Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Sept. 28-Oct. 4
SUNDAY, SEPT. 28 COLLEGE SOFTBALL Salem CC at RCSJ-Gloucester, 10 a.m.
MONDAY, SEPT. 29 FIELD HOCKEY Pennsville at Oakcrest, 4 p.m. Schalick at Clearview, 4 p.m. Woodstown at Timber Creek, 4 p.m. BOYS SOCCER Cape May Tech at Salem, 4 p.m. Moorestown Friends at Schalick, 4 p.m. Pennsville at Buena, 4 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Salem Tech at Medford Tech, 3:45 p.m. Buena at Pennsville, 4 p.m. Salem at Cape May Tech, 4 p.m. Schalick at Mainland, 4 p.m. Woodstown vs. GCIT at Rowan, 6 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS Salem at West Deptford, 4 p.m. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Cape May Tech at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 30 BOYS SOCCER Pennsville at Woodstown, 4 p.m. Pitman at Salem Tech, 4 p.m. Salem at Glassboro, 4 p.m. Wildwood at Schalick, 4 p.m. Gloucester Catholic at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Glassboro at Salem, 4 p.m. Gloucester Catholic at Penns Grove, 4 p.m. Salem Tech at Pennsville, 4 p.m. Schalick at Wildwood, 4 p.m. Woodstown at Pitman, 4 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS South Jersey Group 1 Playoffs No. 11 Buena at No. 6 Schalick, 3 p.m. No. 14 Palmyra at No. 3 Woodstown, 3 p.m. No. 13 Salem at No. 4 Pennsville, 3:30 p.m. CROSS COUNTRY Batch Meet at Kingsway, 4 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1 FIELD HOCKEY Salem at Woodstown, 4 p.m. Pennsville at Schalick, 4 p.m. BOYS SOCCER Glassboro at Woodstown, 4 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Woodbury at Penns Grove, 4 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS Pennsville at Clearview, 3:45 p.m. Triton at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. Schalick at Mainland, 4 p.m. Overbrook at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Salem Tech at Atlantic Tech, 4 p.m.
THURSDAY, OCT. 2 WJFL FOOTBALL Woodstown at Pleasantville, 7 p.m. FIELD HOCKEY Pennsville at Paulsboro, 4 p.m. BOYS SOCCER Clayton at Salem, 4 p.m. Pennsville at Salem Tech, 4 p.m. Pitman at Penns Grove, 4 p.m. Schalick at Overbrook, 4 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Salem at Clayton, 4 p.m. Salem Tech at Pitman, 4 p.m. Woodstown at Glassboro, 4 p.m. Overbrook at Schalick, 6 p.m. Pennsville at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS Schalick at Wildwood, 4:15 p.m. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Highland vs. Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
FRIDAY, OCT. 3 WJFL FOOTBALL Paulsboro at Schalick, 6 p.m. Pennsville at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m. Collingswood at Sterling, 7 p.m. Haddonfield at West Deptford, 7 p.m. Glassboro at Deptford Overbrook at Clayton FIELD HOCKEY Salem Tech at Winslow, 3:45 p.m. OLMA at Salem, 4 p.m. Schalick at Williamstown, 4 p.m. Woodstown at Gateway, 4 p.m. BOYS SOCCER Salem Tech at Buena, 4 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS Woodstown at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
SATURDAY, OCT. 4 WJFL FOOTBALL Salem at Middle Twp., noon Audubon at Gloucester Catholic, 11 a.m. Gateway at Woodbury BOYS SOCCER Woodstown at Northern Burlington, 10 a.m. COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Felician (2), noon
Schalick senior reaches 200-point plateau for her field hockey career; includes rest of Salem County Friday action, pairings for SJFHCA Tournament of Champions
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
VOORHEES – When Ava Scurry started playing field hockey in high school all she wanted was to be a good player and win. Now that she’s one of the most prolific scorers in school history, she wanted to share the occasion with all the teammates who helped get her there.
The Schalick senior reached another career milestone Friday, surpassing 200 points with two goals and an assist in the Cougars’ 6-3 loss at Eastern.
Scurry needed only one point going into the match to hit the mark and took it over the top when she tipped in a Lena Virga free hit for her first goal 3:12 into the second half. She notched her second goal about two minutes later and then assisted on Lucy Virga’s goal with 7:28 left in the third quarter after making a run from midfield to the baseline.
She now had 204 career points on 73 goals and 58 assists. She scored 40 goals last year, so 100 career markers is well within reach.
“I think it represents consistency and just how far, not just me, but how far I’ve come with my team because I couldn’t have reached that milestone without them,” Scurry said. “I think it just shows how far we’ve come since we were freshmen.
