Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Dec. 8-13; x-scrimmage
MONDAY, DEC. 8 BOYS BASKETBALL x-Triton at Woodstown, 4 p.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL x-Triton at Salem, 3:30 p.m. x-Pennsville at Millville, 4 p.m.
TUESDAY, DEC. 9 BOYS BASKETBALL x-Pennsville at Clayton, 4 p.m. x-Penns Grove at Vineland, 4 p.m. x-Salem at Bridgeton, 4 p.m. x-Schalick at Cumberland, 4 p.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL x-Bridgeton at Salem, 3:30 p.m. x-Cumberland at Schalick, 4 p.m. x-Highland at Penns Grove, 4 p.m. BOWLING Salem Tech vs. Gloucester at Wood Lanes, 3:45 p.m. Salem vs. Overbrook at Wood Lanes, 4 p.m. COLLEGE BASKETBALL RCSJ-Gloucester at Salem CC, 7 p.m. WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL Morris at Salem CC, 5 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10 BOYS BASKETBALL x-Woodstown at Paulsboro, 4 p.m. SWIMMING Schalick at Camden County Tech, 4 p.m. TRACK Pennsville Polar Bear Meet, 3 p.m. BOWLING Salem Tech vs. Clayton at Bowlero, 3:45 p.m.
THURSDAY, DEC. 11 BOYS BASKETBALL x-Cinnaminson at Penns Grove, 4 p.m. x-St. Joseph at Schalick, 4 p.m. x-Salem Tech at Pennsauken Tech GIRLS BASKETBALL x-Cumberland at Penns Grove, 4 p.m. x-Schalick at Bridgeton, 4 p.m. x-Woodstown at Lower Cape May, 4:45 p.m. SWIMMING Woodstown at Camden Academy Charter, 3:30 p.m. Salem vs. Pitman at GCIT, 6 p.m. BOWLING Salem vs. Gloucester Catholic at Wood Lanes, 4 p.m. COLLEGE BASKETBALL Salem CC at RCSJ-Cumberland, 5 p.m. WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL RCSJ-Cumberland at Salem CC, 5 p.m.
FRIDAY, DEC. 12 WRESTLING Pennsville girls in TCC Jamboree, 5 p.m.
SATURDAY, DEC. 13 BOYS BASKETBALL Penns Grove Showcase Cumberland vs. West Deptford, 10:30 a.m. Winslow vs. Deptford, 12:30 p.m. Woodstown vs. Woodbury, 4:30 p.m. Penns Grove vs. Lindenwold, 6:30 p.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL Penns Grove Showcase Woodbury at Penns Grove, 2:30 p.m. WRESTLING Schalick Holiday Tournament, 9 a.m. Salem at Vineland Tournament Woodstown at Delaware Valley Tournament INDOOR TRACK Salem at Ott Center, Philadelphia COLLEGE BASKETBALL Brookdale at Salem CC, 2 p.m. WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL Lackawanna at Salem CC, noon
The Tri-County and Colonial Conference soccer stars face off in annual all-star games Monday at Clayton
By Riverview Sports News
CLAYTON – The Tri-County Conference will put its recent series dominance on the line with another strong roster of all-stars when the games are played on the artificial turf at Haupt Field here Monday night.
TCC has won the boys game the last two years with one-sided outcomes – 9-1 and 5-2 – that weren’t anticipated but just happened.
“The whole point of the game is for it to be competitive and fun and for these guys to play with some really good players and just have some fun with it; that’s the main part of it,” said Woodstown coach Darren Huck, who has the TCC boys team. “I don’t want to see a blowout on either side, that’s not good for anybody. I’m expecting a close game.”
Salem County is well represented with five players in the 5 p.m. girls game and nine in the boys 7 p.m. nightcap.
Among the girls are Schalick’s set-piece specialist Quinn Berger and all-time assists leader Cali Fisler, Woodstown’s Delaney Walker and Ellie Wygand, and Pennsville’s Taylor Bass.
Schalick has four players on the TCC boys roster – Steve Chomo, Jaxon Weber, Anthony Sepers and Michael Nelson – and they’re joined by Woodstown’s Bryce Ayars and Josh Crawford, Pennsville’s Steve Fatcher and Coen Rinnier, and Salem Tech’s Kameron Brown.
