
It was a game the Eagles (7-8-1) had to have if they wanted any chance of making the playoffs. They entered the game holding the 16th and final qualifying spot in the South Jersey Group I field hockey power points standings, 0.975 points ahead of Paulsboro, idle through Saturday’s cutoff. The calculation after the win still wasn’t updated at midnight.
(As of Friday morning, the Eagles remained 16, but lost a few percentage points on their lead over Paulsboro.)
SJ GROUP i (thru Thurs.)
W-L-T
POWER
15. New Egypt
6-8-1
10.280
16. Pennsville
7-8-1
10.042
17. Paulsboro
5-9-1
9.121
If the Eagles hold onto the 16th spot through Saturday, they would draw projected No. 1 Shore Regional in the tournament’s opening round. They last made the playoffs in 2021, when they went in as an eighth seed and lost in the opening round.
“I do think with this win it can push us in there, or at least keep us there,” Kirk said. “We would love to keep our season going, especially for these seniors. They’ve worked super hard, so I know having an extra game will be really important to them.”
Harris has become quite adept at scoring since the Eagles moved her big stick to the front line from the top of diamond. She has scored all 13 of her goals this season since Sept. 23 and is now the Eagles’ leading scorer. The Eagles are now 4-2 this year, 10-2 during her career, in games she has scored a goal.
She gave Pennsville a 1-0 lead with a big shot with 9:40 left in the second quarter. She was able to swing both goals despite constantly being hawked by Rams’ junior Lula Bannon.
The Rams got the equalizer literally with no time left in the third quarter when Rosie Loibman scored after the Eagles failed to clear the zone on a corner that was set on the line with three seconds left in the quarter.
“That was a huge decision that we made and I really think it was pivotal for us,” Kirk said. “Kylie is amazing in circle and has great stickwork. Even during corners we thought she was the one who knows how to carry the ball and shoot, so we just figured let’s try it up there. I know that we need her in the backfield, but we also need her up front to score some goals.”
The best part is Harris is really enjoying it.
“I really like it – a lot,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun.”
Boys soccer
PENNS GROVE 2, MAPLE SHADE 1: Juan Ortiz scored a long-distance goal with less than three minutes left in the first overtime to give the Red Devils the win and possibly a first-round home game in the South Jersey Group I playoffs.
The Red Devils (7-4-3) were a solid No. 7 in the SJ Group I power points standings going into the match and beat a seven-win team that was No. 13 in the standings and remained there with one more game before Saturday’s cutoff.
If the standings remain as they are, the Red Devils would host Pennsville in the opening round. They haven’t had a home playoff game since 2022, when they host the first two rounds.
I think it would validate to this town, the community and my players that we belong at the top with the other top teams,” coach Mano Massari said of the importance of getting a home playoff game. “We’d have something other than my words telling them that they belong. Something to show for it. They deserve it.”
Prince Ledbetter gave the Red Devils a 1-0 halftime lead, also from long distance. They are 4-1-2 in their last seven games.
SJ GROUP I (thru Thurs.)
W-L-T
POWER
7. Penns Grove
7-4-3
18.573
8. Glassboro
7-10-1
15.117
9. Gateway
9-5-2
14.743
10. Pennsville
9-6-2
14.327
AUDUBON 1, WOODSTOWN 0: The teams went back and forth for nearly 100 minutes before the Green Wave (13-2-1) broke the ice on Aiden Stallard’s breakaway in the second overtime. The Wolverines (9-2-4) were headed to their fifth tie of the season before the golden goal.
Girls soccer
WOODSTOWN – Abigail Leuallen and Julia Hewitt Friebel each scored a pair of goals and Ava Robinson scored three assists as Salem Tech routed Salem, 6-0, to snap a four-game losing streak. Olivia Blais and Peyton Pratt scored the Chargers’ other goals.
Girls tennis
WOODSTOWN — Schalick won third-set tiebreakers at third singles and first doubles to edge Woodstown 3-2 and end its season with a victory.
Third singles Macy Clow and the first doubles team of Olivia Lunemann and Sabrina Bradford won their tiebreakers after dropping their second sets. Clow, in the final match of her high school career, held off Noelle Neron, 7-5, 1-6, 10-6, to clinch the victory and Lunemann-Bradford finally outlasted Madison LaPalomento-Emilee Kehr, 6-2, 4-6, 10-3.
Lunemann-Bradford lost both of their previous matches to the Wolverine pair in third-set tiebreakers.
Second doubles Sammi Twigg and Jasmine Hunt won the Cougars’ other point. Singles players Nathalie Neron and Alyssa Berry secured Woodstown’s points.
