Thursday roundup: Schalick field hockey rallies behind injured coach, blanks rival Woodstown; Salem Tech makes it two in a row; Woodstown tennis edges Pennsville
FIELD HOCKEY
Gloucester Catholic 1, Pennsville 0
Deptford 7, Salem 2
Salem Tech 1, Clayton 0
Schalick 3, Woodstown 0
GIRLS TENNIS
Woodstown 3, Pennsville 2
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – The day didn’t start out great for the Schalick field hockey team, but it sure ended that way.
Cougars coach Heather Cheesman slipped exiting the team bus upon its arrival for Thursday’s game at rival Woodstown and chipped a bone in her right ankle. While she coached her team from a seated position using a field hockey stick as a cane, her players rallied around her to claim a 3-0 win.
“The girls made it easy,” Cheesman said. “Every time we needed to talk they would come in, they’d get around me, we would come in tight and talk low because we couldn’t go to the goal cage like we usually do. When the quarters ended we couldn’t go out in the field like we normally do, so we were kind of closer to the other team than we would have liked, but they made it pretty easy.”
The Cougars (3-1) were charged up to play for their coach. They came out fast and dominated the action. Goalie Lydia Gilligan only had to touch the ball once.
Lena Virga slipped a pass from Ava Scurry into the back of the cage in the first quarter to open the scoring. Scurry scored two goals in the second half on passes from Phoebe Alward and Ella Cheesman.
“The last couple games the girls have been coming out slow,” Cheesman said. “They’re flat, they’re not talking, they don’t look like they’re jelling on the field. It never happened in this game. They came out strong to begin with. Their passes were so good. Everything we’ve been working on just kind of came together.”
And to think it took an injury to their coach to bring it out of them.
She went to the emergency room to have her ankle checked during the JV game and returned home wearing a temporary cast. She’ll follow up with the orthopedist in 3-5 days, but has no plans to stop coaching while she’s on the mend.
“Maybe it’s not as bad as they think and they can put me in a boot or something,” she said. “It’s OK, I’ll survive. It could always be worse.”
SALEM TECH 1, CLAYTON 0: The Chargers followed up the first win in their program’s history with another one-goal win. The Chargers scored the only goal of the match in the second quarter.
GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 1, PENNSVILLE 0: Alana Belian scored the game’s only goal less than three minutes into the match and teams battled it out the rest of the way.
DEPTFORD 7, SALEM 2: The Spartans scored four goals in the first quarter and maintained control the rest of the match. Julliana Love and Jared Weathers scored goals for the Rams.
GIRLS TENNIS
WOODSTOWN — Senior Noelle Neron took an intense three-set victory over Morgan Holt at No. 3 singles to clinch the Wolverines’ 3-2 victory over Pennsville.
Neron dropped the first set 7-5, but won the second 6-4 to even the match and then took it with a 10-7 win in the tiebreaker. It was her second three-set win of the season.
“The two girls really battled it out,” Woodstown coach Jesse Stemberger said. “In the end, three points playing out differently and there could have been a different result. Both girls gave it everything and we were fortunate to pull it out.
“It’s always competitive when we play them … Noelle dug deep when she needed to. She’s dedicated to the sport and it was great to see her hard work pay off.”
WOODSTOWN 3, PENNSVILLE 2
Lily Edwards (P) def. Nathalie Neron, 6-3, 6-1
Alyssa Berry (WO) def. Izzy Schrenker, 6-1, 6-2
Noelle Neron (WO) def. Morgan Holt, 5-7, 6-4, 10-7
Emma Hankin-Naomi Hess (P) def. Madison LaPalomento-Emilee Kehr, 6-3, 6-0
Emma West-Angelina Lindenmuth (WO) def. Lila Angelo-Graillyn Weber, 6-2, 6-2
Records: Woodstown 3-1, Pennsville 4-3.
Category: SALEM
Unforgettable first win
Salem Tech field hockey beats the clock in regulation and overtime, turns back Paulsboro for program’s first win in first official home game; includes Wednesday’s Salem County roundup, Thursday’s schedule
FIELD HOCKEY
Salem Tech 4, Paulsboro 3 (OT)
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN — When superintendent Jack Swain started sports at Salem Tech in a time that wasn’t really that long ago, it was with the vision of giving its students the chance to make lifelong memories beyond the classroom. Chances are no one connected with the school will forget what took place Wednesday.