“The points really just shows how far the team’s come, because to me there’s no goal without an assist. Everything I’m doing is with my team. And the assists … someone is finishing with me, so even though I get 200 points it’s like the whole team hit 200 points. We’re all doing it together. It’s not just me.”
The Montclair State commitment had been a big assist maker early in the Cougars’ offense early in her career, or at least getting as many assists as she did goals, but she turned into a goal scorer when coach Heather Cheesman moved her to the strong right side last year. Scurry has scored 53 goals since the switch.
“She has been wonderful,” Cheesman said. “She has grown so much since her freshman year. She’s a player who can take the ball down the field or pass it. She’s definitely a team player. I have nothing but good things to say about her.”
All three Schalick goals came in a spirited third quarter in which both teams scored three times. Virga’s goal with 7:28 left in the quarter got the Cougars within one, 4-3, but they just couldn’t get the equalizer. The Vikings got some breathing room with 20 seconds left in the quarter, then extended their lead with four minutes to play.
TOC pairings set
Schalick has drawn Audubon in its opening game of the inaugural South Jersey Field Hockey Tournament of Champions.
The Cougars and Green Wave will play in the final game of the first day, 1:15 p.m. Oct. 4 at Camden Catholic. They will play either Delran or Clearview in their second game, Oct. 5 at Clearview.
Here is the first day schedule at Camden Catholic: Gloucester vs. West Deptford, 8 a.m.; Camden Catholic vs. Delsea, 9:45 a.m.; Delran vs. Clearview, 11:30 a.m. and Schalick-Audubon at 1:15 p.m.
Here is the schedule at Clearview: Gloucester-West Deptford loser vs. Camden Catholic-Delsea loser at 10 a.m.; Delran-Clearview loser vs. Schalick-Audubon loser, 11:45 a.m.: Gloucester-West Deptford winner vs. Camden Catholic-Delsea winner at 1:30 p.m.; Delran-Clearview winner vs. Schalick-Audubon winner, 3:15 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER Audubon 3, Pennsville 2: The Green Wave scored a golden goal in overtime to win. Justin Michaca and Sam Hassler scored second-half goals for the Eagles. Camden Academy Charter at Salem Salem Tech at Cape May Tech
GIRLS SOCCER Salem Tech 6, Cape May Tech 2: Ava Robinson scored three goals, Julia Hewitt Friebel two and Isabella Poli one for the Chargers. GCIT at Woodstown: Moved to Monday Hammonton 5, Schalick 3: Brooklynn DelGozzo and Alena DiGerolamo each scored two goals for the winners. Olivia Vanacker scored two goals and assisted on Quinn Berger’s goal for the Cougars. Cumberland 7, Salem 0
Here are scores and notes from Thursday’s Salem County high school sports calendar; will be updated
BOYS SOCCER Woodstown 3, Pitman 1: Bryce Ayars, Ayden Ellis and Landon Gugliemo all scored for Woodstown as the Wolverines remained unbeaten through six games (5-0-1). GIRLS SOCCER Woodstown 4, Pennsville 0: Freshman Hailey Kucharczyk scored a hat trick for the Wolverines. Ellie Wygand and Mazie Mazzoni combined for the Wolverines’ third shutout in the last four games. FIELD HOCKEY Woodstown 4, Glassboro 2: Bella Eachus scored two goals for the Wolverines (4-2). Gateway 9, Salem 0 Clayton at Pennsville, ppd. to Oct. 15 GIRLS TENNIS Salem at Wildwood, ppd. Woodstown at Pennsville, ppd. to Oct. 3 GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Timber Creek 2, Salem Tech 0 (25-20, 25-17): Maddie Oliver and Madelyn Stiffen had four kills apiece for Salem Tech. Casey Zaluske had 11 digs and Tiara Bazemore recorded 19 assists and four aces.
Freshman Vanlier moved to center forward, delivers 3 assists in Schalick’s win over Penns Grove; Pennsville scores another shutout; includes Salem County roundup
WEDNESDAY SOCCER Schalick 7, Penns Grove 1 Pennsville 7, Salem 0 Gloucester Catholic 5, Salem Tech 4 (OT)
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNS GROVE — The closest Schalick soccer comes to giving out a game ball is coach Joe Mannella giving a nice atta boy to a player in the huddle after the game. If they did give out a game ball for Wednesday’s match with Penns Grove, it surely would have gone to Ty Vanlier.
VANLIER
The freshman moved up to center forward for the first time since he was a youth and got a shout out from the coach after producing three assists in a 7-1 win over the Red Devils that got their swagger back.
