Within reach

Pennsville closing in on first division title in 32 years, Price scores twice in Schalick return, Ayars scores first hat trick

BOYS SOCCER
Pennsville 1, Wildwood 0
Schalick 4, Pitman 0
Woodstown 3, Overbrook 0
Penns Grove 1, Glassboro 0
Salem at Salem Tech

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News 

PENNSVILLE – Derek Foglein can’t quite wrap his hands around the trophy yet, but the 29-year-old Pennsville soccer coach can feel it and he says “it feels really good.”

The Eagles took a big step towards securing their first Tri-County Classic Division title in 32 years Monday when they edged Wildwood with a second-half own goal, 1-0.

The Eagles (8-4, 7-0) still have three division games remaining, but are the only undefeated team in the group and everyone else has at least two losses. They have won 13 straight Classic Division games over the last two seasons.

Interestingly, all eight of Pennsville’s wins this season have come via shutout.

“At this point we would need to lose to Clayton (8-4) and then lose to either Gloucester Catholic (4-6) or Salem (0-9) and Wildwood would have to clean out the rest of the way to go 8-2,” Foglein said. “I don’t see it happening, but I can’t call it official.

“I think getting a result on Tuesday night at Clayton on their turf on their Senior Night is going to be another huge battle for us, but I think if we win that one then we can pretty definitively say that it’s ours.”

How long has it been? Foglein wasn’t even on the planet when the Eagles last won a division in 1993. Assistant coach Joe Mecholsky was two years removed from graduating as a member of their 1991 division champions and could be part of the school’s first father-son soccer division champs if son Jackson and Friends pull it off.

“I could cry right now, I’m so happy,” stopper Steve Fatcher said. “When we go in the gym and we look in the soccer bleachers, (the banner says) it hasn’t been done since 1993. This is something that’s been waiting for generations now. Finally.

“It was the goal last year, but Wildwood came out shooting. It feels like a big weight is lifted off my shoulders and this team’s shoulders.”

The Eagles dominated the tempo in the second half and had several good chances to score that just missed the target. They finally got one in the net on an own goal credit to Sam Hassler with 21:28 left.

It came off another monster thrown in by Fatcher from the far sideline and was going to come right to Hassler when a Wildwood defender headed it into the top corner of the goal. 

“We came into this game knowing my throw-ins are a big weapon,” Fatcher said. “A lot of the corners and throw-ins to Wildwood work because they don’t mark up straight out; they wait for you to come in.

“It seems like when they tried that they lost a lot of people in the box. The best chances we had were the throw-in or the corner kicks. We honestly should’ve had three or four more, but I don’t care how many chance we miss as long as the end result is a win.”

Funny how those crazy bounces have a way of evening out. The Eagles lost a 1-0 game earlier this year on an own goal and now they get their biggest goal of the year to date because of one.

“I said after the Glassboro game that was one I felt didn’t bounce in our favor,” Foglein said. “We got one to bounce in our favor today and probably the more important of the two we got to bounce in our favor today. I’m never going to complain about that.”

Especially not when it gets them so close to a title.

SCHALICK 4, PITMAN 0: Luke Price returned to the Schalick lineup after missing five games in concussion protocol and scored two goals in the Cougars’ fifth straight win.

“It was amazing,” the junior forward said of his return. “It’s great to be back. It’s a great group of boys to play with. I was happy to be with the team and contribute.”

Price sustained his concussion in the first half of the Cougars’ Sept. 20 loss to Bordentown and watched his mates go 4-1 in his absence. He got cleared for athletics Saturday and participated in practice that day.

He came off the bench Monday and scored his first goal since Sept. 18 off a cross from Josh Stecher after being in the game about five minutes. He scored his second goal in the second half to make it 3-0.
 
“I was really hoping for a goal just to get back into the groove,” he said. ”It was great scoring those.”

Tyler Vanlier, the freshman who took Price spot up front while he was out and scored four goals, scored the Cougars’ other two goals against the Panthers. Evan Sepers posted the shutout, his third in a row and fifth of the season.