“I think we’re going to have a very good showing,” Huck said. “I think we’re going to be very strong with very quality, quality players. It’s a privilege to coach them.”
Huck hasn’t determined his starters, but he does have a plan for the groups. He’ll play with three forwards, giving each of the two groups 20 minutes per half. The two sets of four midfielders also will get 20 minutes per half and the three sets of four defenders will each get 13-minute shifts. Each keeper will get 20 minutes.
“I expect the Colonial Conference to come out with their strongest lineup in the beginning of the game, so we want to make sure we put our strongest goal keeper out there,” Huck said.
Ten of the TCC girls and 12 of the TCC boys will be playing in the South Jersey Soccer Coaches All-Star Game Tuesday at Rutgers-Camden. The Colonial has seven and four players, respectively, in that game.
Girls rosters, 5 p.m.
NO.
TRI-COUNTY GIRLS
COLONIAL GIRLS
1
x-Taylor Stuart, Washington Twp.
x-Charlie Owens, Audubon
2
x-Carli Scrivana, Williamstown
x-Brielle Connor, Haddon Hts.
3
x-McKenna Eaton, Williamstown
x-Rylee Delaney, W. Deptford
4
Casey Vilary, Clearview
Penny Floyd, Gateway
5
Allison Wiggins, Kingsway
Alexis Nelson, Gloucester
6
Mackenzie Barry, Kingsway
Ayanna Miller, Woodbury
7
Brianna Weiss, Washington Twp.
Montgomery Graham, Sterling
8
Brooke Jones, GCIT
x-Kylie Tocco, Audubon
9
x-Deondria Simon, Clayton
x-Alexis Varela, W. Deptford
10
Alyssa Shinskie, Clayton
Joselyn Hauck, Haddon Twp.
11
LeighAnn Nage, Clayton
Madison Eastlack, W. Deptford
12
Audrey Duffield, Pitman
x-Kayleigh Daley, Gateway
13
Lauren Narolewski, Glou. Cath.
Whitney Okeke, Lindenwold
14
Kaitlyn Capalbo, Glou. Cath.
x-Emily Sewell, Gateway
15
x-Olivia Capecci, Delsea
Madison Sims, Sterling
16
x-Ayress Maitland, Delsea
Mariela Fuentes Ramirez, Lindenwold
17
Emma Serrano, Delsea
Egypt Bolan, Londenwold
18
Gracie Mills, Deptford
Molly Sullivan, Audubon
19
x-Anna Lawyer, Deptford
Sydney O;Loughlin, W. Deptford
20
Ciana Ragonese, Cumberland
Moira Schroeder, Haddon Hts.
21
Elizabeth Anderson, Highland
Jayleen Peebles, Haddon Twp.
22
x-Amina Brown, Glassboro
Lily Henning, Haddon Twp.
23
Quinn Berger, Schalick
Alex Billingsley, Haddon Twp.
24
x-Cali Fisler, Schalick
25
x-Delaney Walker, Woodstown
26
Ellie Wygand, Woodstown
27
Gianna Simon, Overbrook
28
Taylor Bass, Pennsville
x-Playing in SJSCA Game Tuesday at Rutgers-Camden
Boys rosters, 7 p.m.
TRI-COUNTY BOYS
COLONIAL BOYS
1
William Gallagher, Triton
Connor Wendell, Audubon
2
Mason Henry, Deptford
Phelan Pizzutillo, Collingswood
3
x-Kenny Cockerill, Deptford
Mason McCarthy, Haddon Twp.
4
Brody Rowe, Timber Creek
Ethan LaCroix, Gateway
5
Aidan Worley, Highland
Juan Flores-Sanches, Collingswood
6
Joshua Holt, Cumberland
x-Eammon Sheehan, Haddon Twp.
7
x-Danny Bird, Delsea
x-Riley Yearicks, W. Deptford
8
x-Bryce Ayars, Woodstown
x-Ben Cameron, Audubon
9
Steve Chomo, Schalick
Max Ciavarelli, Haddon Hts.