The Cougars (5-2-1) were forced to look for another option up front after senior Luke Price sustained a concussion in the Bordentown match Saturday. Vanlier got his feet wet up front against Woodstown, but with a full day to prepare for the task played the whole game Wednesday feeling a lot more comfortable and assisted on goals by Anthony Sepers, Connor Jackson and Steve Chomo.
“Normally I play center midfield, but I had to do what I had to do,” Vanlier said. “I tried to go up top and just contribute to the best of my ability. That used to be my main position and then I got moved to midfielder for club. I probably played it last when I was 8 years old. They told me just play my game, do what I do best.”
“He’s one of our talented freshmen that we’ve been looking at all season waiting to get an opportunity to really make an impact,” Mannella said. “Last game he played some minutes up top against Woodstown, we liked what we saw, but we didn’t have any preparation for it. We had a nice practice yesterday, he showed us a lot there, and today you couldn’t ask for anything more out of him. He seized the opportunity and that’s the sign of a good player.”
The Cougars were reeling a bit after one-goal losses to Bordentown and rival Woodstown, but they came out aggressively and controlled the action from the opening kickoff. They opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Sepers banged home a rebound and made it 2-0 when Vanlier sent a through ball between two defenders for Jackson to finish.
Spinnato made it 3-0 in the 33rd minute, shortly after a red card left the Red Devils to play with 10 men for the rest of the game.
“We were flat the last two games, it’s just hard for us to play, I don’t know why; it wasn’t us,” Spinnato said. “We got our swagger back this game and we’re going to come for everything now. We knew we had to win and we knew we had to come here and show people we’re still into this.”
“We certainly got some confidence back today,” Mannella said. “To lose two in a row, moving positions, changing formations, they start getting antsy and you’ve got to try and not panic. The guys did a good job settling in today and getting back to playing good soccer. More work ahead, but it was a nice step to get a little confidence back.”
Penns Grove (2-2-1) seemed poised to make a statement after an overtime win over Glassboro and a tie at Woodstown earlier in the week, but the Cougars never gave them a chance to cash in on that momentum. The Red Devils had gotten a couple nice shots on Schalick keeper Evan Sepers, but only got it past him once.
Juan Ortiz scored the Red Devils’ goal two minutes before halftime.
“Didn’t go our way,” Red Devils coach Mano Massari said. “This team for years has been dominant; they just have. They were better than us today, that’s what it comes down to. We were sloppy at times, for sure. Playing a man down is never beneficial, especially when you’re playing a team like that.”
The Cougars got goals in the second half from Jaxon Weber (penalty kick), Steve Chomo, Spinnato and Landon Anderson. For Anderson, a junior, it was his first career varsity goal.
PENNSVILLE 7, SALEM 0: Sam Hassler had two goals and two assists, Ugur Elmali had three assists and Coen Rinnier posted his fifth shutout. The Eagles haven’t given up a goal to an opposing player since their 2-1 loss at Overbrook in the third game of the season.
“One thing I was never worried about this team coming into this season was our defense,” Pennsville coach Derek Foglein said. “Coen is one of the best goalkeepers in South Jersey and Steve (Fatcher) and Brant (Regner) at center back have really worked hard to make a fantastic ying and yang pairing – probably the best I’ve had in my seven seasons.”
The Eagles got a boost in their bid for the TCC Classic Division title when Wildwood handed Clayton its second division loss, 2-1 in overtime. Pennsville already has beaten Wildwood and Clayton in division play.
GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 5, SALEM TECH 4: Zack Payne’s fourth goal of the game, a golden goal in overtime, gave the Rams the victory. Salem Tech charged back with four goals in the second half after falling behind 4-0 at halftime.
Girls soccer
SCHALICK 7, PENNS GROVE 0: Kiley Parvin and Donaji Ortiz Sanchez scored their first career goals and it was such an exhilarating experience they did it multiple times. Parvin finished with a hat trick and Ortiz Sanchez had two goals. Kyleigh Cutler had three assists.
GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 7, SALEM TECH 0: Ana Yucis scored two goals for the Rams.
PITMAN 7, SALEM 0: Emily Sharpnack scored two goals for the Panthers.
Field hockey
SENECA 8, SCHALICK 1: Ava Scurry scored the Cougars’ only goal with an assist from Alexa Shimp. The goal left the senior with 199 career points. Goalie Lydia Gilligan faced constant pressure from the Golden Eagles and despite the score played what coach Heather Cheesman called “the game of her life.”
GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 3, SALEM 0: Madelyn McGinn scored the first and last goals of the game.