The Chargers’ fledgling field hockey team played its first official home game in program history and made it a memorable one. They rallied from two-goal deficits in the first and fourth quarters, beat the clock at the end of both regulation and overtime and dramatically turned back Paulsboro 4-3 for their first win in school history.
Sophomore forward Adessa Plum scored two goals on her 15th birthday, the first one in program history in the second quarter and the game-tying goal 10 seconds before the end of regulation on the officials’ watches. Freshman Hazel Eachus slipped the game-winner through right at the whistle to end overtime.
“I’m just so proud of the girls,” Chargers coach Maureen Lewis said. “I feel like they deserve this win because of how hard they have worked and they worked so hard on the field during this game.
“I think I’ll always remember it. I remember these kinds of moments from when I played, so I feel like I’ll remember it. To do it on our home turf for the first, it’s truly special.”
Salem Tech added field hockey to its varsity offerings this year and will have 14 sports when baseball and softball come on line in the spring. They will play as an independent this year because the Tri-County Conference is in the middle of a two-year scheduling cycle, but will be eligible for the Group 2 playoffs.
The field hockey team debuted last Thursday and lost to Sterling 4-0. All four goals came in the first six minutes of the season, then the teams played even the rest of the game.
The Chargers seemed destined for a similar fate Wednesday when the Red Raiders scored in the opening minute and grabbed a 2-0 lead after the first quarter. Lewis gathered the team after the second goal and before the quarter break and encouraged them to keep fighting.
“Our girls just didn’t give up,” she said. “That’s what’s so special about them, they don’t give up and don’t let it get to their head and they just keep working hard. Sometimes we just need to adjust and they need some talking to and that will usually get it done.”
Plum had the honor of scoring the first goal in school history when she knocked in a pass from Eachus on the right side of the cage with 8:50 left in the second quarter. It stayed 2-1 through halftime.
“Adessa, sometimes she just comes out of nowhere,” Lewis said. “She surprises us often.”
Paulsboro regained a two-goal lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Chargers scored twice in the final five minutes of regulation to force 7v7 overtime. Abigail Beals got them within one and then Plum tied it off a pass from Shelby Drummond.
The Red Raiders questioned whether time had expired prior to Plum’s goal, but the officials said there was a lag between the clock at the scoring table and their official watches and by their count there were enough seconds remaining to score the goal. Plum was unaware of how little time remained and just kept attacking the cage.
“I just kept going,” she said. “I didn’t hear a horn.”
The Chargers had several good chances in overtime but were turned away. Conversely, Salem Tech goalie Caroline Tighe kicked out a serious threat by Paulsboro early in the extra period.
On Tech’s winning rush, Jessilyn Chambers sent the ball across from the right wing and Beals got it to Eachus down by the left post. Paulsboro goalie Amelia Lyons came out to challenge, but Eachus pushed it past her and off the inside of the right post for the game-winner.
“I didn’t realize (how much time was left) at all,” Eachus said. “I was just trying to score a goal and win the game. We push ourselves to the limit no matter what.”
And on this day the Chargers pushed themselves to an historic win.
“It was really memorable,” Eachus said. “I’m glad to be a part of this.”
| Paulsboro (0-2) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0- | 3 |
| Salem Tech (1-1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1- | 4 |
Wednesday roundup
BOYS SOCCER
PENNS GROVE – Penns Grove and Glassboro have staged some epic battles in recent years and Wednesday was another of them. In a series that seems to go back and forth, this edition went to the Red Devils.
Rooby Dorival was brought up from the midfield to give the Red Devils a little more punch in overtime and the moved worked as he converted Louby Guerrier’s pass about seven minutes into the extra session for the game-winner in a 3-2 victory.
“I made the decision to take him out from the back and put him up with another striker; they both have a lot of speed and it paid off big time,” Penns Grove coach Mano Massari said. “I talked to the guys in overtime and asked do we want to go for it and they all said yeah we want to go for it. We put them up top and it paid off big time.
“They’re from Haiti;. I call them the Haitian Sensations. They really do a nice job together.”