WOODSTOWN 3, OVERBROOK 0: Bryce Ayars scored his first high school hat trick. Nick DiTeodoro assisted on two of the goals and Blake Bialecki assisted on the other.

Ayars has scored a goal in each of the Wolverines’ eight wins this season. They have won 17 straight and 22 of the last 23 in which he has scored a goal.

“It’s definitely an achievement that I’ve been driven to make this year, but it couldn’t be done without my teammates,” Ayars said. “This season feels different and the teamwork we have made this hat trick possible. Hoping this is the first of many, but I’m definitely going to remember this one.”

PENNS GROVE 1, GLASSBORO 0: Juan Ortiz scored the game’s only goal in the first half and Dwayne Guzman Silva made it stand in the goal, including a great save on a header off a corner kick in the first half. The Red Devils are 3-0 in one-goal games this season.

SALEM AT SALEM TECH: The Rams were looking for their first win of the season. The Chargers were looking for a season sweep.

Keeping pace

Girls roundup: Schalick soccer dodges bullet in division with Berger’s golden goal, Salem field hockey wins in final minute, Pennsville falls in South Jersey tennis quarterfinals

GIRLS SOCCER
Schalick 3, Pennsville 2 (OT)
Woodstown 3, Overbrook 1
Salem Tech 7, Salem 1
Glassboro at Penns Grove

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Will Kemp might not have seen it that way, but the Schalick girls soccer team dodged a bullet that could have disrupted its division title hopes Monday.

The Cougars needed a goal less than four minutes before the end of regulation to keep the game alive and then got a golden goal in overtime to beat Pennsville 3-2.

The win allowed them to remain tied with Woodstown atop the TCC Diamond Division at 6-0-1. The teams play the rematch of their 1-1 draw at Schalick Oct. 16 – as if there needed to be any more incentive for a matchup between those two teams, although it might not have been as juicy had the Cougars not won Monday.

“I don’t think we dodged a bullet,” the Schalick coach said. “We had a good match against a team that’s developed extremely well over the last few weeks.

“Even if the division’s not on the line, the match with Woodstown is always going to be a heated, high-intense match, so for us to go ahead and continue to have a first-place fight going into a match like that, it just adds a lot more fuel to the actual fire that’s going to happen inside that game. I’m just really excited for the girls to be able to continue to play for it.”

Pennsville took a 2-1 lead on Taylor Bass’ goal with 8:38 to play and as time dwindled down the Cougars chances to pull this one out were starting to look what Quinn Berger described as “iffy” until center back-turned striker Emily Miller got the equalizer with 3:31 to play.

“Emily has been able to find the back of the net numerous times over her career,” Kemp said. “I’m not really too surprised she actually was able to give us the equalizer inside a match like this.”

Berger then won it midway through the first overtime with a 20-yard kick to her lower left side after a foul just outside the box.

“I saw the gap in between their wall and the corner of the net and the goalie kind of behind the wall so I knew not to chip it over the wall,” Berger said. “And I saw the corner was wide open so I might as well place it, so that’s exactly what I did.”

The Cougars won the first meeting between the teams 6-0 and seemed headed that way when Cali Fisher scored in the eighth minute of the rematch. But the Eagles were having none of it as Marley Wood drew them even 8:54 before halftime.

It was the first goal the Eagles have scored on Schalick in seven meetings and the closest they’re played the Cougars since beating them 1-0 in 2021.

“They played spectacularly,” Pennsville coach Casey Slusher said of her team. “This group of girls is very resilient. We’ve had some ups and downs, up players, down players, it doesn’t matter to them, they come out and just give us their all.

“Even going into overtime with Schalick is a pretty good accomplishment for us, so I’m just proud of my girls for putting it all out there and playing the way they did.”

Kemp was equally generous with the praise for his team’s resiliency.