Here are the scores and details from Tuesday’s Salem County high school sports schedule
TUESDAY’S GAMES FIELD HOCKEY Audubon 6, Pennsville 2: Noelle Barbera scored three goals and Lily Fajardo had two for the Green Wave (4-1-1). Kylie Harris scored both Pennsville goals. Schalick 9, Deptford 1: Ava Scurry moved closer to 200 career points with two goals and three assists for the second straight game. She now has 197 points for her career. Addi Shimp had two goals. Woodstown 4, Overbrook 0: Talia Guardascione scored twice and Shyann Higinbotham recorded a career-tying three assists for the Wolverines (3-2). Every game Woodstown has played this season has been a shutout.
GIRLS TENNIS Pennsville 5, Penns Grove 0 Schalick 5, Overbrook 0 Gloucester Catholic at Salem
PENNSVILLE 5, PENNS GROVE 0 Isabell Schrenker (P) def. Andrea Restrepo, 6-0, 6-0 Morgan Holt (P) def. Ada Lopez, 6-0, 6-0 Graillyn Weber (P) def. Kavita Pulchard, 6-0, 6-0 Emma Hankin-Naomi Hess (P) def. Valaria Pedroza-Andrea Chapone, 6-0, 6-1 Yerlian Charon-Lila Angelo (P) def. Emma Tiffins-Nathalie Dominquez, 6-0, 6-2 Records: Pennsville 7-4, Penns Grove 0-6.
SCHALICK 5, OVERBROOK 0 Miya Watkins (S) def. Sophia Burgos, 6-0, 6-0 Annmarie Podehl (S) def. Natasha Hreiz, 6-3, 6-0 Macy Clow (S) def. Isabella Sepulveda, 6-2, 6-1 Olivia Lunemann-Sebrina Bradford (S) def. Leah Wilde-Anna Mason, 6-1, 6-2 Sammi Twigg-Jasmine Hunt (S) def. Charlotte Gall-Sophia Perticari, 6-1, 6-1 Records: Schalick 5-3, Overbrook 1-9.
Schalick freshman’s first career goal earns Cougars a 1-1 tie with rival Woodstown; Gratz golden for Pennsville, includes other Salem County girls soccer, tennis results
MONDAY GIRLS SOCCER Pennsville 5, Glassboro 4 Schalick 1, Woodstown 1 Wildwood 6, Salem 0 Clayton 6, Salem Tech 0 Penns Grove at Overbrook
By Brian Tortella Special to Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – Throughout the majority of Monday’s highly anticipated Schalick-Woodstown game, it seemed likely the host Wolverines were well on their way to a narrow victory over their Tri-County Diamond Division and cross county rivals for the first time in 1,081 days.
However, the Cougars had other plans.
BELL
Freshman Cecilee Bell scored the game-tying goal with just three minutes left in regulation, sending the contest into overtime where neither side could find a winner and it ended in a battle-tested 1-1 draw.
“I’m really excited,” said Bell, whose goal was the first of her varsity career. “I’m glad I was able to make my first goal in a tough game.”
Bell, a Berlin resident, commutes 40 minutes to Schalick by bus every day. She said she was motivated by Cougars’ coach Will Kemp, who she knows from summer soccer, to attend the Salem County school.
The Cougars were battling multiple injuries, which made the rookie stepping up in a high pressure situation even more special.
“No matter what year it is, no matter what teams we both have, it’s always a good rivalry match,” Kemp said. “I thought that it was incredible to see our girls fight back, especially through a lot of different injuries we picked up.
“Our freshman stepped up. Cecilee Bell scored the first goal today for us to get back into the match. First goal of the season for her. She’s been a great addition to our squad and gave us some depth.”
As the final seconds ticked away, Kemp walked directly over and shared a moment with Woodstown coach Kieran Keyser. After all, after the fight his Cougars put up, he couldn’t be upset with their performance.
“Battling back against a team like this is always going to be a physical battle,” Kemp said. “This has always been a joy of mine to come out here (to Woodstown). That’s the reason why I’m such good friends with Kieran, because we like to go back and forth.”
After the tie, Schalick stands at 3-3-1 against a highly competitive schedule against bigger schools. The Cougars are currently No. 9 in the South Jersey Group 1 power point standings. Kemp knows this gauntlet will have his team ready come playoff time.
“I’m feeling confident,” he said regarding the rest of the season. “The girls are usually kicking around this time. We had some tough matchups so far between Cherry Hill West, Washington Township and Timber Creek. Big schools. We have Hammonton this weekend. These are all tests to get ready for the playoffs because know this is going to be an important year and important time for us.”
MORGAN
Emma Morgan scored Woodstown’s goal with 7:01 left in the first half off of a corner from Emmy Perry. The strike came off her left foot for her third goal of the season.
