Jacob and Abby Marino give Woodstown unique brother-sister sweep in Salem County Cross Country Championships; Woodstown boys, Schalick girls win team crowns
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE — Jacob and Abby Marino were sitting in the living room Tuesday night talking with their mom about how special it would be for brother and sister to win their respective races in the Salem County Cross Country Championships the next day. The conversation was light and hopeful.
It would be their last chance to pull it off and their best chance of happening — one, because Jacob is a senior and was making his last stand and, two, because there’s a changing of the guard on the girls side of the race.
They talked about it Tuesday. Less than 24 hours later the siblings were high-fiving after pulling it off.
Jacob won the boys race with a PR 16:37 after some trouble in Turn One. Sophomore sister Abby completed the gold-medal family portrait, winning with in 19:59 with plenty of room to spare.
“It’s awesome that we’re able to do this together, (in) my last county race, senior year,” said Jacob, who followed his sister to the finish from along the boundary. “It’s great that we’re able to win Salem Counties together my last year. It’s not something that gets to happen all the time, you know. It’s a big opportunity to finish together with your sibling in first place at a meet as big as the county meet.”
“It really means a lot to me,” Abby said. “It makes me really happy to see us both do it together. He always supports me every single race and I support him every single race.”
Jacob couldn’t recall the siblings ever winning race together although they have matched places “a lot.” They’re also believed to be the first brother-sister combo to win the county.
“Coming into this year we knew there was that chance and we wanted to build on that and win together,” Jacob said after his race. “That would be really cool as a family to both win counties.
“That was our goal for today. Obviously, we have a very strong bond as siblings, so we wanted to build on that.”
Abby led her race wire-to-wire and hit the tape more than a minute and a half ahead of second-place teammate Anabel Schaal. Jacob’s race had a bit more drama.
He and teammate Karson Chew were well in front of the pack running shoulder-to-shoulder through the first 1,000 yards, but when they turned behind the football stadium Chew came in too tight and hit the chain-link fence’s corner support post with his right arm and it knocked him off the pace.
Marino heard the impact of the collision, and as much as he felt for his friend, he had a race to run and focused on pulling away to avoid being caught by one of the defending race champion’s renowned closing kicks. Chew closed the gap a little, but Marino won the race by 21 seconds.
“That’s the most idiotic way for me to go out in the race,” Chew said. “I keep thinking to myself that’s something that would only happen to me. I would be the only person who would do that.
“I knew we were going to slingshot out of that turn, so I was trying to stick the inside as much as I could and I didn’t have peripheral vision. I turned in and the pole was there. I never thought I’d be going fast enough to not see something.”
Woodstown won the boys team title. Schalick edged Woodstown for the girls crown.
The Woodstown boys flooded the top 15, going 1-2-3 and 7 through 12. Schalick filled in the three spots in between and finished second.
Schalick won the girls title by four points. The Cougars placed all five of their counters in the top 10, with Helen Lillia and Emma Cain’s PR coming in behind Marino and Schaal. They led by a point after the first five counters were scored, then slammed the door with 6, 7 and 8.
Woodstown closed the gap with its fourth runner, but two more Schalick runners were among the traffic that helped keep the final Wolverines counter from making up enough of the difference.
Schalick coach Missy Pine couldn’t tell her runners they had won the meet as they were calculating the scores, but she didn’t have to. They knew it when they saw their coach crying on the side.
“We weren’t expecting it; this one surprised me,” Pine said. “I set goals for the girls and we went over them right before the race and they just went out and achieved above and beyond. They pushed the hardest that we could and were just amazing. So many personal bests today. They’ve been working really hard and I’m glad it was able to see pay off for them.”
Woodstown’s Jacob Marino (R) comforts teammate Karson Chew after they finished 1-2 in the boys race. They went stride-for-stride for the first 1,000 yards until Chew hit a fence post making a tight turn and fell off the pace.
BOYS TEAM: Woodstown 21, Schalick 50, Salem Tech 84, Salem 136
GIRLS TEAM: Schalick 28, Woodstown 32, Salem Tech 77
Pennsville closing in on first division title in 32 years, Price scores twice in Schalick return, Ayars scores first hat trick
BOYS SOCCER Pennsville 1, Wildwood 0 Schalick 4, Pitman 0 Woodstown 3, Overbrook 0 Penns Grove 1, Glassboro 0 Salem at Salem Tech
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – Derek Foglein can’t quite wrap his hands around the trophy yet, but the 29-year-old Pennsville soccer coach can feel it and he says “it feels really good.”
The Eagles took a big step towards securing their first Tri-County Classic Division title in 32 years Monday when they edged Wildwood with a second-half own goal, 1-0.
The Eagles (8-4, 7-0) still have three division games remaining, but are the only undefeated team in the group and everyone else has at least two losses. They have won 13 straight Classic Division games over the last two seasons.