“Our word of the day today was ‘remember,’” he said. “I was talking to the players about what are you actually going to be remembered for when you leave this field. For us to walk away from this match, they’re going to remember us for getting frustrated but still continue to maintain the course by keeping the standard and making sure we see the game through.”

WOODSTOWN 3, OVERBROOK 1: The Wolverines (8-2-1) held onto their share of the division lead behind goals from Emma Morgan, Emma Perry and Sophie Wells.  Wells has scored both of her goals this season against the Rams (4-7). 

SALEM TECH 7, SALEM 1: Julia Hewitt-Friebel scored three goals and Ava Robinson scored twice to lead the Chargers. Evening Ademee and Peyton Pratt scored Salem Tech’s other goals. Isla Bohn scored for Salem.

Love that goal scorer

Samiyah Moore leaps into the arms of teammate Julliana Love after Love scored Salem’s last-minute game-winning goal against Absegami. (Photo by Miranda Love)

FIELD HOCKEY
Salem 3, Absegami 2
Hammonton 2, Woodstown 1

SALEM Julliana Love beat the clock and the goalie in the final minute to complete a three-goal comeback against Absegami that produced the Rams’ second win of the season, 3-2.

With time running out, the senior went 1-on-1 with Braves goalie Fairleigh Wilson, aimed for the corner and popped in the game-winner with 52 seconds to play. She scored two goals in the game. Freshman Khloe Bubier scored the Rams’ other goal.

“It was a great competitive game,” Love said. “All I can remember is thinking I didn’t want to go into overtime, so I took the ball up the field, dodged two girls and then was 1-on-1 with the goalie and made the game-winning shot.”

HAMMONTON 2, WOODSTOWN 1: Gabriella Teti scored the game-winner in the fourth quarter. Bella Eachus scored for Woodstown (6-4-1) in the second quarter.

Tennis

SJ Group I Quarterfinals
AUDUBON 3, PENNSVILLE 2
Lily Edwards (P) def. Olivia Tessitore, 6-0, 6-0
Olivia Tessitore (A) def. Isabella Schrenker, 6-1, 6-2
Isabella Lamancusa (A) def. Morgan Holt, 6-3, 6-2
Bridget Mattson-Finola Witherington (A) def. Emma Hankin-Naomi Hess, 6-0, 7-5
Graillyn Weber-Yerlian Charon (P) def. Yesica Palillero-Bea Herman, 6-4, 2-6 10-8
Records: Audubon 13-1, Pennsville 9-7.

Volleyball

WOODSTOWN Neima Dominguez scored 18 kills and Erin Compton 14 as Camden Tech rallied from one set down to defeat Salem Tech 2-1. The set scores were 20-25, 25-23, 25-14. Valentina Andeliz had 22 digs and Madeline Kopakowski had 26 assists and seven aces.

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Oct. 5-12

SUNDAY, OCT. 5
FIELD HOCKEY

SJ Tournament of Champions
At Clearview

Schalick vs. Clearview, 3:15 p.m.

MONDAY, OCT. 6
FIELD HOCKEY

Absegami at Salem, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Hammonton, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Glassboro at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic, 3:45 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Camden County Tech at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.

TUESDAY, OCT. 7
FIELD HOCKEY

Deptford at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
SJ Group I Quarterfinals
Lower Cape May at Pitman, 2 p.m.
Schalick at Woodstown, 3 p.m.
Wildwood at Haddon Twp., 3 p.m.
Audubon at Pennsville, 3:30 p.m.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 8
BOYS SOCCER

Cumberland at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Palmyra, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Pitman, 7 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Schalick at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Salem, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Pitman, 5 p.m.
Penns Grove at Cumberland, 6 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Penns Grove at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
OLMA at Salem, 4 p.m.
CROSS COUNTRY
Salem County Meet at Schalick, 3:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, OCT. 9
WJFL FOOTBALL

Paulsboro at Pennsville, 6 p.m.
Haddon Heights at Woodstown, 7 p.m.
Cinnaminson at Glassboro
FIELD HOCKEY
Burlington City at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.
Woodstown at Schalick, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Camden Academy Charter at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Gloucester City at Salem, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Salem at Gloucester City, 4 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Wildwood, 4 p.m.