“I’m tired, obviously; 100 minutes is hard,” said Morgan, a senior. “But I think we battled really, really hard all throughout the game. Near the post you don’t always get a lot of balls, but I made that run there and it went off my left foot. It was perfect. I didn’t even know it went in, I was so hype.”
Outside of Schalick’s clutch score in the closing minutes, the Wolverines played exceptional defense throughout the contest, led by standout goalie Ellie Wygand. The senior came up with numerous big saves in the second half, single-handedly keeping Woodstown from falling behind.
At one point in overtime, Kemp even gave his props to Wygand after she made an impressive save as he trekked down the sideline.
“It feels good to have people come up to me and say that. It proves that I work hard in practice,” Wygand said. “I feel pretty good (about the game). I know it’s not the outcome we wanted – we ended in a tie – but we gave it our all and played the hardest we could. I think when we see them again it’s going to be an even better matchup.”
Woodstown hasn’t lost a game since its season-opening setback to Audubon on Sept. 5. The Wolverines are 4-1-1 and currently sit at No. 5 in the South Jersey Group 1 power point standings.
“We have a bunch of good games coming up this week and next week that will be a good challenge for us at the beginning of midway through the season,” Morgan said.
“We are only going to go up from here,” Wygand said. “I think that in the playoffs we’re going to make a good show out and give (teams) a run for their money.”
Brian Tortella is a contributor to Riverview Sports News. His reports on South Jersey high school sports can be found on multiple platforms on the internet. (Photo by Brian Tortella)
PENNSVILLE 5, GLASSBORO 4: Molly Gratz scored three goals, including the game-winner with two minutes left in the first overtime. Taylor Bass scored the Eagles’ other two goals and assisted on the game-winner.
On the game-winner Bass broke free on the right side, then passed across to an unmarked Gratz, who easily finished.
Amina Brown scored the tying goal with 4:43 left in regulation.
“It was an exciting win,” Eagles coach Casey Slusher said.
WILDWOOD 6, SALEM 0: Molly Farrell scored two goals for the Warriors.
Woodstown senior fulfills his prophecy, scores game-winner against Schalick; includes other Salem County boys soccer games
MONDAYSOCCER Pennsville 4, Gloucester Catholic 0 Penns Grove 3, Overbrook 2 (OT) Salem at Wildwood Woodstown 2, Schalick 1 Clayton 5, Salem Tech 0
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE — Bryce Ayars told friends and teammates in school today he was going to score a goal against arch rival Schalick today. He just had that feeling.
It took nearly 71 hard minutes of soccer, but much like Babe Ruth calling his shot, the Woodstown senior fulfilled his prophecy. And the goal was significant.
Ayars stole the ball off a defender just outside the box and beat the Schalick keeper with a left-footed shot for the game-winner in a 2-1 road victory that coach Darren Huck said could afford the Wolverines “one heck of a bus ride home while were going down Route 40.”
It was the Wolverines’ first win over Schalick since the 2022 season opener in overtime (five games) and handed the Cougars (4-2-1) their first Tri-County Diamond Division loss since 2023 (21 games).
“I let my coach know I was going to score, I let the whole team know,” Ayars said. “Most of them look up to me, so in these big games I have to step up and finish the deal.
“When I play Schalick I really want one, I don’t know if it will come, but I’ll try my best to make it happen.”
It was the second year in a row he has scored on the Cougars. The goal Monday was his fifth of the season and 25th of his career. Ben Lippincott brought the ball up the field got it into the box. Ayars stole it from Cooper Willoughby then after a controlling touch shot it past keeper Evan Sepers, who was otherwise brilliant in the Schalick goal.
“The goal was probably about composure, that was the thing that stuck out to me,” Huck said while his entire squad stood around him. “He was composed in front of the net. He didn’t get tense. He didn’t come up short and got nervous because it wasn’t on the right foot or it took a bad bounce.
“He’s a senior, he’s a captain and he knows that he either makes it and he’s a hero or if he doesn’t make it people are going why, and he answered the call.”
Woodstown’s Ben Lippincott (14) looks to settle a ball before taking a shot against Schalick Monday. (Top photo) Bryce Ayars (R) tries to regain his balance after heading a ball into the crease.
Twenty-four hours earlier the two head coaches, both 300-game winners and neighbors, were enjoying each other’s camaraderie watching the Eagles’ game, as they often do in the fall. There was no talk of the upcoming soccer game between them. The only teams they talked about were the two on the TV in front of them.
When it came to Monday’s game, however, they were all business and the competition between the teams was as intense as ever.
Schalick’s Jaxon Weber opened the scoring on a 25-yard rocket into the upper right corner with 23:43 left in the first half. Lippincott got the equalizer for the Wolverines (4-0-1) 10 minutes before halftime.