10
x-Jaxon Weber, Schalick
Allan Medina, Gloucester
11
Anthony Sepers, Schalick
Zach Fayer, Audubon
12
x-Michael Nelson, Schalick
Allen Eastlack, W. Deptford
13
Josh Crawford, Woodstown
Nate Durst, Collingswood
14
x-Joey Zubert, Pitman
Lester Saba, Woodbury
15
Zach Payne, Glou. Cath.
Brendan Rettig, Gloucester
16
Alex Osorio, Wildwood
Shawn Rizzi, Audubon
17
Steve Fatcher, Pennsville
Quinn Dahem, Haddon Hts.
18
Ju’son Stewart, Clayton
Alton Rattle, Gateway
19
Steven Benckert, Clayton
Carter Watson, W. Deptford
20
Coen Rinnier, Pennsville
x-Bayron Guardado, Lindenwold
21
Kameron Brown, Salem Tech
Hendrick Guerrero, Lindenwold
22
x-Connor Brown, Kingsway
Jonathan Rojas, Haddon Hts.
23
x-Ayden Anderson, Washington Twp.
Jack McGarrigel, Haddon Twp.
24
x-Cole Madgey, GCIT
Patrick Farrow, Collingswood
25
Luke Marino, Clearview
26
x-Robbie Finnegan, Washington Twp.
27
x-Amadu Jalloh, Williamstown
28
Cristian Russell, Williamstown
29
Angel Lara, Wildwood
30
x-Sean Tarsatana, Washington Twp.
x-Playing in SJSCA game Tuesday at Rutgers-Camden.
Here are the first and second team selections for the Tri-County Conference Diamond and Classic All-Star Teams; 27 Salem County players recognized; x-known TCC-v-Colonial All-Star Game picks
Woodstown soccer, Schalick field hockey head into their respective SJ Group I tournaments off shutout victories in their regular-season finales; Salem Tech field hockey wraps its inaugural season with a win
WEDNESDAY’S SCORES BOYS SOCCER Woodstown 3, Gateway 0 West Deptford 5, Penns Grove 0 KIPP at Salem GIRLS SOCCER Salem at Gloucester Catholic FIELD HOCKEY Schalick 4, Mainland 0 Salem Tech 2, Burlington City 0 Vineland at Woodstown
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – Can you imagine what was going through Woodstown soccer coach Darren Huck’s mind when the South Jersey Group I tournament brackets came out Wednesday afternoon. Given the time of day, he might have choked on his lunch.
The Wolverines were expecting to pull down a No. 4 seed and host nemesis Palmyra in the opening round, based on the close of the power points standings. Imagine the coach’s surprise when he looked at the official pairings and saw his team on the other side of the bracket, a 6 seed and hosting Clayton.
“I knew right away that they made a mistake,” Huck said. “I knew something was not right. I got a text from another coach and it was like, ‘Have you seen the bracket? I hadn’t at the time, but I open it up and see us at 6, playing Clayton as an 11.
“Right away, I go maybe I’m not on the right year. No, this is right. How was that possible that Haddon Twp. dropped to 3, (listed No. 1) Audubon’s biggest win of the year was against us and after they beat us they still didn’t have enough to jump Schalick or Haddon Twp. I knew something was not right. There was something rotten in Denmark.”
He expressed his uncertainty to athletics director Joe Ursino, but discouraged him from calling the NJSIAA office because he was certain plenty of others already had and he was confident “they’ll figure it out.”
He checked it again about a half hour before the Wolverines went out for their 3-0 shutout of Gateway in their regular-season finale and found the bracket taken down, so he knew someone was working on it. A short time later, it was back up and the Wolverines were back on the favorable 4-line hosting Palmyra in Tuesday’s opening round.
The other three Salem County teams in the field kept their projected places – Schalick (No. 2), Penns Grove (No. 7) and Pennsville (No. 9). Schalick and Penns Grove will have opening-round home games, while Pennsville will be on the road.
Ironically, Huck caught a mistake in the bracket last year as it related to the Wolverines. He said he hadn’t gotten any explanation for the initial miscalculation this year.
“We were talking about it briefly in the locker room prior to the game and were wondering what had happened as we thought we had the 4-seed secured,” said senior Josef Hummel, who scored the Wolverines’ third goal against Gateway. “But we knew we had to focus on the match at hand against another playoff-bound team.