FRIDAY, OCT. 10
WJFL FOOTBALL

Gloucester at Schalick, 6 p.m.
Penns Grove at Delran, 6 p.m.
Collingswood at Audubon, 7 p.m.
Overbrook at Camden Catholic
Woodbury at Willingboro
FIELD HOCKEY
Overbrook at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.
Salem at Gloucester City, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Woodbury, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Paulsboro at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Woodbury at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Woodstown at Pitman, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Wildwood, 4:15 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Highland, 4 p.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC Prospect Showcase

SATURDAY, OCT. 11
WJFL FOOTBALL

West Deptford at Salem, noon
CROSS COUNTRY
South Jersey Coaches Meet, Dream Park
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC Prospect Showcase

SUNDAY, OCT. 12
COLLEGE BASEBALL

Salem CC Prospect Showcase
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Morris CC, CCBC at Salem CC, 10 a.m.

Photo credit: Kaitlyn Khairzada

Playoff bound turnaround

Salem, winless a year ago, slams Middle Twp. to gain a solid foothold on Group 1 playoff berth; includes WJFL standings

By Al Muskewitz 
Riverview Sports News

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – Usually when someone wants to draw your attention to something that might be historically surprising they’ll start by saying something along the lines of “Don’t look now, but …”

Well, it says right here you can go ahead and look now. A team that didn’t win a game all last season and had lost 13 in a row before finally breaking through for their new coach is now solidly in the picture for a South Jersey Group I playoff berth.

Salem won for the second week in a row and third time in the last four games with a 44-0 pasting of winless Middle Twp. way down here Saturday. It’s the latest the Rams (3-3) have been .500 or better in a season since the end of their 2022 state semifinal season, when they started 4-1 and finished 8-5.

The Rams were seventh in the SJ Group I UPR rankings before beating Schalick last Thursday for their second win to become playoff eligible and rose to No. 5 this week before beating the Group 2 Panthers (0-6).

They last made the playoffs in 2023 with a 2-8 record, but missed out in last year’s winless season — the first year with Kemp Carr at the helm — their first oh-fer in 13 years. They can just about start printing their first playoff tickets now.

“It means a lot,” Carr said. “Any time you can get in the playoff and hopefully that happens everybody is 0-0; that’s the greatest thing. Everybody’s record is erased and you have a chance. We’ve got work to do, but we love the fact we have an opportunity.”

“We’re excited, we’re ecstatic,” added sophomore Quimee Bergen. “Last year we were 0-and-9, but we’re winning games now. We’ve got a nice future.”

Bergen, Kai’Siere Muhammad and Torryn Ransome each scored two touchdowns for the Rams. 

Muhammad and Bergen both caught a touchdown pass from Desmund Thomas, but it was their other two scores that caught the most attention.

Bergen broke in a smothered a bad punt snap in the end zone in the second quarter to give the Rams the special team’s touchdown Carr had requested and a 26-0 lead.

“At first I was going to hit him, but he wasn’t picking up the ball, so that was an easy touchdown for us,” Bergen said. “They weren’t blocking me so I was free every time so it was easy to get back there.”

Troy Cater (10) celebrates his second-quarter touchdown with teammates in the end zone. (Photo by Julliana Love)

Muhammad got the running clock started when picked off a pass in traffic over the middle and returned it 25 yards to give the Rams a 38-0 lead.

“It was like an adrenaline rush,” the junior said. “When I saw the ball and felt it touch my hand I had to score. When I saw the ball, I just got it and took off.

“All I saw was the end zone. I was telling myself I have score. I got the one boy off me, then saw the next boy, stiffed on him and the touchdown. My goal for the game was two touchdowns and that’s what I accomplished.”

Somebody in a Rams’ helmet was going to get that interception. Muhammad actually took it off teammate Makhye Murray as they converged and collided on the coverage.