Woodstown keeper Trey Markward was a rock in goal and turned away several Schalick corner kicks in the air. He made 17 saves. When the horn sounded, the Wolverines poured off the bench and dogpiled the goalie in the crease.
“The first goal was 100 percent on me so we just had to kind of regroup and find a way to get back in it and then we scored two goals against the toughest defense in this group,” Markward said. “It was just the complete team getting through it and not stopping after that mistake. I just thought we had 11 guys back there at all times.”
“He came up with some big saves,” Huck said. “He came off his line. He was aggressive. He didn’t let anybody push him around. He basically let the people know that was his box today and took care of business out there.”
Given its magnitude, Huck said the victory “could be a season-changer” for the Wolverines.
“Every one of these guys had each other’s back out here today; I think that was evident,” Huck said. “It came down to one thing and that was a W. It didn’t come down to who scored the goal, how many saves did Trey have, who had the assists or anything else. It was about the W and they got it done today.”
The Cougars, meanwhile, were left to do a little regrouping. The loss was their second one-goal loss in a row after scoring 21 goals in their previous four games. Their attack was impacted by the unavailability of injured leading scorer Luke Price. Second-leading scorer Steve Chomo had to come out after a scary collision in the second half.
“These last two games have been battles.,” Cougars coach Joe Mannella said. “I thought Washington Twp. (in the season opener) kind of showed we’ve got some toughness to us and these last two (games) kind of showed that we lost that.”
NOTES: The teams meet again Oct. 16 in Woodstown … The Wolverines haven’t been unbeaten in their first five games since 2011, when they started the season 6-0 (with five shutouts) … The Wolverines return to action Thursday at Pitman in the “Orange Cup” match.
PENNSVILLE 4, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 0: Justin Michaca and Sam Hassler scored in the first 10 minutes to give the Eagles (4-2) control of the match and John Sassi and Danny Bunny Coronel scored two minutes apart in the second. Coen Rinnier made six saves in goal. All four of the Eagles’ wins have been shutouts.
PENNS GROVE 3, OVERBROOK 2: Rooby Dorival moved up front for overtime and scored his second golden goal in three games when he converted a pass from Prince Ledbetter midway through the first overtime. Dorival also scored the game-winner against Glassboro that started the Red Devils’ current three-match unbeaten streak.
Poyraz Erdönmez and Anthony Pacheco scored Penns Grove’s other goals. Overbrook tied the match in the final minute of regulation.
“It was a good win,” Penns Grove coach Mano Massari said. “But we kind of have a way of shooting ourselves in the foot with silly mistakes that keep other teams in the game and keep us from putting the game away.”
It was tough to celebrate the win, however. Red Devils senior Louby Guerrier broke his collarbone on a breakaway in the second half. The game was delayed about 30 minutes while medical officials attended to him.
“It was a brutal loss, a brutal, brutal loss,” Massari said. “The kids won it for him, that’s for sure.”
CLAYTON 5, SALEM TECH 0: Jonathan Rehm ran his season total to 15 goals with three against the Chargers. It was his fifth multi-goal game of the season.
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Sept. 21-27
SUNDAY, SEPT. 21 COLLEGE SOFTBALL Salem CC at Camden CC, noon
MONDAY, SEPT. 22 BOYS SOCCER Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville, 4 p.m. Overbrook at Penns Grove, 4 p.m. Salem at Wildwood, 4 p.m. Woodstown at Schalick, 4 p.m. Salem Tech at Clayton, 5 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Glassboro at Pennsville, 4 p.m. Penns Grove at Overbrook, 4 p.m. Schalick vs. Woodstown, 4 p.m. Wildwood at Salem, 4 p.m. Salem Tech at Clayton, 7 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS Kingsway at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. Pennsville at Overbrook, 4 p.m. Timber Creek at Schalick, 4 p.m.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 23 FIELD HOCKEY Winslow at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m. Pennsville at Audubon, 4 p.m. Salem at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m. Schalick at Deptford, 4 p.m. Woodstown at Overbrook, 4 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS Pennsville at Penns Grove, 3:45 p.m. Gloucester Catholic at Salem, 4 p.m. Schalick at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 24 FIELD HOCKEY Schalick at Seneca, 4 p.m. BOYS SOCCER Pennsville at Salem, 4 p.m. Salem Tech at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m. Schalick at Penns Grove, 4 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech, 4 p.m. Penns Grove at Schalick, 4 p.m. Salem at Pitman, 4 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS Moorestown Friends at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech, 4 p.m. Penns Grove at Palmyra, 4 p.m. Pitman at Salem, 4 p.m.