The game went back and forth. The Red Devils took a 1-0 lead on Mario Fuentes’ penalty kick, but Glassboro tied it. The Bulldogs went ahead 2-1, then senior captain Joey Schultz made a ”great shot” off a cross from Guerrier with about 10 minutes left to retie it.
Seven of the last eight games between the teams have been decided by one goal. The other was a tie.
“Every time we play them it’s a battle,” Massari said. “This was pretty big for us. We did not show up against Pitman on Tuesday. We moved some things around last minute and it just didn’t work; the guys were flat. Today was the polar opposite. They fought hard.
“It showed grit, character, things we want and things we need. Definitely taking us in the right direction. We’ve just got to keep it going.”
Woodstown 3, Overbrook 2: The Wolverines fell behind early, then scored three straight goals to take control. Bryce Ayars got the equalizer on a penalty kick, Jake Lewis gave them the lead and Landon Guglielmo added a necessary insurance goal on a left-foot shot from 20 yards.
Schalick 3, Pitman 1: Luke Price broke a 1-1 tie in the 71st minute with his second goal of the game off a rare goalie assist from Evan Sepers and Marco Spinnato put it away three minutes later.
Pennsville 3, Wildwood 0: Danny Bunny Coronel scored in the eighth minute and Lucas Cooksey and Justin Michaca scored two minutes apart in the second half. Coen Rinnier made 11 saves in posting his second straight shutout and had a goalie assist on Coronel’s goal.
Salem Tech 6, Salem 0: Kameron Brown had a hat trick, Logan Pace scored twice and James Welch had the goal of the game off a Daniel Marandola corner kick. Aiden Bobo earned the shutout.
GIRLS SOCCER
Schalick 6, Pennsville 0: Abby Willoughby scored four goals, one in the opening minute and three in the second half, to lead the Cougars. Olivia Vanacker and Karlie Bakley had the other two goals. Cali Fisler picked up the assist on Willoughby’s last two goals and is now two shy of the school’s all-time record.
Woodstown 7, Overbrook 1: Gina Murray scored twice, while Emma Perry, Sophie Wells, Hailey Kucharczuk, Aubree Covely and Evelyn Walker each scored once.
Glassboro 5, Penns Grove 0: Amina Brown had a hat trick for the Bulldogs.
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick at Pennsville
Woodstown at Penns Grove
Salem at Overbrook
Thursday’s schedule
WJFL FOOTBALL
Penns Grove at Glassboro, 7 p.m.
Eastern at Vineland, 6 p.m.
Gateway at Wildwood, 6 p.m.
Highland at Pennsauken, 6 p.m.
KIPP Cooper Norcross at Buena, 6 p.m.
Riverside at Maple Shade, 6 p.m.
West Deptford at Collingswood, 6 p.m.
Haddon Township at Clayton, 7 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Salem at Deptford, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Clayton, 6 p.m.
Schalick at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Palmyra, 4 p.m.
Tuesday roundup
Here are the results of Tuesday’s high school sports action in Salem County; includes Wednesday’s schedule
TUESDAY’S SCORES
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick 8, Glassboro 0: Ava Scurry scored two goals and assisted on four others. Luci Virga also scored two goals.
Woodstown 7, Deptford 0: Zoe Lipovsky scored twice as the Wolverines won the first game in Gloria Byard’s tenure as coach.
GIRLS TENNIS
WOODSTOWN 5, WEST DEPTFORD 0
Nathalie Neron (WO) def. Gianna Concordia, 6-1, 6-0
Alyssa Berry (WO) def. Alyssa Taylor, 7-5, 6-3
Noelle Neron (WO) def. Jody Wu, 6-3, 3-6, 10-8
Madison LaPalomento-Emilee Kehr (WO) def. Lily Avila-Hayley Dobbins, 6-3
Records: Woodstown 2-1, West Deptford 2-6.
