Category: SALEM

Rams break the ice

Salem snaps 13-game losing streak with dominating 31-8 win over Woodbury, hands Carr his first win as its coach

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM — As a coach, Kemp Carr wasn’t so much focused on how long it’s been since he’s tasted victory on the football field. He was more concerned with its impact on more recent history.

Carr’s Salem football team got its first win of the season and snapped a 13-game losing streak that preceded him as its coach Saturday with a dominating 31-8 win over Woodbury.

It was the Rams’ first victory since Oct. 24, 2023, when they beat West Deptford 38-14 under then head coach Danny Mendoza. They had two-game losing streaks on either side of last year’s 0-9.

“It’s like it was a cycle and today we broke the cycle,” senior receiver Kaden Robinson said.

“We came here with the mentality we’ve got to win,” lineman Abdur Jenkins added. “We’re tired of losing.”

For Kemp the drought has been a lot longer — eight years, to be exact, Nov. 9, 2017, when he was coaching at Winslow. Of course, he was out of coaching in private business for seven years before taking the Salem gig last year.

Because it had been so long and it was his first win with the Rams, Salem athletics director Darryl Roberts tossed Carr the game ball. Then, in keeping with his “it’s not about me” mindset, the coach flipped the ball to Jenkins and praised the offensive line for its play in the game.

“It’s never about me,” he said from his office that used to be the team’s weight room when he played here. “I had my time. Those (memory) books over there, I’ve got like five of those books. They’re old. The papers are turning brown. It’s never about me, it’s about how can I move these kids forward and how can I make them get as close to understanding how to be a man. We’re team driven.

“We try to come in and work as hard as we can to win the day and the day we happened to win today. Not just a win on the scoreboard, but a good win for an emotional feeling. We got that good taste in our mouth. Everybody’s gonna sleep a little better. We responded the way this coaching staff is looking for those guys to respond.”

The Salem players celebrate their first win since 2023 after Saturday’s game with Woodbury goes final. (Photo by Julliana Love)

Even with four starters out for internal reasons, the Rams (1-2) dominated Woodbury in every phase.

The offense didn’t bleep this time, Carr’s description of it after they anemically lost to Cinnaminson last week 3-0. They racked up 363 yards of offense against the winless Herd (0-3) and scored five touchdowns in a game for the first time since their last win.

Desmund Thomas looked like a different quarterback than he had in the first two games, completing 12-of-19 passes for 217 yards and long touchdowns to Robinson and William Dunn. The ball to Dunn was particularly majestic, dropping it in over the receiver’s shoulder in stride behind the defense for a 78-yard bomb. Thomas also had a 5-yard touchdown run.

“I played my own game,” said Thomas, a Salem kid who was playing in Georgia when the Rams’ losing streak began. “Just being me, being who I am. That’s exactly what it was. I’m still listening (to the coaches), but it’s just feeling to be me.”

Salem QB Desmund Thomas (7) enjoyed his best game since joining the program, passing for 217 yards and 2 touchdowns and running for a third. (Photo by Julliana Love)

The Rams scored on their first possession, just like they did in their season-opening loss to Pleasantville and last year’s loss to Cinnaminson, but the difference between those games and Saturday was the offense kept scoring and the defense gave up nothing.

They led 18-0 at halftime. They already had almost 200 yards of offense, Thomas was 10-of-17 passing and the defense held the Herd to just one first down and minus-3 yards of net offense.

“I was extremely impressed,” Robinson said. “They played the way I know that they can play … Back in our groove.”

“I liked how we played the first half of football,” Carr said. “If we could play that first half like that I think we could play against anybody.”

Even in the fourth quarter they were stepping on the accelerator. Senior Troy Carey, the former quarterback, got his first turn at running back and rushed for 65 yards and the Rams’ last touchdown in the quarter.

The defense, meanwhile, was physical and relentless. They held the Herd to minus-49 yards net rushing by keeping quarterback Noel Huertas on the run all day, had at least nine sacks and by the middle of the third quarter had the Woodbury offensive line back-peddling with extended arms.

Of course there were some things that needed to be cleaned up. Like the senseless major penalties that cost them the shutout or took the Herd out of a third-and-51 hole deep in their own territory, but overall the positives of the day far outweighed the shortcomings. 

“We just hadn’t put it together; today we put it together,” Carr said. “I’m glad we broke the ice. Who knows where this goes from here.”

Photo: Salem AD Darryl Roberts tosses the game ball to football coach Kemp Carr after earning his first win as coach, and Carr promptly tossed it to a lineman in recognition of the line’s contribution to the win.