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 25 WJFL FOOTBALL Salem at Schalick, 6 p.m. Paulsboro at Overbrook, 6 p.m. Audubon at West Deptford, 7 p.m. FIELD HOCKEY Clayton at Pennsville, 4 p.m. Glassboro at Woodstown, 4 p.m. Salem at Gateway, 4 p.m. BOYS SOCCER Woodstown at Pitman, 4 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Pennsville at Woodstown, 4 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS Woodstown at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. Salem at Wildwood, 4 p.m. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Timber Creek at Salem Tech, 4 p.m. CROSS COUNTRY Salem Tech in NJTAC Championships at Medford Tech, 4 p.m.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 26 WJFL FOOTBALL Haddon Twp. at Collingswood, 6 p.m. Camden Catholic at Pennsville, 7 p.m. Penns Grove at Woodstown, 7 p.m. FIELD HOCKEY Schalick at Eastern, 4 p.m. BOYS SOCCER Audubon at Pennsville, 4 p.m. Camden Academy Charter at Salem, 4 p.m. Salem Tech at Cape May Tech, 4 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Cape May Tech at Salem Tech, 4 p.m. GCIT at Woodstown, 4 p.m. Salem at Cumberland, 4 p.m. Schalick at Hammonton, 4 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS Haddon Heights at Schalick, 4 p.m. Pennsville at Triton, 4 p.m. COLLEGE CROSS COUNTRY Salem CC at Caldwell
SATURDAY, SEPT. 27 WJFL FOOTBALL Glassboro at Woodbury FIELD HOCKEY Woodstown vs. Delsea at Rowan, 3 p.m. CROSS COUNTRY Schalick at Six Flags Great Adventure COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Jefferson (2), noon COLLEGE SOFTBALL Salem CC at Thomas Jefferson, noon
Woodstown field hockey gifts coach a shutout win over county rival and a comfy throw on her birthday, includes roundup of Friday’s Salem County sports action FIELD HOCKEY Schalick 10, Overbrook 0 Salem 2, Clayton 1 Woodstown 6, Pennsville 0
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE — Woodstown freshman Margaux Lipovsky gets excited any time she can put the ball in the back of the goal, but there was a special sense of relief when her shot broke the plane in the first five minutes of Friday’s match against Pennsville.
The goal ended a two-game dry spell for the Wolverines and sent them on the way to a 6-0 victory over their county rivals.
“It made me really excited,” Lipovsky said. “Once it rolled to my stick I kind of knew that instant it was going to go in. You just get that feeling that it’s going to go in and when you follow through and see it on the backboard it’s a good feeling.”
The Wolverines (2-2) had gone more than 125 minutes without a goal since Lipovsky scored in the fourth quarter of their season-opening 7-0 rout of Deptford. It was the program’s longest drought since going four straight games without scoring Oct. 9-18 of last year.
But they lit the lamp six times against the Eagles, with goals from six different players. Zoe Lipovsky made it 2-0 early in the second quarter, followed by goals from Corinne Cocking, Bella Eachus, Talia Guardascione (on an assist from Margaux) and Brooke Dillon.
“There was definitely some relief in there that we still have our offensive lineup,” junior captain Shyann Higinbotham said. “It was just about finishing. Finally getting to finish today proved our point that we still have it in us.”
The power surge was a nice 75th birthday present for new coach Gloria Byard. After the game the players serenaded their coach with a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday” and gifted their former Olympian a comfy throw embossed with familiar words of wisdom.
“I wasn’t really surprised,” Byard said. “I know these guys are really a group of awesome, appreciative young ladies. They work hard. They don’t ask for anything. It’s a good group of young ladies, so I’m not surprised at all (what they did).”
Interestingly, for all the playing and living she has done, Friday, she said, was the first time she ever played or coached a game on her birthday.
“It’s ironic her first year being here it was on her birthday, and I think her coming back here to end it at Woodstown when she started at Woodstown is really special,” Higinbotham said. “It’s cool to be coached by her for my final two years here.”
The players gave the throw a more personal touch by stitching it with all of their favorite sayings from the coach. Lipovsky’s favorite is “You guys look like human cones” (a reference to standing around with the ball in play). For Higinbotham, her favorite is a little more direct – “Hard work works.”
That part of it did surprise the coach.
“That was amazing; it was like, wow,” she said. “It’s like they do listen to me, huh? They pay attention.”
The win Friday may not have been taken for granted, but it was always in the (birthday) cards.
“I knew we had a big shot at winning, but you never know, one any given day anything can happen,” Byard said. “But that’s the one thing: They were practicing yesterday and said coach, for your birthday gift we’re going to win.’ I said, ‘you promise?’ They said ‘definitely.’”