Interestingly, all eight of Pennsville’s wins this season have come via shutout.
“At this point we would need to lose to Clayton (8-4) and then lose to either Gloucester Catholic (4-6) or Salem (0-9) and Wildwood would have to clean out the rest of the way to go 8-2,” Foglein said. “I don’t see it happening, but I can’t call it official.
“I think getting a result on Tuesday night at Clayton on their turf on their Senior Night is going to be another huge battle for us, but I think if we win that one then we can pretty definitively say that it’s ours.”
How long has it been? Foglein wasn’t even on the planet when the Eagles last won a division in 1993. Assistant coach Joe Mecholsky was two years removed from graduating as a member of their 1991 division champions and could be part of the school’s first father-son soccer division champs if son Jackson and Friends pull it off.
“I could cry right now, I’m so happy,” stopper Steve Fatcher said. “When we go in the gym and we look in the soccer bleachers, (the banner says) it hasn’t been done since 1993. This is something that’s been waiting for generations now. Finally.
“It was the goal last year, but Wildwood came out shooting. It feels like a big weight is lifted off my shoulders and this team’s shoulders.”
The Eagles dominated the tempo in the second half and had several good chances to score that just missed the target. They finally got one in the net on an own goal credit to Sam Hassler with 21:28 left.
It came off another monster thrown in by Fatcher from the far sideline and was going to come right to Hassler when a Wildwood defender headed it into the top corner of the goal.
“We came into this game knowing my throw-ins are a big weapon,” Fatcher said. “A lot of the corners and throw-ins to Wildwood work because they don’t mark up straight out; they wait for you to come in.
“It seems like when they tried that they lost a lot of people in the box. The best chances we had were the throw-in or the corner kicks. We honestly should’ve had three or four more, but I don’t care how many chance we miss as long as the end result is a win.”
Funny how those crazy bounces have a way of evening out. The Eagles lost a 1-0 game earlier this year on an own goal and now they get their biggest goal of the year to date because of one.
“I said after the Glassboro game that was one I felt didn’t bounce in our favor,” Foglein said. “We got one to bounce in our favor today and probably the more important of the two we got to bounce in our favor today. I’m never going to complain about that.”
Especially not when it gets them so close to a title.
SCHALICK 4, PITMAN 0: Luke Price returned to the Schalick lineup after missing five games in concussion protocol and scored two goals in the Cougars’ fifth straight win.
“It was amazing,” the junior forward said of his return. “It’s great to be back. It’s a great group of boys to play with. I was happy to be with the team and contribute.”
Price sustained his concussion in the first half of the Cougars’ Sept. 20 loss to Bordentown and watched his mates go 4-1 in his absence. He got cleared for athletics Saturday and participated in practice that day.
He came off the bench Monday and scored his first goal since Sept. 18 off a cross from Josh Stecher after being in the game about five minutes. He scored his second goal in the second half to make it 3-0.
“I was really hoping for a goal just to get back into the groove,” he said. ”It was great scoring those.”
Tyler Vanlier, the freshman who took Price spot up front while he was out and scored four goals, scored the Cougars’ other two goals against the Panthers. Evan Sepers posted the shutout, his third in a row and fifth of the season.
WOODSTOWN 3, OVERBROOK 0: Bryce Ayars scored his first high school hat trick. Nick DiTeodoro assisted on two of the goals and Blake Bialecki assisted on the other.
Ayars has scored a goal in each of the Wolverines’ eight wins this season. They have won 17 straight and 22 of the last 23 in which he has scored a goal.
“It’s definitely an achievement that I’ve been driven to make this year, but it couldn’t be done without my teammates,” Ayars said. “This season feels different and the teamwork we have made this hat trick possible. Hoping this is the first of many, but I’m definitely going to remember this one.”
PENNS GROVE 1, GLASSBORO 0: Juan Ortiz scored the game’s only goal in the first half and Dwayne Guzman Silva made it stand in the goal, including a great save on a header off a corner kick in the first half. The Red Devils are 3-0 in one-goal games this season.
SALEM AT SALEM TECH: The Rams were looking for their first win of the season. The Chargers were looking for a season sweep.
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Oct. 5-12
SUNDAY, OCT. 5 FIELD HOCKEY SJ Tournament of Champions At Clearview Schalick vs. Clearview, 3:15 p.m.