“We talked about it after; it was cool,” Muhammad said. “I said, my fault. I said, you’re going to get it next time. He said he was going to get a pick.”

Ramsome scored the first and last touchdowns of the game. Troy Cater rushed for the Rams’ other touchdown.

The Rams’ defense, meanwhile, was relentless. It locked up the Panthers for minus-25 yards net rushing, minus-1 yard net offense and one first down. It was their first shutout since blanking Florence 42-0 in late October 2022 (29 games).

The Rams had a running clock on their side for the first time in three years from the 7:10 mark of the third quarter. The 44 points were the most they’ve scored in a game since putting 53 on Pleasantville in the third game of the 2022 season.

“I’ve been on that side of the coin before, so it’s nice to be on this side of it,” Carr said. “It’s nice for the guys to be able to enjoy it.”

They had two possessions in the final minute of the second quarter for a chance to have it the entire second half, but major penalties negated two touchdowns and both possessions ended in interceptions at or near the goal line.

They actually had three touchdowns called back by penalties in the game. They’ve now lost nine touchdowns this season because of penalties. 

While the Rams may be firmly on the playoff ladder, Carr insists their focus is squarely on next week’s game with West Deptford.

“We’re very happy, but we ain’t satisfied; we’ve got work to do,” Carr said. “We still have three games in front of us during the regular season and wer’e going to try to get every last one of them and then well post where we’re supposed to be posted at, what seed we’re supposed to be. 

“We’re just going to continue to plug and work our butts off in practice. Fundamentally we need to get a little bit better. I think fundamentally we get better I think we can do some damage in the next couple weeks.”

Salem 44, Middle Twp. 0

 SAL MT
161st Downs1
40-203Rushing12-(-25)
6-16-2Passing4-10-2
100Passing yds24
2-0Fumbles-lost2-2
0-0Punts-avg4-11.0
5-50Penalties5-45
Salem1412126-44
Middle Twp.0000-0

SCORING SUMMARY
S-Torryn Ransome 3 run (Jonathan Bower kick), 6:04 1Q
S-Kai’Siere Muhammad 16 pass from Desmund Thomas (Jonathan Bower kick), 3:50 1Q
S-Troy Carey 3 run (kick failed), 9:56 2Q
S-Quimere Bergen fumble recovery in end zone (run failed), 8:46 2Q
S-Quimere Bergen 38 pass from Desmund Thomas (kick failed), 7:31 3Q
S-Kai’Siere Muhammad 25 interception return (run failed), 7:10 3Q
S-Torryn Ramsome 3 run (kick failed), 8:53 4Q

WJFL Standings

DIAMONDALLDIV
Glassboro6-03-0
Salem3-32-1
Schalick2-42-1
Woodbury2-41-2
Woodstown2-41-2
Penns Grove0-60-3
PATRIOTALLDIV
West Deptford5-14-0
Paulsboro6-04-0
Pennsville3-32-2
Overbrook4-21-2
Collingswood4-21-2
Camden Catholic0-60-3
Audubon1-40-3

SATURDAY’S GAMES
Woodbury 32, Gateway 21
Audubon 58, Gloucester Catholic 0
Haddon Heights 35, Camden Catholic 6
Salem 44, Middle Township 0
OTHER WJFL GAMES
Wildwood 21, Mastery Camden 18
Hamilton West 19, Nottingham 13
Winslow 26, Camden 8
Pennsauken 27, Camden Eastside 0
Bordentown 27, Robbinsville 7
KIPP at Ewing
Steinert 41, Moorestown 15

THURSDAY’S GAMES
Pleasantville 40, Woodstown 0

FRIDAY’S GAMES
Glassboro 56, Deptford 0
Paulsboro 6, Schalick 0
Pennsville 41, Penns Grove 0
Collingswood 31, Sterling 14
Haddonfield 29, West Deptford 14
Overbrook 38, Clayton 14