The win avenged a South Jersey tournament loss in which Woodstown won three of its four points in third-set tiebreakers. Clow took a third-set tiebreaker from Neron for Schalick’s only point of that match.
“Every member of our team put their heart and soul into (the) match,” Cougars coach Brandi Petrunis said on the program’s Facebook page. “Their perseverance and positive mindset shined through. We are so proud of our girls, both on and off the coach. Congratulations girls! Way to finish our season with a match we’ll never forget.”
Woodstown boys fourth in Tri-County XC Showcase, girls fifth; Wolverines’ Abby Marino finishes third in girls race; also includes tennis results
By Riverview Sports News
SEABROOK — The Woodstown boys by all accounts ran well in Wednesday’s Tri-County Conference Cross Country Showcase, just not well enough to overthrow the loaded field.
The Wolverines, the Salem County champions, put three runners in the top 20 and finished an expected fourth in the race at Cumberland Regional. They had the third-fastest team average in the field.
Jacob Marino led the Wolverines across the line with a 10th-place 16:35.47. Karson Chew finished 13th and David Farrell was 18th. The top 20 finishers received medals.
“I think we landed right where I expected,” Woodstown coach Steve New said. “We could have maybe done a little better, but sectionals is what matters.”
Woodstown’s girls finished fifth, with Abby Marino running third (19:41.62), the highest individual finish among all Salem County runners. Teammate Anabel Schaal was 17th.
Glassboro, with three of the top four finishers, won the boys title. Delsea won the girls crown.
Tri-County Showcase
BOYS TEAM: Glassboro 48, Highland 98, Timber Creek 115, WOODSTOWN 121, Kingsway 134, Washington Twp. 161, Delsea 180, Williamstown 207, Clearview 211, SCHALICK 236, Pitman 275, GCIT 284, SALEM TECH 341, Cumberland 371, Deptford 402, SALEM 431, PENNSVILLE 506.
Top finishers among other Salem County teams: PENNSVILLE – Boys: (90) Logan Cowperthwait 20:11.09; Girls: (23) Sawyer Slad 21:58.38. PENNS GROVE – Boys: (67) John Johnson 19:08.72. SALEM – Boys: (72) Gavin Conrath 19:14.73. SALEM TECH – Boys: (50) Levi Seals 18:24.74; Girls: (51) Paityn Harrington 24:28.63. SCHALICK – Boys: (22) Collin Bittle 17:27.50; Girls: (21) Helen Lillia 21:41.66.
Girls tennis
WEDNESDAY’S SCORES Woodstown 5, Glassboro 0 Salem 5, Overbrook 0
SALEM 5, OVERBROOK 0 Angelina Fothergill (S) def. Sophia Burgos, 6-1, 6-2 Tahirah Davenport-White (S) def. Isabella Sepulveda, 7-5, 6-2 JaNye Hubbard (S) def. Anne Mason, 6-2, 1-6, 13-11 Heaven Jones-McCullough-Erica Brewer (S) def. Sophia Perticari-Heaven Williams, 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 Evangeline Jimenez Barreto-Phoenix Holland (S) def. Liana Grant-Williams-Emma Acevedo, 7-5, 6-6 (10-7) Records: Salem 4-11, Overbrook 3-19.
WOODSTOWN 5, GLASSBORO 0 Nathalie Neron (WO) def. Alana Killelea, 6-0, 6-0 Alyssa Berry (WO) def. Alice Dinzeo, 6-0, 6-0 Noelle Neron (WO) def. Virginia Tarasevich, 6-1, 6-0 Madison LaPalomento-Emilee Kehr (WO) def. Sofia Dungea-Amani George, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) Elliana Norman-Emma West (WO) def. Ijeoma Ufomba-Conception Soriano, 6-2, 6-1 Records: Woodstown 16-5, Glassboro 6-10.
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.