MONDAY, OCT. 6 FIELD HOCKEY Absegami at Salem, 4 p.m. Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m. Woodstown at Hammonton, 4 p.m. BOYS SOCCER Penns Grove at Glassboro, 4 p.m. Pitman at Schalick, 4 p.m. Salem at Salem Tech, 4 p.m. Wildwood at Pennsville, 4 p.m. Overbrook at Woodstown, 4 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Glassboro at Penns Grove, 4 p.m. Salem Tech at Salem, 4 p.m. Schalick at Pennsville, 4 p.m. Woodstown at Overbrook, 4 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic, 3:45 p.m. VOLLEYBALL Camden County Tech at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
TUESDAY, OCT. 7 FIELD HOCKEY Deptford at Woodstown, 4 p.m. Pitman at Schalick, 4 p.m. Salem at Pennsville, 4 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS SJ Group I Quarterfinals Lower Cape May at Pitman, 2 p.m. Schalick at Woodstown, 3 p.m. Wildwood at Haddon Twp., 3 p.m. Audubon at Pennsville, 3:30 p.m. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Salem Tech at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 8 BOYS SOCCER Cumberland at Penns Grove, 4 p.m. Salem at Woodstown, 4 p.m. Schalick at Palmyra, 4 p.m. Pennsville at Pitman, 7 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Schalick at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m. Woodstown at Salem, 4 p.m. Pennsville at Pitman, 5 p.m. Penns Grove at Cumberland, 6 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS Penns Grove at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. OLMA at Salem, 4 p.m. CROSS COUNTRY Salem County Meet at Schalick, 3:30 p.m.
THURSDAY, OCT. 9 WJFL FOOTBALL Paulsboro at Pennsville, 6 p.m. Haddon Heights at Woodstown, 7 p.m. Cinnaminson at Glassboro FIELD HOCKEY Burlington City at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m. Woodstown at Schalick, 4 p.m. BOYS SOCCER Camden Academy Charter at Salem Tech, 4 p.m. Gloucester City at Salem, 4 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Salem at Gloucester City, 4 p.m. VOLLEYBALL Salem Tech at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
FRIDAY, OCT. 10 WJFL FOOTBALL Gloucester at Schalick, 6 p.m. Penns Grove at Delran, 6 p.m. Collingswood at Audubon, 7 p.m. Overbrook at Camden Catholic Woodbury at Willingboro FIELD HOCKEY Overbrook at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m. Salem at Gloucester City, 4 p.m. BOYS SOCCER Penns Grove at Woodbury, 4 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Paulsboro at Salem Tech, 4 p.m. Woodbury at Penns Grove, 4 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS Woodstown at Pitman, 3:45 p.m. Penns Grove at Salem, 4 p.m. Schalick at Wildwood, 4:15 p.m. VOLLEYBALL Salem Tech at Highland, 4 p.m. COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC Prospect Showcase
SATURDAY, OCT. 11 WJFL FOOTBALL West Deptford at Salem, noon CROSS COUNTRY South Jersey Coaches Meet, Dream Park COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC Prospect Showcase
SUNDAY, OCT. 12 COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC Prospect Showcase COLLEGE SOFTBALL Morris CC, CCBC at Salem CC, 10 a.m.
Here are the scores and highlights from Saturday’s Salem County sports calendar
BOYS SOCCER Northern Burlington 6, Woodstown 0: Elijah Font scored three goals and recorded his school-record 29th career assist as the Greyhounds handed Woodstown its first loss of the season. Bryce Ayars had a few good chances to score for the Wolverines in the first half, but was turned away by a defensive swarm.
FIELD HOCKEY Schalick swamped Audubon 7-0 in the first round of the South Jersey Coaches Tournament of Champions at Camden Catholic. The Cougars play Clearview in Round 2 3:15 p.m. Sunday at Clearview.
In the other games, Camden Catholic blanked Delsea, 4-0; West Deptford swamped Gloucester 9-1; and Clearview blanked Delran 4-0.
CROSS COUNTRY HOLMDEL – Jacob Marino finished 11th overall and two other runners placed in the top 25 to lead Woodstown to a third-place finish in the Shore Coaches Invitational Boys Varsity E race at Holmdel Park.
Marino ran a 17:01, while David Farrell (17:40) and Karson Chew (17:44) both finished in the top 25.
Salem Tech also was in the field and finished 21st. Jean-Pierre Pozo was the Chargers’ fastest runner (20:02)
Schalick finished 18th in the Girls Varsity F race. Helen Lillia was the Cougars fastest runner (23:10.08).
NJSIAA TENNIS TOURNAMENT WEST WINDSOR – Schalick’s doubles team of Sebrina Bradford and Olivia Lunemann defeated Lejla Kaba and Kylie LaCroix of Pompton Lakes 6-1, 7-5 in the opening round of the NJSIAA Tournament doubles draw. They will play 5-8 seed Charlotte Hao and Nicole Rubin of Pingry in Sunday’s second round.
The Cougars’ Miya Watkins fell in the opening round of the singles draw to Julia Kravchenko of Gov. Livingston, 6-0, 6-1.