CROSS COUNTRY
TCC Batch Meet at Cumberland
BOYS TOP 20
Dominic Burgio, Williamstown 16:12.59; Logan Pavelik, Williamstown 16:14.25; Trevor Szilier, Washington Twp. 16:15.72; Michael Beaver, Kingsway 16:35.04; Andrew Dopkin, Highland 16:36.39; Jacob Marino, Woodstown 17:00.72; Colin Roznowski, Highland 17:08.61; David Farrell, Woodstown 17:16.87; Wyatt Evans, GCIT 17:20.29; Rhys Blackman, Pitman 17:23.92; Ryan DeVecchis, Washington Twp. 17:27.28; Matthew Littlehales, Delsea 17:37.11; Duke Snyder-Shellito, GCIT 17:37.49; Daniel Gee, Highland 17:38.39; Karson Chew, Woodstown 17:38.66; Oluwanifemi Fadulu, Highland 17:51.16; Tyler Altman, Clearview 17:52.94; Chase Riley, Schalick 17:55.00; Jonathan Delicate, Williamstown 17:55.19; Jayden Denton, Washington Twp. 17:55.95.
GIRLS TOP 20
Sophia Aldridge, Williamstown 18:53.69; Aubrey Bishop, Kingsway 19:24.49; Abby Marino, Woodstown 20:29.48; Julia Burgio, Williamstown 20:59.32; Yazmire Bonhomme, Williamstown 21:18.99; Brooke Mashburn, Delsea 21:36.71; Olivia Mashburn, Delsea 21:37.01; Jordan Muczydlowski, GCIT 21:37.31; Isabella Moran, Delsea 21:40.50; Anabel Schaal, Woodstown 21:43.70; Julia Blanchard, Washington Twp. 21:51.95; Dakota Milou, Washington Twp. 22:08.80; Rhea Remaly, Clearview 22:11.01; Sofia Moran, Delsea 22:25.00; Lyana Gutierrez, Highland 22:31.55; Allison Reinherz, Washington Twp. 22:34.24; Ava Buchanan, Kingsway 22:36.59; Kate Yanek, Clearview 22:42.65; Layla Chain, Washington Twp. 22:48.94; Carli Sciotto, Washington Twp. 22:58.51.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech
WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE
FIELD HOCKEY
Paulsboro at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Glassboro at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Overbrook at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 3:45 p.m.
Salem at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Making memories
Monday roundup: Schalick scores 5 quick goals, gives senior three good chances to close it out; includes soccer, field hockey, tennis
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – There’s nothing more rewarding for a coach or energizing to a team than to get a well-liked deep reserve into a game and give them a chance to make something memorable happen.
John Egan V, a career JV player up with the varsity as a senior, didn’t score a goal in Schalick’s 5-0 soccer win over Overbrook Monday, but it wasn’t for his or his teammates’ lack of trying to make it happen.
Egan started the second half on the right wing and it was a popular substitution, not one just for appearances. He led the team’s breakdown coming out of halftime and whenever the Cougars got control of the ball while he was in the game somebody on the pitch would say “Get it to John.”
“He hadn’t scored one in the three years I’ve been here and we tried getting him a goal today the best we can,” senior midfielder Anthony Sepers said. “I think I had an open shot but I tried to pass it to him and it just didn’t really work out. I’m sure we’re going to try the rest of the season to get him a goal.”
“For four years he’s been with us doing all the hard work that everybody else is doing; they know how far John has come and how hard he works in practice,” Cougars coach Joe Mannella said. “He’s got a lot of good players in front of him. We saw other kids in his situation go leave to play another sport … but he loves soccer, he loves the team. I know the guys wanted to get him a goal and they got him a couple chances.”
Egan had never scored a goal in his high school career, at least not one that stuck. He’s had a couple JV goals called back for offsides and he buried a penalty kick against Penns Grove last year that got waved off because someone breached the box during the kick.
He had three good chances against the Rams. He had a shot off a run about six minutes into the half that went right of the post. Luke Price crossed it over to him moments later and he just missed again. His best chance came when he took a feed from Price on a 2-on-1 and shot it over the crossbar.
“John went in there and really did some nice things,” Mannella said. “Really what I liked is the way everybody supported him. That team sense was important.”
“I was kind of surprised it would be today that he’d put me into a varsity game as a varsity player; I’m very, very happy about that,” Egan said. “It was very amazing (the scoring opportunities he had), but you get nervous when you’re about to shoot the ball into the goal. I got nervous.”
Had any of the shots found the back of the net it would have set the Cougars (1-0-1) up for a mercy-rule win since they already had a 5-0 lead.
The Cougars, who came from behind twice to tie Washington Twp. in their season opener, were forced to play their home opener on their practice field because of poor conditions in the middle of their regular pitch. They didn’t have any problem making the last-minute adjustment.