Here are the scores from Monday’s Salem County sports calendar GIRLS SOCCER Schalick 6, Penns Grove 0: Quinn Berger had two goals and two assists as the Cougars completed their third straight unbeaten season in the TCC Diamond Division. Berger scored the first and third goals of the game and assisted on Schalick’s two second-half goals. Pitman 6, Salem 0: Emery Sharpnack scored three goals and assisted on another for the Panthers. Woodstown at Pennsville Salem Tech at Gloucester Catholic FIELD HOCKEY Schalick 9, Deptford 0: Nine different players scored for the Cougars. Lena Virga and Ava Scurry each had a goal and two assists. Gloucester Catholic 3, Salem 0: Freshman Alana Bellan scored two second-quarter goals. Overbrook at Woodstown GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Salem Tech 2, Buena 0: Tiara Bazemore had 12 aces and seven assists to lead the Chargers. The set scores were 25-8, 25-13. GIRLS TENNIS Woodstown 5, Schalick 0 Pitman 5, Salem 0 Pennsville 5, Overbrook 0
Woodstown battles Pitman to 1-1 tie, but needed a win to share division title with Schalick; draw was the Wolverines’ fourth of the season and third in a row
BOYS SOCCER Woodstown 1, Pitman 1 Schalick 4, Penns Grove 0 Pennsville 7, Salem 1 Gloucester Catholic 6, Salem Tech 4
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – The message to the Woodstown soccer team as it was about to start the second overtime was pretty straightforward: “We cannot tie and we cannot lose.”
The Wolverines just couldn’t get what they needed.
Most teams might accept a tie with a rival as a positive result, but the 1-1 draw the Wolverines got against Pitman Monday was neither the one they wanted nor needed.
It felt like a loss. With Schalick beating Penns Grove 15 miles down the road, Woodstown needed to beat the Panthers to grab a share of their first Tri-County Diamond Division title since 2014.
Instead, the tie – their fourth of the season and third in a row — left the Wolverines (9-1-4) one point behind the Cougars in the final division standings despite posting a winning record against them (1-0-1) during the season. They also had four ties in 2016.
“I feel like it feels more like a loss to this group of guys,” backliner Tommy Tucci said. “We came off the really good game against Schalick, keeping them to zero, and then came out here today really excited to hopefully get the win to keep the division. I think (the tie) feels more like a loss today.”
Both teams had chances, but both goalies and defenses turned them away. The Panthers finally broke through with 4:09 left in the half when Jonas Trum sent Trevor Leach down the right side and Leach shot it across into his left side of the net.
Landon Gugliemo got the equalizer with 9:11 left in regulation when Bryce Ayars’ shot went towards the left post and Gugliemo came crashing it and rifled back into the right side. But the Wolverines needed more.
While the Wolverines were clearly focused on their game at hand, they had an eye on the events 15 miles down the road and Schalick kept the pressure on from afar.
The Cougars grabbed a 1-0 halftime lead on the strength of Anthony Sepers’ penalty kick, then poured in three goals in the second half that left no doubt what the Wolverines had to do.
Steve Chomo headed home a cross from Mike Nelson to give Schalick a 2-0 lead, he assisted on Connor Jackson’s goal that made it 3-0, then closed the scoring later in the half. Evan Sepers made three saves in goal to record his eighth shutout of the season. The division title was Schalick’s third straight.
Both Pitman and Woodstown had good chances to win their game in the second overtime. With six minutes to go, Ayars got the ball in the box, stepped over a defender to create some separation but the keeper blocked his shot and the Panthers cleared the ensuing corner kick.
Three minutes later, Trum got past a defender down the right side and got in alone on the keeper, but Trey Markward stoned him to keep it tied. Both keepers, Markward and Pitman’s Joey Zubert, were credited with 13 saves.
“I just felt confident in myself and felt confident that God would give me the ability to make the save,” Markward said. “I kind of yelled way too loud basically at Him, then I apologized to Him.”
The match ended with the ball at Ayars’ feet in the Panthers’ box, but the double team on him kept him from controlling it and getting a shot.
“We came up a little short,” Woodstown coach Darren Huck said. “I know the way we play we’re going to keep games close and we did it today. We had the formation we wanted, we had we thought the guys in place to be successful. We just needed that one goal, that one more goal.”
There was a lot on the line for the Wolverines. Besides the division title, the teams were battling for the Orange Cup and it also was Woodstown’s Senior Day. The tie allowed the Wolverines to retain the Cup, having won last year’s designated game, but they no doubt would have preferred the bigger prize. Both Schalick and Woodstown had 15 standings points coming into the day.
“It’s terrible, not only for us, but for our seniors, too,” junior Nick DiTeodoro said. “This was their last chance. We all tried, we really wanted it. Even in the huddle, at halftime, before overtime, we were like this is our last time, this is our one chance. Coming up short just hurts.”
NOTES: It was the sixth tie in the history of the Orange Cup … The Wolverines had four ties in 2016 (6-12-4) … The teams considered an unofficial penalty kick shootout to decide the Cup (it would’ve still gone down as a tie), but dwindling daylight and the Senior Day program prevented it from happening … To show there were no hard feelings over the hard-fought result, Huck noticed the Pitman team still in the parking lot waiting on their bus to return and called them over to share in the Senior Day smorgasbord. “We got to share a little bit of a moment,” Huck said. “It was a little emotional.”