Woodstown tennis wins a pair of tiebreakers to clinch match with Pennsville; includes scores and highlights from Friday’s Salem County sports calendar
FIELD HOCKEY OLMA 2, Salem 0 Schalick 1, Williamstown 0 Woodstown 3, Gateway 0 Salem Tech at Winslow BOYS SOCCER Buena 4, Salem Tech 2 GIRLS TENNIS Woodstown 3, Pennsville 2
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE — No. 2 singles Alyssa Berry and the doubles team of Emma West and Angelina Lindenmuth pulled out exciting tiebreakers in deciding sets to lift Woodstown over Pennsville 3-2 in girls tennis Friday.
West and Lindenmuth edged Graillyn Weber and Yerlian Charon 7-5 in the second-set tiebreaker at No. 2 doubles to clinch the overall match moments after Berry outlasted Isabell Schrenker 11-9 in their third-set tiebreaker to even the score.
The doubles team was down 3-0 and 4-2 in their tiebreaker before rallying to win the clinching match.
“I told them both the same thing,” Wolverines coach Jesse Stemberger said. “If I’m not panicking, you’re not panicking. So, play under control and play with confidence. If you do that, you’ll be OK.”
The match could potentially be the final one between Stemberger and his Pennsville counterpart Dan LaMont in girls tennis. Unless their teams play in the South Jersey Group I finals, LaMont could be leaving with an 11-10 all-time lead in the matchup.
FIELD HOCKEY OLMA 2, Salem 0: Lindsey Graham and Marlee McGrath scored second-half goals. Ava Rodgers was credited with 23 saves in the Salem goal. Schalick 1, Williamstown 0: Alexa Shimp scored the game’s only goal in the second quarter and Lydia Gilligan posted the shutout. The Cougars play Audubon Saturday in the South Jersey TOC at Camden Catholic. Woodstown 3, Gateway 0: Freshman Brooke Dillion scored two goals, Talia Guardascione scored one and Kendall Higgins posted the shutout.
BOYS SOCCER Buena 4, Salem Tech 2: The Chiefs scored four goals in the second half to erase a 2-0 halftime deficit and earn their first win of the season. Kameron Brown and Josh Woroniak gave the Chargers their halftime lead.
Here are scores and highlights from Thursday’s Salem County sports schedule BOYS SOCCER Pennsville 4, Salem Tech 0: Sam Hassler scored the first of his two goals in the second minute of the match and Coen Rinnier made 10 more saves in another shutout. Schalick 4, Overbrook 0: Jaxon Weber scored two goals in the Cougars’ fourth straight win. Pitman 2, Penns Grove 0: Jake Bowen-Ashwin and Micah Frost scored goals in the second half. Clayton 6, Salem 0: Jonathan Rehm had a hat trick.
GIRLS SOCCER Schalick 8, Overbrook 0: Cali Fisler had her first career hat trick under the stadium lights on Senior Night, Quinn Berger scored twice and Kyleigh Cutler had a goal and two assists for the Cougars. Pennsville 6, Penns Grove 0: Taylor Bass scored a career-high four goals and assisted on another to lead the Eagles. She scored the first three goals of the match and the final goal. Woodstown 1, Glassboro 0: Gina Murray scored the game’s only goal in the second half with an assist from Emma Perry. Clayton 9, Salem 0: Deondria Simon and Alivia Howrey each scored twice. Pitman 6, Salem Tech 0: Emery Sharpnack and Carly Razze each scored two goals. Sharpnack had the assists on the Panthers’ first two goals 49 seconds apart in the third minute of the match.
GIRLS TENNIS Schalick 4, Wildwood 1
Schalick’s Miya Watkins and the doubles team of Sebrina Bradford and Olivia Lunemann are in the field for the state singles and doubles championship this weekend at Mercer County and Veterans Park near Trenton.
Watkins will face Gov. Livingston’s Julia Kravchenko in a Saturday opening-round match at Mercer County Park. The winner will face 3/4 seed Sofia Basto-Cabrera of Shawnee.
Bradford-Lunemann will face a team from Pompton Lakes Saturday with the winner facing a 5/8 seed from Pingry.
Woodstown soccer shakes up approach, offense comes to life in 3-0 win over Glassboro; also includes Wednesday’s Salem County field hockey, tennis, volleyball, cross country results
BOYS SOCCER Woodstown 3, Glassboro 0 FIELD HOCKEY Schalick 9, Pennsville 2 Woodstown 4, Salem 3 GIRLS TENNIS Clearview 4, Pennsville 1 Mainland 5, Schalick 0 Woodstown 4, Triton 1 Overbrook at Penns Grove GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Atlantic Tech 2, Salem Tech 0
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – Darren Huck has never been afraid to shake things up. If you’re standing still, he figures, you’re falling behind.