Top photo: Woodstown field hockey coach Gloria Byard shows off the comfy throw her players gifted for her birthday after the Wolverines’ 6-0 win over Pennsville. The throw is embossed with the players’ favorite sayings from their coach.
Salem’s Julliana Love winds up for a shot against Clayton. Love scored both of the Rams’ goals in the win. (Photo by Miranda Love)
SALEM 2, CLAYTON 1: Julliana Love scored two goals, including the game-winner with five minutes left, and Ava Rodgers stopped a penalty stroke as the Rams (1-3) won for the first time under new coach Brittany Bryant.
After the teams played through a scoreless first half. Love broke the ice in the first minute of the third quarter. The Clippers tied it and Rodgers kept it that way when she stopped a penalty stroke. Love put the Rams back on top with her fifth goal of the year and then they held on.
“Winning our first game was amazing,” Love said. “It was a nice look of what winning felt like for the new girls on the team.
“Being able to lead my team into winning the game felt great to know that I lead the team, but I couldn’t do it without my fellow teammates having my back. Knowing I got to put two goals in the cage for my team and coaches made me so happy to know I didn’t let them down.”
SCHALICK 10, OVERBROOK 0: Ava Scurry had two goals and three assists, Luci Virga surpassed 100 career points with two goals and an assist. Virga now has 39 points and 24 assists in her career. The 10 goals are the most in a game for the Cougars since swamping Cumberland 11-0 51 weeks ago.
Woodstown freshman Margaux Lipovsky (1) fires a shot towards the goal in the first quarter of Friday’s game with Pennsville. Lipovsky scored the game’s first goal and assisted on another in the second half.
GIRLS SOCCER CHERRY HILL WEST 1, SCHALICK 0: West scored a goal in the first half then held off the Cougars through several close calls. Schalick’s Kyleigh Cutler was pulled down looking at an empty net without a whistle and several free kicks went across empty nets.
GIRLS TENNIS PENNSVILLE 4, GLASSBORO 1 Izzy Schlenker (P) def. Alana Killelea, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) Morgan Holt (P) def. Taylor Adcock, 6-0, 6-1 Graillyn Weber (P) def. Alice Dinzeo, 6-2, 6-0 Emma Hankin-Naomi Hess (P) def. Virginia Tarasevich-Amani George, 6-2, 6-1 Sofia Dungca-Ijeoma Ufomba (G) def. Yerlian Charon-Lila Angelo, 6-4, 6-3 Records: Pennsville 5-4, Glassboro 4-4
VOLLEYBALL SALEM TECH 2, BUENA 0: The Chargers (3-1) took two close sets, 25-19, 25-22, to win their second straight match.
CROSS COUNTRY
GALLOWAY — Karson Chew finished 17th overall and two other runners placed in the top 30 to lead the Woodstown boys cross country team to a sixth place finish in the Osprey XC High School Invite at Stockton University.
Chew covered the course in 16:49.69. Teammate Jacob Marino was 24th (17:05.35) and David Farrell was 28th (17:12.79).
Gavin Oliver of Donovan Catholic won the boys race in 15:44.46. Egg Harbor Twp. won the boys team title with 98 points.
Woodstown’s girls placed 20th in their race. Abby Marino was 16th overall (19:56.81). Natalie Briggs of team champion Freehold Twp. won the race in 18:27.20.
Big soccer day: Woodstown, Penns Grove boys play to draw; Pennsville boys bounce back to beat Clayton in 2 OTs; Schalick’s Fisler sets Schalick assist record; also field hockey, tennis; stories will be updated
BOYS SOCCER Pennsville 1, Clayton 0: Lucas Cooksey taps home a rebound in the first minute of the second overtime for the game’s only goal. Penns Grove 1, Woodstown 1: Penns Grove’s Dwayne Guzman makes 20 saves to preserve the draw. Schalick 6, Glassboro 0: Senior John Egan V, a fan and teammate favorite, scores his first career goal. Wildwood 6, Salem Tech 0: Michael Blanda scored twice in the Warriors’ four-goal first half. Salem at Gloucester Catholic
GIRLS SOCCER Schalick 8, Glassboro 0: Senior Cali Fisler sets school all-time assist record (44), setting up two of Abby Willoughby’s three goals. Woodstown 6, Penns Grove 0: The Wolverines broke open a close game with five goals in the second half. Bailey Arnold Peters scored twice. Gloucester Catholic 7, Salem 0: Seven different players score to keep Gloucester Catholic undefeated, Salem winless. Salem Tech at Wildwood
Riverview Sports News 