Passaic Tech sweeps boys, girls titles in state tech school cross country championships
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN — The Passaic Tech cross country team is finally at full strength and has been taking it out on race trails across North Jersey ever since.
Bulldogs coach Shadi Taha knew he had “something special” brewing this year, but it took a while before he was finally able to turn it loose.
The season started slow with several runners on the mend, including junior ace Mike DeCarlo, but the group he expected to have has been together now for about three weeks and they haven’t been beaten yet.
The Bulldogs made it four races in a row Monday when they won the NJTAC tech schools’ state championship in dominating fashion at windy Salem Tech.
Passaic won the girls team title too, giving the Bulldogs their first sweep since 2015, the last time available records show the girls won it.
DeCarlo won the boys race in 16:43.03. Sussex Tech’s Micah Delelio won the girls race in 19:56.88 after finishing second each of the last two years to Morris Tech’s Maya VanHorn.Passaic and GCIT finished 1-2 in both team races.
The Bulldogs’ boys, the defending race champs, put the first three runners across the line — DeCarlo, Jayell Pallero and Victor Mielnik — all five of their counters in the top nine and seven in the first 13. The girls had two runners in the top five and then places 10, 11 and 12.
DeCarlo didn’t get out as fast as he expected into a stiff wind, but he led wire to wire for his third win. He won by more than 30 seconds.
“It wasn’t my best performance today, but I feel like I bounced back from last year,” he said.
Delelio wasn’t the pacesetter coming out of the gate in her race, but she took the lead as the field made its way through the woods and kept it the rest of the way. She was nearly 45 seconds ahead of GCIT runner-up Jordan Moczydlowski.
Sussex Tech’s Micah Dalelio approaches the finish line to win the NJTAC girls cross country race. (Top photo) Passaic’s Mike DeCarlo (R), Jayell Pallero (L) and Victor Mielnik walk back to team tent together after finishing 1-2-3 in the boys race.
NJTAC Championships
BOYS TEAM SCORES: Passaic Tech 23, GCIT 57, Morris Tech 116, Medford Tech 144, Salem Tech 150, Sussex Tech 179, Camden Vo-Tech 189, Bergen Tech 200, Westhampton Tech 256, Warren Tech 265, Cape May Tech 272, Pennsauken Tech 348, West Caldwell Tech 375, East Brunswick Magnet 410.
GIRLS TEAM SCORES: Passaic Tech 38, GCIT 57, Morris Tech 60, Warren Tech 128, Sussex Tech 130, Camden Vo-Tech 166, West Caldwell Tech 188, Medford Tech 210, Salem Tech 219, East Brunswick Magnet 239.
BOYS TOP 10
GIRLS TOP 10
Mike DeCarlo, Passaic
16:43.03
Micah Dalelio, Sussex
19:56.68
Jayell Pallero, Passaic
17:15.35
Jordan Moczydlowski, GCIT
20:39.12
Victor Mielnik, Passaic
17:23.44
Erisa Ciocoiu, Passaic
21:17.92
Wyatt Evans, GCIT
17:33.80
Cameron Fuerte, Morris
22:06.41
Chris Davis, Medford
17:37.36
Michell Taipe, Passaic
22:12.26
Matt McQueen, Sussex
17:55.07
Siddhee Pathak, Morris
22:13.78
D Snyder-Shellito, GCIT
18:05.70
Isabel Guerra, GCIT
22:28.17
Bryson Coke, Passaic
18:12.10
Olivia Davis, Warren
22:31.71
Joaquin Vila, Passaic
18:12.75
Kirstyn McHale, Cape May
22:47.83
Ryan Ejjalili, GCIT
18:20.63
Elena Urriola, Passaic
22:58.67
SALEM TECH BOYS COUNTERS: (21) Anthony Morano, 19:09.65; (28) Jean-Pierre Pozo, 19:43.90; (29) Levi Seals, 19:45.41; (35) Chase Pompper, 20:18.06; (37) Larry Pompper, 20:34.12. SALEM TECH GIRLS COUNTERS: (27) Paityn Harrington, 25:35.35; (33) Abigail Vanaman, 27:10.23; (49) Gabrielle Lemke, 32:54.07; (54) Julia Richards, 34:43.57; (56) Carmen Mott, 35:11.45
Passaic’s Mike DeCarlo comes to the tape after leading the NJTAC race wire-to-wire.
def. Mollie Willis, 6-1, 6-1
Riverview Sports News 