Frustrated with the state of his team’s offense over the past couple weeks, the Woodstown soccer coach shook up the lineup’s look Wednesday and it produced a 3-0 win over Glassboro.
It was only the second time the Wolverines scored more than two goals in a match since their season-high eight-goal outburst against Salem Tech in the third game of the year. They’ve scored just 10 goals in the five games since, including 1-1 tie with Penns Grove and a 1-0 golden goal win over Pennsville, games they figured to have handled a lot easier than they were.
The new alignment basically puts two men up top and five in the midfield. No personnel was changed, just the responsibilities they hold on the field. It produced almost instantaneous results as Bryce Ayars scored on a breakaway three minutes into the match.
“We made a few changes,” Huck said. “Ask any of my players, especially any of my ex-players, I’m never afraid to shake it up, to change things. Obviously, my ultimate goal is what’s best for the team.
“We have three, possibly four, formations we can play depending on situations that occur. We really felt today’s was something we could use to our advantage. It’s just a different look, different responsibilities and some boundaries and borders we needed to stay within so we stay balanced.”
Ayars scored the first two goals against the Bulldogs and assisted on the third by Nick DiTeodoro, a goal created directly by the angle of attack the new formation created.
“It’s definitely a change of scenery,” Ayars said. “It definitely helped our middle out, which we needed to do. Teams are trying to force us middle, so having that extra guy in the middle helps us out in the long run. It did what we expected it to do today.”
The look they went with Wednesday was specifically for the Bulldogs. Whether they stay with it going forward or change remains to be seen.
“My formation comes down to where our strength and weakness is,” Huck said.
Despite the limited goal production, the Wolverines’ 7-0-1 record, which currently leads the South Jersey Group I power points standings by more than two points, is their best start after eight games in more than 15 years. The 2013 team that went 20-1-1 and 2023 team that went 15-4-1 both started 7-1.
They are only unbeaten team in all of Group 1 and one of only five across South Jersey’s six classifications.
“It’s a good feeling,” Huck said.
FIELD HOCKEY PITTSGROVE – Ava Scurry scored the ninth hat trick of her career, and second against Pennsville, to lead Schalick past the Eagles 9-2.
Scurry scored her first goal less than two minutes into the game, notched her second two minutes later and got her third in the third quarter. She now has 76 career goals. Caylen Taylor had two goals and two assists.
Luci and Lena Virga both scored goals. It’s the sixth time in the last two seasons the sisters have scored in the same game; the Cougars are 6-0 in those games. Bailey Wents and Alexis Smith also found the back of the cage.
Kendall Hoyt and Abigail Bohn scored Pennsville’s goals, with Izzy Saulin assisting on both. For Bohn, a senior, it was her first career goal.
WOODSTOWN 4, SALEM 3: Julliana Love scored all three goals for Salem.
VOLLEYBALL ATLANTIC TECH 2, SALEM TECH 0: The set scores were 25-10, 25-19.
GIRLS TENNIS WOODSTOWN 4, TRITON 1 Mary Ahrens (T) def. Nathalie Neron, 6-0, 6-3 Alyssa Berry (WO) def. PetraReina Ponce-Leon, 6-3, 6-0 Noelle Neron (WO) def. Elizabeth Davis, 6-2, 6-1 Madison LaPalomento-Emilee Kehr (WO) def. Lily Brennan-Olivia Schreyer, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 Emma West-Angelina Lindenmuth (WO) won by forfeit Records: Woodstown 9-3, Triton 6-7.
CROSS COUNTRY WESTHAMPTON – The Salem Tech boys placed all five runners in the second 10 counters and edged Medford Tech for second place in the South Jersey Vo-Tech Championships.
Levi Seals led the Chargers across the line with a 10th-place 19:04.27. He was followed by Pierre Pozo (19:12.53), Anthony Morano (19:19.54), Chase Pompper (19:41.73) and Joseph MacNeil (20:06.69) for 73 team points.
Medford Tech had two in the top four, but only one other counter inside the Chargers’ top five for 75 points.
The Salem Tech girls placed third among four teams with two counters in the top 10 counters and three in the top 20. Paityn Harrington (25:03.56) and Abigail Vanaman (25:05.01) led the way.
GCIT won both team titles.
SOUTH JERSEY VO-TECH CHAMPIONSHIPS BOYS TEAM: GCIT 22, Salem Tech 73, Medford Tech 75, Atlantic Tech 100, West Tech 127, Cape May Tech 135, Pennsauken Tech 211. BOYS TOP 10 OVERALL: Wyatt Evans, GCIT 17:15.06; Duke Snyder-Shellito, GCIT 17:40.47; Marcos Paulino, Medford 17:54.17; Chris Davis, Medford 18:22.08; Ryan Ejjalili, GCIT 18:45.01; Logan Monaghan, GCIT 18:49.75; Evan Feliciano, Cape May 18:50.88; AJ Trampe, GCIT 19:00.09; Carlo Blackman, ACIT 19:03.53; Levi Seals, Salem Tech 19:04.27.