Salem 31, Woodbury 8

WOOD (8) SAL (31)
71st Downs17
17-(-49)Rushing32-146
10-28-2Passing (C-A-I)12-19-0
86Passing yds217
1-0Fumbles-lost1-0
5-21.2Punts-avg1-31.0
11-78Penalties-yds15-155
Woodbury (0-3)0008-8
Salem (1-2)61267-31

SCORING SUMMARY
S-Torryn Ransome 4 run (pass failed), 6:03 1Q
S-Kaden Robinson 44 pass from Desmund Thomas (pass failed), 4:03 2Q
S-Desmund Thomas 5 run (pass failed), 0:33 2Q
S-William Dunn 78 pass from Desmund Thomas (pass failed), 5:47 3Q
S-Troy Carey 7 run (Izaiah Santiago kick), 6:19 4Q
WO-Eli Young 13 pass from Noel Huertas (Thomas Lewis pass from Noel Huertas), 3:05 4Q

WJFL Standings

DIAMOND DIVISIONALLDIV
Glassboro3-01-0
Schalick1-21-0
Salem1-21-0
Woodbury0-30-1
Woodstown1-20-1
Penns Grove0-30-1
PATRIOT DIVISIONALLDIV
West Deptford3-02-0
Paulsboro3-02-0
Collingswood2-11-1
Overbrook2-11-1
Audubon0-20-1
Camden Catholic0-30-1
Pennsville0-30-2

Thursday’s Games
Glassboro 63, Penns Grove 0
West Deptford 48, Collingswood 0
Friday’s Games
Overbrook 22, Pennsville 21
Schalick 33, Woodstown 37
Paulsboro 38, Camden Catholic 20
Saturday’s Games
Salem 31, Woodbury 8
Bordentown 34, Audubon 14

Other Saturday WJFL Games
Allentown 22, Nottingham 6
Burlington City 60, Pemberton 34
Cedar Creek 45, Atlantic City 34
Rancocas Valley 21, Camden Eastside 6
Steinert 34, Hightstown 14
Ewing at Princeton
Trenton at Hamilton West

Friday WJFL scoreboard

FRIDAY’S WJFL GAMES
Schalick 33, Woodstown 27 (3 OT)
Overbrook 22, Pennsville 21
Atlantic Tech 21, Deptford 0
Bergen Catholic 41, Winslow 14
Bishop Eustace 44, Lindenwold 0
Bridgeton 48, Egg Harbor Township 7
Burlington Twp. 41, Haddon Heights 14
Cherry Hill East 28, Triton 14
Cherry Hill West 42, Clearview 6
Clayton 48, Haddon Twp. 0
Cumberland 41, Oakcrest 34
Delran 35, Cinnaminson 0
Haddonfield 39, Willingboro 8
Holy Cross 28, Palmyra 6
Holy Spirit 32, Hammonton 7
Hopewell Valley 34, Notre Dame 14
Kingsway 36, Timber Creek 21
Lawrence 17, Florence 0
Lower Cape May 42, Middle Twp. 0
Millville 22, Mainland 21
Northern Burlington 35, Moorestown 7
Ocean City 22, Lenape 0
Paulsboro 38, Camden Catholic 20
Paul IV 30, Gloucester 14
Pitman 45, Gloucester Catholic 7
Robbinsville 56, WW-Plainsboro South 7
St. Augustine 35, Cherokee 0
Seneca 32, Pleasantville 6
Shawnee 21, Camden 20
Washington Township 40, Delsea 0
Williamstown 28, Chichester (Pa.) 13

Saturday’s Games
Bordentown at Audubon, 11 a.m.
Hightstown at Steinert, 11
Rancocas Valley at Eastside, 11
Allentown at Nottingham, noon
Burlington City at Pemberton, noon
Woodbury at Salem, noon
Atlantic City at Cedar Creek, 1:30 p.m.
Ewing at Princeton, 2 p.m.
Trenton at Hamilton, 2 p.m.

Rallying around

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.

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.”

Adessa Plum has the distinction of scoring the first goal in Salem Tech field hockey history. She scored two in the game.

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)20010-3
Salem Tech (1-1)01021-4
GOALS: 1. Paulsboro, Jayla Barnes (Dasoni Scott), 13:55 1Q; 2. Paulsboro, Dasoni Scott, 0:47 1Q; 3. Salem Tech, Adessa Plum (Hazel Eachus), 8:50 2Q; 4. Paulsboro, Talie Blue-Eli, 12:48 3Q; 5. Salem Tech, Abigail Beals, 5:08 4Q, 6. Salem Tech, Adessa Plum (Shelby Drummond), 0:10 4Q; 7. Hazel Eachus, 0:00 OT.
Salem Tech freshman Hazel Eachus (12) celebrates after scoring an overtime goal to give the Chargers their first-ever win in field hockey.

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.”

Schalick senior John Egan (18) awaits a pass from teammate Luke Price in the second half of Monday’s game against Overbrook.

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.

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)
121st Downs5
22-100Rushing31-90
10-27-1Passing (C-A-I)2-6-0
84Passing yds37
1-0Fumbles-lost0-0
5-32.2Punts-avg8-26.9
4-25Penalties-yds2-15
Salem (0-2)0000-0
Cinnaminson (1-1)3000-3

SCORING SUMMARY
C: Aedan Burk 35 FG, 2:22 1Q

WJFL Standings

DIAMOND DIVISIONALLDIV
Glassboro1-00-0
Woodstown1-00-0
Penns Grove0-10-0
Salem0-20-0
Schalick0-10-0
Woodbury0-10-0
PATRIOT DIVISIONALLDIV
Collingswood1-00-0
Overbrook1-00-0
Paulsboro1-00-0
West Deptford1-00-0
Audubon0-00-0
Camden Catholic0-10-0
Pennsville0-10-0

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