Down to the wire

Woodstown tennis wins a pair of tiebreakers to clinch match with Pennsville; includes scores and highlights from Friday’s Salem County sports calendar

FIELD HOCKEY
OLMA 2, Salem 0
Schalick 1, Williamstown 0
Woodstown 3, Gateway 0
Salem Tech at Winslow
BOYS SOCCER
Buena 4, Salem Tech 2
GIRLS TENNIS
Woodstown 3, Pennsville 2

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE — No. 2 singles Alyssa Berry and the doubles team of Emma West and Angelina Lindenmuth pulled out exciting tiebreakers in deciding sets to lift Woodstown over Pennsville 3-2 in girls tennis Friday.

West and Lindenmuth edged Graillyn Weber and Yerlian Charon 7-5 in the second-set tiebreaker at No. 2 doubles to clinch the overall match moments after Berry outlasted Isabell Schrenker 11-9 in their third-set tiebreaker to even the score.

The doubles team was down 3-0 and 4-2 in their tiebreaker before rallying to win the clinching match.

“I told them both the same thing,” Wolverines coach Jesse Stemberger said. “If I’m not panicking, you’re not panicking. So, play under control and play with confidence. If you do that, you’ll be OK.”

The match could potentially be the final one between Stemberger and his Pennsville counterpart Dan LaMont in girls tennis. Unless their teams play in the South Jersey Group I finals, LaMont could be leaving with an 11-10 all-time lead in the matchup.

WOODSTOWN 3, PENNSVILLE 2
Lily Edwards (P) def. Nathalie Neron, 7-5, 6-0
Alyssa Berry (WO) def. Isabell Schrenker, 4-6, 6-0, 11-9
Morgan Holt (P) def. Noelle Neron, 6-1, 6-0
Madison LaPalomento-Emilee Kehr (WO) def. Emma Hankin-Naomi Hess, 6-1, 6-2
Emma West-Angelina Lindenmuth (WO) def. Graillyn Weber-Yerlian Charon, 6-4, 7-5 (7-5)
Records: Woodstown 10-3, Pennsville 9-6.

FIELD HOCKEY
OLMA 2, Salem 0: Lindsey Graham and Marlee McGrath scored second-half goals. Ava Rodgers was credited with 23 saves in the Salem goal.
Schalick 1, Williamstown 0: Alexa Shimp scored the game’s only goal in the second quarter and Lydia Gilligan posted the shutout. The Cougars play Audubon Saturday in the South Jersey TOC at Camden Catholic.
Woodstown 3, Gateway 0: Freshman Brooke Dillion scored two goals, Talia Guardascione scored one and Kendall Higgins posted the shutout.

BOYS SOCCER
Buena 4, Salem Tech 2: The Chiefs scored four goals in the second half to erase a 2-0 halftime deficit and earn their first win of the season. Kameron Brown and Josh Woroniak gave the Chargers their halftime lead.

Thursday’s results

Here are scores and highlights from Thursday’s Salem County sports schedule

BOYS SOCCER

Pennsville 4, Salem Tech 0: Sam Hassler scored the first of his two goals in the second minute of the match and Coen Rinnier made 10 more saves in another shutout.
Schalick 4, Overbrook 0: Jaxon Weber scored two goals in the Cougars’ fourth straight win.
Pitman 2, Penns Grove 0: Jake Bowen-Ashwin and Micah Frost scored goals in the second half.
Clayton 6, Salem 0: Jonathan Rehm had a hat trick.

GIRLS SOCCER
Schalick 8, Overbrook 0: Cali Fisler had her first career hat trick under the stadium lights on Senior Night, Quinn Berger scored twice and Kyleigh Cutler had a goal and two assists for the Cougars.
Pennsville 6, Penns Grove 0: Taylor Bass scored a career-high four goals and assisted on another to lead the Eagles. She scored the first three goals of the match and the final goal.
Woodstown 1, Glassboro 0: Gina Murray scored the game’s only goal in the second half with an assist from Emma Perry.
Clayton 9, Salem 0: Deondria Simon and Alivia Howrey each scored twice.
Pitman 6, Salem Tech 0: Emery Sharpnack and Carly Razze each scored two goals. Sharpnack had the assists on the Panthers’ first two goals 49 seconds apart in the third minute of the match.

GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick 4, Wildwood 1

Schalick’s Miya Watkins and the doubles team of Sebrina Bradford and Olivia Lunemann are in the field for the state singles and doubles championship this weekend at Mercer County and Veterans Park near Trenton.

Watkins will face Gov. Livingston’s Julia Kravchenko in a Saturday opening-round match at Mercer County Park. The winner will face 3/4 seed Sofia Basto-Cabrera of Shawnee.

Bradford-Lunemann will face a team from Pompton Lakes Saturday with the winner facing a 5/8 seed from Pingry.

Shake up, wake up

Woodstown soccer shakes up approach, offense comes to life in 3-0 win over Glassboro; also includes Wednesday’s Salem County field hockey, tennis, volleyball, cross country results

BOYS SOCCER
Woodstown 3, Glassboro 0
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick 9, Pennsville 2
Woodstown 4, Salem 3
GIRLS TENNIS
Clearview 4, Pennsville 1
Mainland 5, Schalick 0
Woodstown 4, Triton 1
Overbrook at Penns Grove
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Atlantic Tech 2, Salem Tech 0

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – Darren Huck has never been afraid to shake things up. If you’re standing still, he figures, you’re falling behind.

Frustrated with the state of his team’s offense over the past couple weeks, the Woodstown soccer coach shook up the lineup’s look Wednesday and it produced a 3-0 win over Glassboro. 

It was only the second time the Wolverines scored more than two goals in a match since their season-high eight-goal outburst against Salem Tech in the third game of the year. They’ve scored just 10 goals in the five games since, including 1-1 tie with Penns Grove and a 1-0 golden goal win over Pennsville, games they figured to have handled a lot easier than they were.

The new alignment basically puts two men up top and five in the midfield. No personnel was changed, just the responsibilities they hold on the field. It produced almost instantaneous results as Bryce Ayars scored on a breakaway three minutes into the match.

“We made a few changes,” Huck said. “Ask any of my players, especially any of my ex-players, I’m never afraid to shake it up, to change things. Obviously, my ultimate goal is what’s best for the team.

“We have three, possibly four, formations we can play depending on situations that occur. We really felt today’s was something we could use to our advantage. It’s just a different look, different responsibilities and some boundaries and borders we needed to stay within so we stay balanced.”

Ayars scored the first two goals against the Bulldogs and assisted on the third by Nick DiTeodoro, a goal created directly by the angle of attack the new formation created.

“It’s definitely a change of scenery,” Ayars said. “It definitely helped our middle out, which we needed to do. Teams are trying to force us middle, so having that extra guy in the middle helps us out in the long run. It did what we expected it to do today.”

The look they went with Wednesday was specifically for the Bulldogs. Whether they stay with it going forward or change remains to be seen.

“My formation comes down to where our strength and weakness is,” Huck said.

Despite the limited goal production, the Wolverines’ 7-0-1 record, which currently leads the South Jersey Group I power points standings by more than two points, is their best start after eight games in more than 15 years. The 2013 team that went 20-1-1 and 2023 team that went 15-4-1 both started 7-1.

They are only unbeaten team in all of Group 1 and one of only five across South Jersey’s six classifications.

“It’s a good feeling,” Huck said.

FIELD HOCKEY
PITTSGROVE Ava Scurry scored the ninth hat trick of her career, and second against Pennsville, to lead Schalick past the Eagles 9-2.

Scurry scored her first goal less than two minutes into the game, notched her second two minutes later and got her third in the third quarter. She now has 76 career goals. Caylen Taylor had two goals and two assists.