GIRLS TEAM: GCIT 17, Atlantic Tech 60, Salem Tech 82, Medford Tech 86. GIRLS TOP 10 OVERALL: Jordan Moczydlowski, GCIT 21:05.29; Kirstyn McHale, Cape May 22:58.49; Natalie Pandolfo, GCIT 23:02.00; Isabel Guerra, GCIT 23:07.51; Francesca Carnevale, GCIT 23:32.57; Rosa Cameron, Cape May 23:35.43; Addison Kris, Medford 23:51.81; Eunice States Clara, GCIT 24:58.50; Paityn Harrington, Salem Tech 25:03.56.
Woodstown, Pennsville, Schalick all survive girls tennis tournament openers; roundup also includes Tuesday’s cross country, girls soccer results
GIRLS TENNIS South Jersey Group 1 Playoffs Schalick 5, Buena 0 Woodstown 5, Palmyra 0 Pennsville 5, Salem 0
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN — Third-seeded Woodstown avoided a couple potential mental traps and easily got through its opening-round match in the South Jersey Group I girls tennis tournament Tuesday.
The Wolverines needed less than an hour to dispatch 14th-seeded Palmyra 5-0. County and TCC Diamond Division rivals Schalick and Pennsville also advanced with 5-0 sweeps.
The opening round had the potential to trip up the Wolverines in a number of ways if they weren’t focused. They hadn’t played in a week — two matches were rained out — and were facing an opponent that hadn’t won a match all season.
But they showed they meant business when they went 6-0 in the first set of four of their five matches and No. 2 singles Alyssa Berry put their first point on the board in about 35 minutes. Nathalie and Noelle Neron also won their singles matches, while the doubles teams of Madison LaPalomento-Emilee Kehr and Emma West-Angelina Lindenmuth swept the doubles.
“There’s been some slight apprehension, like we were out here saying we feel like we haven’t played in forever, it’s been so long since we had a match,” Berry said. “But warming up and hitting, it kind of comes back to you.
“You always start out a little more careful, but as you get the swing of things then you feel more confident.”
All five of the Wolverines’ wins came in straight sets. They dropped only four games all day. Palmyra had won only one (doubles) match in their six previous starts this season.
“When you play a team like that, you never know what you’re going to get,” Woodstown coach Jesse Stemberger said. “You see 0-6, but I’ve seen a team win a state championship that was 2-7 going into the playoffs … There are so some teams out there that you don’t know much about that aren’t what their records indicate, so you try not to look past anybody.
“For an 0-6 team, (Palmyra) battled. They worked hard. They pushed us in some positions. They made us earn it. This was not a walkover. They made us earn it.
“One of the things we try to instill in them is to beat the teams you’re supposed to beat. So, if you see an 0-6 team, don’t underestimate them, but when you get out there and you start playing, if you see that you’re better than them don’t let them think they have a chance. Just go out there and do your job, and I think we did that. I was a little concerned about rust, but they went out there and did some nice things.”
Next up for the Wolverines is sixth-seeded Schalick in the Oct. 7 quarterfinals – one day after they play each other ifor the outright Classic Division lead. The next day the Cougars play Pennsville after the Eagles host fifth-seeded Audubon in the quarterfinals.
Top photo: Woodstown coach Jesse Stemberger (R) talks with Alyssa Berry after her victory put the Wolverines’ first point on the board Tuesday.
Woodstown’s Noelle Neron sends a shot back to Palmyra’s Jane Ancker during her straight-set tournament win at No. 3 singles Tuesday.
SJ GROUP ! QUARTERFINALS Oct. 7 No. 9 Lower Cape May at No. 1 Pitman No. 5 Audubon at No. 4 Pennsville No. 6 Schalick at No. 3 Woodstown No. 10 Wildwood at No. 2 Haddon Twp. Oct. 9 Semifinals Oct. 14 Finals
GIRLS SOCCER Pennsville 9, Salem Tech 0 Woodstown 4, Pitman 0 Glassboro 8, Salem 1 Gloucester Catholic 6, Penns Grove 0
PENNSVILLE 9, SALEM TECH 0: First-time scorers Isabella Marandola, Anastasia Moore and Maura Widener were among nine goal-scorers for the Eagles. It was the most goals they’ve scored in a game since a 9-2 win over Salem in October 2021. WOODSTOWN 4, PITMAN 0: Delia Hahn scored her first career goal and Ellie Wygand was in goal for the shutout. GLASSBORO 8, SALEM 1: Amina Brown scored 40 seconds into the match and the Bulldogs scored four times in the first six minutes. Carlysia Pierce scored Salem’s goal. GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 6, PENNS GROVE 0: Bella Laumer scored twice as the Rams won their seventh straight and recorded their fourth straight shutout.