“We were glad to hear after the game that we are back in the 4 seed, and we are looking forward to our game against Palmyra on Tuesday.”
It’ll be the third year in a row the Wolverines will face Palmyra in the playoffs, but the first time in the opening round. The Pals knocked them out in the third round each of the last two years.
“Talk about of all the possible teams to face as a 13th-seed it’s Palmyra of all things; I mean, come on,” Huck said. “At some point I always say in the playoffs you either have to go through Haddon Twp., Palmyra, Schalick. If you want to win South Jersey you’re going to have to beat one or two of those are some point.”
The Wolverines (11-3-4) go into the playoffs off what Huck called “a nice, solid win from start to finish.”
Nick DiTeodoro and Jake Lewis scored goals in the first half with Bryce Ayars getting both assists. DiTeodoro beat the keeper to the far post from the left side and Lewis scored what Huck called “one of the best goals I think we’ve had this year,” a rocket that he tucked inside the right post.
Hummel finished off the scoring in the second half with his second career goal. It came on a cross from Brendon Curtis that he squared up and buried from about 10 yards.
“I had seen (Curtis) attacking the corner really well and I knew the cross was coming in,” Hummel said. “I tried to position myself on the backside of the center back and as the cross came in I was able to get a quick, one-time shot off into the bottom corner away from the keeper. I’m glad I was able to contribute to the team’s win against a playoff quality team like Gateway.”
Meanwhile, Trey Markward and his reliable backline teamed up for the Wolverines’ ninth shutout of the season.
“The defense really stood out today,” Huck said. “The starting defense was back in there today and they just cut down the shots and the opportunities. We haven’t given up many goals this year. We’ve been stingy that way.”
WEST DEPTFORD 5, PENNS GROVE 0: The Eagles scored four goals in the first half and then closed out the Red Devils. Five different players scored in the game.
With their first home playoff game since 2022 on the horizon, the Red Devils played their varsity about 20 minutes. In that opening salvo Juan Ortiz nearly scored a goal. For the junior varsity players who went the rest of the game it was a chance to show what they’ll bring to the table next season when there will be plenty of spots available.
FIELD HOCKEY SALEM TECH 2, BURLINGTON CITY 0: Olivia Lydon had a goal and an assist as the Chargers wrapped up a successful inaugural season with a shutout. Lydon assisted on Hazel Eachus’ first goal of the game and then converted a pass from Abigail Beals for the second goal. Caroline Tighe posted her eighth shutout, The Chargers were eligible for the Group 2 playoffs in their first varsity season, but didn’t make it, and finished their year 9-5, one of 26 South Jersey Group 1 or 2 teams with a winning record. SCHALICK 4, MAINLAND 0: Ava Scurry and Lucy Virga each scored two goals for the Cougars in their regular-season finale. They finished the schedule with five straight wins, four straight shutouts. Goalie Lydia Gilligan hasn’t given up a goal since the third quarter of 10-2 rout of Glassboro (17 consecutive quarters). The Cougars host Florence in the opening round of the South Jersey Group I tournament Tuesday.
Here are the scores and details from Monday’s Salem County sports schedule BOYS SOCCER Paulsboro 3, Salem Tech 1 Triton 2, Woodstown 1 Salem at Gloucester Catholic
TRITON 2, WOODSTOWN 1: The Wolverines got out fast, scoring on Bryce Ayars’ header two minutes into the match, but Triton overcame it.
GIRLS SOCCER Woodstown 2, Triton 0
WOODSTOWN 2, TRITON 0: Emma Morgan and Gina Murray scored goals in the first half and Ellie Wygand made four saves to record her eighth shutout of the season. FIELD HOCKEY Pennsville 1, Gloucester Catholic 0
PENNSVILLE 1, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 0: Izzy Saulin converted a pass from Delaney Ford with 8:10 left in the third quarter for the only goal of the game, avenging a 1-0 loss to the Rams in the first meeting between the teams.
The win gives the Eagles (8-8-1) a chance to finish the regular season with a winning record and earn a share of the TCC Classic Division title with a win at Clayton Tuesday while continuing to play for coach Lisa Doran, who remains out for health reasons.
It would be their first division title since 2021.
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.”
def. Mollie Willis, 6-1, 6-1
Riverview Sports News 