They literally scored early and often. All five of their goals came over an 11-minute stretch in the first 17 minutes of the match.
Nolan O’Toole opened the scoring in the sixth minute, followed by Anthony Sepers’ first goal a minute later. Sepers notched his second goal in the 14th minute, with Steve Chomo and Mikey Nelson following in rapid fashion. Jaxon Weber had three assists.
“It was all about getting on them,” Sepers said. “We don’t want to take them easy and then they come in here and score a goal on us and then we’re on our toes the entire rest of the game trying to win and score.”
“They did the things that we’re trying to do in games and they executed,” Mannella said. “That was good to see.”
BOYS SOCCER
Pennsville 5, Salem Tech 0: Samuel Hassler had a goal and two assists and five different players scored as the Eagles won their season opener. Coen Rinnier recorded six saves in posting the shutout.
Woodstown 1, Glassboro 0: Bryce Ayars converted a pass from Aaron Flynn in the first five minutes for the game’s only goal.
Pitman 3, Penns Grove 0: Jonas Trum scored three minutes into the match and the Panthers tacked on two goals in the second half to spoil the Red Devils’ season opener.
Clayton 9, Salem 0: The Clippers scored eight goals in the first half.
GIRLS SOCCER
Pennsville 3, Penns Grove 0: Molly Gratz scored two goals and assisted on the other (Taylor Bass) as the Eagles improved to 2-0.
Schalick 7, Overbrook 0: Quinn Berger had a hat trick and Cali Fisler had two assists to move within four of the all-time school record (44).
Woodstown 7, Glassboro 1: Freshman Hailey Kucharczuk came off the bench to score the first two goals of her career and Emma Perry had two goals and an assist as the Wolverines scored their first win of the season. Ellie Wygand made seven saves in the net before giving way to Mazie Mazzoni.
Pitman 7, Salem Tech 0: Carly Razze and Emery Sharpnack each scored twice for Pitman.
FIELD HOCKEY
Pennsville 3, Absegami 2: Kendall Hoyt knocked in the game-winner with 5:06 to play as the Eagles improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2018, when they opened the season 3-0. They were 1-0-1 after two games in 2019. Mia Runkiewicz tied the game with 9:44 to play, then Hoyt won it with her second goal of the game.
GIRLS TENNIS
PENNSVILLE 4, WILDWOOD 1
Lily Edwards (P) def. Angela Wilber, 6-1, 6-2
Izzy Schlenker (P) def. Cydnee Kilian, 6-3, 6-4
Morgan Holt (P) def. Estella Robinson, 6-0, 6-0
Emma Hankin-Naomi Hess (P) def. Antoinette Cooper-Selin Ogden, 6-0, 6-0
Charlotte Baetz-Emma Contreras (WI) def. Yerlian Charon-Graillyn Weber, 2-6, 6-0, 10-5
Records: Pennsville 4-2, Wildwood 2-3.
SCHALICK 5, SALEM 0
Miya Watkins (SC) def. Angelina Fothergill, 6-1, 6-1
Annmarie Podehl (SC) def. JaNye Hubbard, 6-1, 6-3
Macy Slow (SC) def. Tahirah Davenport-White, 6-3, 6-0
Olivia Lunemann-Sebrina Bradford (SC) def. Zaniyah Frieson-Erica Brewer, 6-0, 6-0
Sammi Twigg-Jasmine Hunt (SC) def. Evangeline Jimenez Barreto-Aleena Allen, 6-0, 6-0
Records: Schalick 2-1, Salem 1-2.
This week’s schedule
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Sept. 8-13
MONDAY, SEPT. 8
FIELD HOCKEY
Absegami at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Overbrook at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Salem at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Glassboro at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Salem, 4 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Schalick at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 9
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Deptford, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Woodstown at West Deptford, 3:45 p.m.
CROSS COUNTRY
TCC Batch Meet at Cumberland, 3:30 p.m.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10
FIELD HOCKEY
Paulsboro at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Glassboro at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Overbrook at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 3:45 p.m.
Salem at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 11
WJFL FOOTBALL
Penns Grove at Glassboro, 7 p.m.