CROSS COUNTRY KINGSWAY TCC BATCH MEET BOYS TOP 20: Trevor Szilier, Washington Twp. 16:41.81; Matthew Littlehales, Delsea 16:49.78; Andrew Dopkin, Highland 16:54.83; Michael Beaver, Kingsway 17:05.80; Liam Murphy, Highland 17:13.52; Payton Veilleux, Kingsway 17:22.57; Gavin Rakitis, Glassboro 17:24.02; Zacchaeus Harrigan, Glassboro 17:24.22; Jaeden Wesley, Glassboro 17:24.42; Joseph Saicic, Glassboro 17:42.62; Rhys Blackman, Pitman 17:30.52; Leandro Santiago, Timber Creek 17:31.84; Ryan Pancoast, Timber Creek, 17:32.79; Blair Duckrey-Furbert, Timber Creek 17:34.84; Karson Chew, Woodstown 17:55.00; Logan Pavelik, Williamstown 17:56.56; Aaron Johnson, Glassboro 17:58.26; Jacob Marino, Woodstown 18:00.05; Oluwanifemi Fadulu, Highland 18:01.30. OTHER SALEM COUNTY TEAM LEADERS: 31. Chase Riley, Schalick 18:15:22; 58. Anthony Morano, Salem Tech 19:32.57; 67. John Johnson, Penns Grove 19:45.31; 77. Gradin Buzby, Salem 20:00.63; 109: Logan Cowperthwait, Pennsville 22:00.99.
GIRLS TOP 20: Sophia Aldridge, Williamstown 19:25.62; Aubrey Bishop, Kingsway 20:01.41; Abby Marino, Woodstown 20:57.30; Yazmire Bonhomme, Williamstown 21:32.15; Julianne Roes, Clearview 21:39.12; Julia Burgio, Williamstown 21:40.79; Ava Buchanan, Kingsway 21:41.51; Olivia Mashburn, Delsea 21:50.97; Julia Blanchard, Washington Twp. 21:54.53; Anabel Schaal, Woodstown 22:00.10; Brooke Mashburn, Delsea 22:00.57; Isabella Moran, Delsea 22:00.81; Rhea Remaly, Clearview 22:31.11; Sofia Moran, Delsea 22:34.99; Rachael Williams, Clearview 22:39.69; Lillian Pedersen, Clearview 22:39.86; Layla Chain, Washington Twp. 22:47.40; Helen Lillia, Schalick 23:13.24; Leah Hagerman, Clearview 23:14.39; Kate Yanek, Clearview 23:15.54. OTHER SALEM COUNTY TEAM LEADERS: 28. Sawyer Slad, Pennsville 23:52.78; 61. Abigail Vanaman, Salem Tech, 27:08.65;
Senior’s golden goal only score in Woodstown win over Pennsville, third game-winner in as many games, Pennsville keeper Rinnier notches 500th save
BOYS SOCCER Woodstown 1, Pennsville 0 (OT) Schalick 6, Wildwood 0 Penns Grove 6, Gloucester Catholic 4 Pitman 6, Salem Tech 0 Salem at Glassboro
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN — Pennsville goalie Coen Rinnier knows Bryce Ayars really well and the one thing he’d tell you about the Woodstown senior is whatever team he’s playing for he’s always in the right place at the right time.
Ayars was right where he needed to be again Tuesday, perfectly positioned to get one past his club teammate 3:29 into the first overtime for a 1-0 win in a dogfight between Tri-County Conference division leaders that for the longest time seemed destined for a scoreless finish.
Ben Lippincott got the winning play started with a strong corner kick into the box. Blake Bialecki got a left-foot touch on it in heavy traffic and moved it to Ayars, who found enough room to go from left foot to right and shoot it past a stonewalled Rinnier for the winner.
“Every time they put the ball in the box you know that Ayars is dangerous,” Pennsville coach Derek Foglein said. “Today, he got the ball to bounce around seven times and beat us with his feet, which is not what I would’ve had on my bingo card.”
“Obviously, right place, right time and he took advantage of it,” Woodstown coach Darren Huck said.
“He’s always in the right spot,” Rinnier said.
Blake Bialecki (5) celebrates after Bryce Ayars scored the game-winning goal in Woodstown’s 1-0 win over Pennsville Tuesday.
It was Ayars’ third game-winning goal in as many games, ever since being held goalless for the first time this season by Penns Grove. He broke a 1-1 tie with a late winner against Schalick and gave the Wolverines a lead they’d never lose against Pitman.
But this one was his first walk-off, golden goal in the run. He also had the only goal in their season-opening win over Glassboro, but that came in the first half.
“Going up against Coen is always challenging because he’s a well-rounded goalie who makes plays through the air, on the ground, comes out when he needs to,” Ayars said. “We knew it was going to be hard coming in today playing against him, but we got the job done in overtime.”
The Wolverines (6-0-1), No. 1 in the South Jersey Group I power point standings by a healthy margin, enjoyed the majority of possessions in the match, but Pennsville’s defense turned back their advances every time. Still, Huck was confident if they kept plugging away an opportunity was going to come for them to capitalize, and it eventually did in overtime.
Woodstown’s back line was just as stout, never giving the Eagles (6-4) a chance to really challenge Wolverines keeper Trey Markward.
At halftime, Foglein considered dropping back a fifth defender and playing for the tie,. But he reconsidered believing his team was “good enough that we don’t need to hold on for dear life for another 40 minutes” and actually thought they might have been the better team in the second half.
“Every time we come here, play on this field, we’re always our most intense,” Rinnier said. “It’s something about this field. Whenever we come here, we play our hardest. It’s the best I’ve seen us play all year, the hardest intensity I’ve seen all year.”
With all the pressure Woodstown applied throughout the match, Rinnier was credited with 17 saves in regulation. His first save of the game was the 500th of his career, making him only the second Pennsville goalie in the last 15 years to reach that milestone.
“I didn’t even know,” he said. “I just like being in the back here and helping our team, just trying to help us as much as I can.”
Top photo: Woodstown’s Bryce Ayars (20) settles the ball before scoring the game-winning goal in overtime against Pennsville Tuesday.
SCHALICK 6, WILDWOOD 0: Nolan O’Toole scored the first goal of the match and assisted on two other goals before halftime. Connor Jackson scored for the third straight game and Nathan Couch scored his first varsity goal.
PENNS GROVE 6, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 4: The Red Devils opened a 6-1 lead under the lights. Zack Payne scored three goals for the Rams in the second half.
PITMAN 6, SALEM TECH 0: Nate Newcomb covered a pass from Trevor Leach four minutes into the match and five others followed for the Panthers.
Pennsville keeper Coen Rinnier is poised to make a save in the first half against Woodstown. He recorded his 500th career save earlier in the half.
Here are scores and details from Monday’s Salem County high school action; will be updated FIELD HOCKEY Oakcrest 3, Pennsville 2: Gracie Mease scored both Pennsville goals. Clearview 9, Schalick 1: Celeste Conklin, Maddie Reeves and Addison McConnell all scored a pair of goals. Schalick goalie Lydia Gilligan made 27 saves and is now six shy of 500 for her career. The milestone could come Wednesday against Pennsville. Luci Virga scored the Cougars’ goal. Woodstown 1, Timber Creek 1: The Wolverines (4-3-1) got the tying goal in the third quarter.
BOYS SOCCER Schalick 7, Moorestown Friends 1: Tyler Vanlier, the freshman who moved to striker following an injury to Luke Price, scored three goals, and Josh Stecher scored the first two goals of his career. Pennsville 1, Buena 0: John Sassi scored the Eagles’ goal in the 27th minute and the usually stout Pennsville defense made it stand. All six Pennsville wins have been by shutout. Cape May Tech at Salem: Both teams are looking for their first wins of the season.
GIRLS SOCCER Pennsville 6, Buena 0: Molly Gratz and Sloan Marquette each scored two goals and Taylor Bass had a goal and two assists. Kallie Morrison had the Eagles’ other goal. Medford Tech 5, Salem Tech 2: NJTAC Group 1/2 Tournament quarterfinal game. Cape May Tech 7, Salem 3: The Hawks pulled away from a one-goal game with four goals in the second half for their first win of the season. Mainland 2, Schalick 0: The Mustangs scored a goal in each half. GCIT 3, Woodstown 0: The Cheetahs scored three goals in the second half, ending Woodstown’s six-game unbeaten streak.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Salem Tech 2, Cape May Tech 0 (25-19, 25-22): Alan’s James had four kills and an ace, and Casey Zaluske recorded seven digs. The Chargers (4-2) have won three of their last four matches.
GIRLS TENNIS WEST DEPTFORD 5, SALEM 0 Gianna Concordia (WD) def. JaNye Hubbard, 6-1, 6-2 Alyssa Taylor (WD) def. Tahirah Davenport-White, 6-0, 6-1 Judy Wu (WD) def. Heaven Jones-McCullough, 6-0, 6-1 Anastasia Besar-Harper Short (WD) def. Erica Brewer-Evangelyn Jimenez Barreto, 6-0, 6-0 Summer Fallon-Laura Monticolo (WD) def. Phoenix Holland-Aleena Allen, 6-0, 6-0 Records: West Deptford 5-11, Salem 2-6.
Riverview Sports News 