West Deptford at Collingswood, 6 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Salem at Deptford, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Palmyra, 4 p.m.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 12
WJFL FOOTBALL
Woodstown at Schalick, 6 p.m.
Overbrook at Pennsville, 7 p.m.
Paulsboro at Camden Catholic, 7 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
Salem at Bridgeton, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Pennsville at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Bridgeton at Salem, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick at Cumberland, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Middle Twp., 4 p.m.
CROSS COUNTRY
Boys Showcase, White Clay Creek State Park, 2 p.m.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 13
WJFL FOOTBALL
Woodbury at Salem, noon
Bordentown at Audubon, 11 a.m.
CROSS COUNTRY
South Jersey Shootout, DREAM Park, 9 a.m.
Salem County Friday
Here is Friday’s Salem County sports action
FIELD HOCKEY
Washington Twp. 4, Schalick 2
BOYS SOCCER
Schalick 2, Washington Twp 2
GIRLS SOCCER
Audubon 3, Woodstown 0
Bridgeton at Pennsville
GIRLS TENNIS
Clearview 3, Woodstown 2
Kingsway 4, Pennsville 1
Wildwood at Salem
Taking offense
Salem drops another winnable game because of an inconsistent offense, falls to Cinnaminson 3-0 for 13th straight loss
THURSDAY WJFL SCORES
Cinnaminson 3, Salem 0
Buena 30, Lindenwold 6
Bridgeton 43, Clearview 0
Cherokee 42, Lenape 21
Cherry Hill East 60, WW-Plainsboro South 0
Clayton 2, Mastery Charter 0, forfeit
Delran 28, Ewing 0
Eastern 19, Ocean City 13
Gateway 33, Haddon Twp. 24
Pennsauken 41, Washington Township 0
Princeton 7, Allentown 6
Riverside 50, Florence 0
South Brunswick 10, North Brunswick 0
Winslow 47, Highland 0
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
CINNAMINSON — The Salem defense is strong enough to keep the Rams in a lot of games. If they could ever get their offense in gear they might win some of them.
The Rams kept Cinnaminson out of the end zone and held it to just a field goal, but they never could punch it in themselves and fell to the Pirates 3-0 Thursday night.
It was the Rams’ 13th straight loss going back to the end of the 2023 season. They have held their opponents to 20 points or less in four of them. At the same time, their offense has scored eight points or less nine times. Both of their games this season were winnable.
The Rams had their chances Thursday night. All four of their possessions in the fourth quarter started at the 50 or better (43, 25, 41, 50), but they never capitalized on the short fields. Their best chance got to the 12 and ended in an interception at the goal line by Jake Barbich.
It left Rams coach Kemp Carr with some choice words for his offense.
“We (bleep) on offense,” he said. “We (bleep) on offense.”
Quarterback Desmund Thomas, who looked poised and threw some really nice balls in the scrimmages, completed only 10 of 27 passes for 84 yards against the Pirates. While he did overthrow several open receivers with his big arm, he was also the victim of at least a half-dozen drops and had a TD pass called back by a hold.
It was the second week in a row the Rams had a touchdown called back by a penalty.
“He’s a great player, he’s just not making plays,” Carr said of his junior quarterback. “You’ve got to make plays. You’ve gotta really build his confidence. He’s got a really good unit, he’s got a really good team. We’ve seen him complete the ball to 10 different receivers that one time. That’s not happening. We’ve got to make that happen.
“We’ve got guys. We played six or seven receivers again tonight. We had six, seven drops in key moments. We can’t do that. Drive killers.”
The only points of the game came off the foot of Aedan Burk. He kicked a 35-yard field goal to cap the Pirates’ first possession of the game. Burk had a 40-yard attempt last week that hit the crossbar.
After the field goal, the Pirates went three-and-out on their next three possessions of the half. They did open the second half with a nice series driven by direct snaps to Domenic DelGrippo, but even that went backwards once it got to the red zone and came away with nothing. Then it was back to the three-and-outs.
“The defense played extremely well, did everything to win the game except for (not getting) that pick (by Kaden Robinson on a wobbly ball) and run for a touchdown,” Carr said. “That team couldn’t move the ball against us at all. More talented, more aggressive, more fast, more explosive and we don’t take advantage of those opportunities.
“We need to learn how to win. This team does not know how to win.”
Cinnaminson 3, Salem 0
| SAL (0) | CINN (3) | |
| 12 | 1st Downs | 5 |
| 22-100 | Rushing | 31-90 |
| 10-27-1 | Passing (C-A-I) | 2-6-0 |
| 84 | Passing yds | 37 |
| 1-0 | Fumbles-lost | 0-0 |
| 5-32.2 | Punts-avg | 8-26.9 |
| 4-25 | Penalties-yds | 2-15 |
| Salem (0-2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0- | 0 |
| Cinnaminson (1-1) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0- | 3 |
SCORING SUMMARY
C: Aedan Burk 35 FG, 2:22 1Q
WJFL Standings
| DIAMOND DIVISION | ALL | DIV |
| Glassboro | 1-0 | 0-0 |
| Woodstown | 1-0 | 0-0 |
| Penns Grove | 0-1 | 0-0 |
| Salem | 0-2 | 0-0 |
| Schalick | 0-1 | 0-0 |
| Woodbury | 0-1 | 0-0 |
| PATRIOT DIVISION | ALL | DIV |
| Collingswood | 1-0 | 0-0 |
| Overbrook | 1-0 | 0-0 |
| Paulsboro | 1-0 | 0-0 |
| West Deptford | 1-0 | 0-0 |
| Audubon | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Camden Catholic | 0-1 | 0-0 |
| Pennsville | 0-1 | 0-0 |
Top photo by Julliana Love
This week’s schedule
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Sept. 2-6; x-scrimmage
TUESDAY, SEPT. 2
FIELD HOCKEY
Haddon Heights at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Bridgeton, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Glassboro at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Overbrook at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 3
FIELD HOCKEY
x-Gloucester City at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
x-Salem at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
x-Camden Academy Charter at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
x-Salem at Gloucester City, 4 p.m.
x-KIPP at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
x-Salem Tech at Pennsville, 3:30 p.m.
x-Cumberland at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Bridgeton, 3:45 p.m.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 4
WJFL FOOTBALL
Salem at Cinnaminson, 6 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
Salem Tech at Sterling, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Washington Twp. at Schalick, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Gloucester Catholic at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Salem, 4 p.m.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 5
WJFL FOOTBALL
Schalick at Cumberland, 6 p.m.
Pennsville at West Deptford, 7 p.m.
Collingswood at Overbrook, 7 p.m.
Woodstown at Delsea, 7 p.m.
Haddon Heights at Glassboro
Woodbury at Haddonfield
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick at Washington Twp., 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
x-Penns Grove at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Washington Twp., 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Bridgeton at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Paulsboro at Salem, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Audubon, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Kingsway at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Woodstown at Clearview, 3:45 p.m.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 6
WJFL FOOTBALL
Audubon at Paulsboro, 11 a.m.
Deptford at Penns Grove, noon
KIPP at Camden Catholic
Photo credit: Julliana Love
It’s about finishing
Rams’ season gets off to a rousing start, but they couldn’t keep it going and fell to Pleasantville
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
SALEM — The second season of Salem football under Kemp Carr couldn’t have gotten off to a better start. It was what happened next the Rams have to work on.
The Rams scored their first touchdown of the season less than 90 seconds into the game, but they didn’t find the end zone again and Pleasantville dominated the second half to hand the Rams a 20-8 loss.
The opening two minutes of the game gave the Rams hope they’d finally get their first win under Carr. And it was a bunch of newcomers that made the biggest impacts.
Transfer Makhye Murry recovered a fumble on Pleasantville’s first play from scrimmage. New quarterback Desmund Thomas immediately went up top for the end zone, but freshman Ahmed Tucker couldn’t bring in the pass. Undeterred, Thomas went deep two plays later and this time freshman Kyvion Parsons hauled it in for the score.
Thomas then tossed the conversion pass to Antwuan Rogers to make it 8-0.
“Catching my first touchdown for varsity in my first game, I was hyped,” Parsons said. “We felt we were going to blow them out, but we came out in the second half and just wound down. We can’t wind down on anybody.”
It was similar to their Cinnaminson loss in the second game last season when they scored on one of the first plays of the game, but didn’t have much success thereafter. While it was nice to have a lead, Carr knew it was way too much football to play to celebrate.
“A team’s got to finish, man,” he said. “It’s about finishing. It’s never how you start; you’ve got to finish games. We go three quarters without scoring. We move the ball, then we do something stupid.
“You get a big turnover down there, (then) you throw an interception right after it. Those are things we can’t do. We have to stay even keel, run our concepts, stay true to who we are and play through the clock.”
The Rams held the lead until the last minute of the quarter. The Greyhounds intercepted a softly thrown Thomas pass and brought it all the way back to the 2 with the Rams’ quarterback saving a touchdown. Pleasantville finally scored when Nazir Griffin ran in from the 7 and then caught the conversion pass from Semaj Dozier to tie the game.
It stayed that way until the final 30 seconds of the half when Jamil Hudson caught the first of his two touchdown passes from Dozier to put the Greyhounds ahead for good. The Rams had an interception by Tucker erased by a penalty early in the drive.
Hudson’s second touchdown catch capped a 70-yard drive that took up nearly nine minutes of the third-quarter game clock. It was highlighted by two big conversions – a 16-yard catch by Hudson on third-and-14 and the touchdown on fourth down.
The Greyhounds knew Thomas was the key to their offense and constantly had him on the run. He did complete 12 of 22 passes for 128 yards.
“Up front we had the advantage and just put the pressure on him,” said Pleasantville coach Elijah Glover, a winner in his first game as head coach with the water bucket shower to prove it. “If they wanted to keep the ball in his hands like they wanted to, then you’ve got to find a way to make it come out fast.”
Thomas looked to have beaten the pressure in the fourth quarter, scrambling out of the pocket and hooking up with Kaden Robinson for a 56-yard touchdown pass with 7:27 to play that would’ve gotten the Rams back within striking distance with plenty of time left. But the play came back because of an ineligible man downfield penalty from the other side of the field. The drive ended a few plays later on a dropped fourth-down pass steps from the end zone.
It was just a tough second half for the Rams. They were held to minus-10 yards net rushing and 28 yards total in the half.
“We’ve got some things to clean up,” Carr said. “We’ll get back in and do the right thing. The glass is shattered, but it ain’t broke. We’ll put some glue on it and get it back where we need to.”
| PLE (20) | SAL (8) | |
| 8 | 1st Downs | 9 |
| 30-69 | Rushing | 21-18 |
| 9-11-0 | Passing (C-A-I) | 12-22-1 |
| 130 | Passing yds | 128 |
| 4-1 | Fumbles-lost | 1-1 |
| 4-28.8 | Punts-avg | 4-29.0 |
| 10-75 | Penalties-yds | 6-55 |
Pleasantville 20, Salem 8
| Pleasantville (1-0) | 8 | 6 | 6 | 0- | 20 |
| Salem (0-1) | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0- | 8 |
SCORING SUMMARY
S: Kyvion Parsons 42 pass from Desmund Thomas (Antwuan Rogers pass from Desmund Thomas), 10:36 1Q
P: Nazir Griffin 7 run (Nazir Griffin pass from Semaj Dozier), 40.4 1Q
P: Jamil Hudson 30 pass from Semaj Dozier (run failed), 23.9 2Q
P: Jamil Hudson 26 pass from Semaj Dozier (run failed), 2:00 3Q
WJFL scoreboard
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Pleasantville 20, Salem 8
Somerville 34, Schalick 17
Bridgewater-Raritan 35, Notre Dame 20
Camden 28, Martinsburg (WV) 0
Central Regional 27, Steinert 6
Collingswood 27, Clayton 20
Hightstown 9, Matawan 7
Maple Shade 27, Wildwood 0
Monroe 41, West Windsor-Plainsboro South 0
Montgomery 35, Hopewell Valley 28
Princeton 20, Lawrence 7
Robbinsville 41, South Brunswick 34
St. Augustine at Canton McKinley (Ohio)
Sterling 45, Buena 0
Watchung Hills 9, Moorestown 7
Willingboro 35, Rahway 33
Battle at the Beach, Rowan
West Deptford 51, KIPP Cooper Norcross 14
Washington Township 43, Hillsborough 12
Rancocas Valley 33, Millville 14
Pigskin Classic, Wilmington, Del.
Atlantic City 25, Mainland 8
Mountaineer Classic, West Orange
Burlington Township vs. Passaic Tech
Riverview Sports News 