Luci and Lena Virga both scored goals. It’s the sixth time in the last two seasons the sisters have scored in the same game; the Cougars are 6-0 in those games. Bailey Wents and Alexis Smith also found the back of the cage.

Kendall Hoyt and Abigail Bohn scored Pennsville’s goals, with Izzy Saulin assisting on both. For Bohn, a senior, it was her first career goal.

WOODSTOWN 4, SALEM 3: Julliana Love scored all three goals for Salem.

VOLLEYBALL
ATLANTIC TECH 2, SALEM TECH 0:
The set scores were 25-10, 25-19.

GIRLS TENNIS
WOODSTOWN 4, TRITON 1
Mary Ahrens (T) def. Nathalie Neron, 6-0, 6-3
Alyssa Berry (WO) def. PetraReina Ponce-Leon, 6-3, 6-0
Noelle Neron (WO) def. Elizabeth Davis, 6-2, 6-1
Madison LaPalomento-Emilee Kehr (WO) def. Lily Brennan-Olivia Schreyer, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5
Emma West-Angelina Lindenmuth (WO) won by forfeit
Records: Woodstown 9-3, Triton 6-7.

CLEARVIEW 4, PENNSVILLE 1
Serena Huang (CL) def. Lily Edwards, 7-5, 0-6, 10-7
Amelia McLoughlin (CL) def. Izzy Schrenker, 6-3, 6-1
Morgan Holt (P) def. Lia Lyle, 6-2, 6-4
Lily Culling-Helena Homann (CL) def. Naomi Hess-Emma Hankin, 6-3, 6-4
Taylor Cossaboon-Katherine Cianfrani (CL) def. Graillyn Weber-Lily Angelo, 6-3, 6-0
Records: Clearview 8-3, Pennsville 9-5.

CROSS COUNTRY
WESTHAMPTON –
The Salem Tech boys placed all five runners in the second 10 counters and edged Medford Tech for second place in the South Jersey Vo-Tech Championships.

Levi Seals led the Chargers across the line with a 10th-place 19:04.27. He was followed by Pierre Pozo (19:12.53), Anthony Morano (19:19.54), Chase Pompper (19:41.73) and Joseph MacNeil (20:06.69) for 73 team points.

Medford Tech had two in the top four, but only one other counter inside the Chargers’ top five for 75 points.

The Salem Tech girls placed third among four teams with two counters in the top 10 counters and three in the top 20. Paityn Harrington (25:03.56) and Abigail Vanaman (25:05.01) led the way.

GCIT won both team titles.

SOUTH JERSEY VO-TECH CHAMPIONSHIPS
BOYS TEAM:
GCIT 22, Salem Tech 73, Medford Tech 75, Atlantic Tech 100, West Tech 127, Cape May Tech 135, Pennsauken Tech 211.
BOYS TOP 10 OVERALL: Wyatt Evans, GCIT 17:15.06; Duke Snyder-Shellito, GCIT 17:40.47; Marcos Paulino, Medford 17:54.17; Chris Davis, Medford 18:22.08; Ryan Ejjalili, GCIT 18:45.01; Logan Monaghan, GCIT 18:49.75; Evan Feliciano, Cape May 18:50.88; AJ Trampe, GCIT 19:00.09; Carlo Blackman, ACIT 19:03.53; Levi Seals, Salem Tech 19:04.27.

GIRLS TEAM: GCIT 17, Atlantic Tech 60, Salem Tech 82, Medford Tech 86.
GIRLS TOP 10 OVERALL: Jordan Moczydlowski, GCIT 21:05.29; Kirstyn McHale, Cape May 22:58.49; Natalie Pandolfo, GCIT 23:02.00; Isabel Guerra, GCIT 23:07.51; Francesca Carnevale, GCIT 23:32.57; Rosa Cameron, Cape May 23:35.43; Addison Kris, Medford 23:51.81; Eunice States Clara, GCIT 24:58.50; Paityn Harrington, Salem Tech 25:03.56.



Sharp and quick

Woodstown, Pennsville, Schalick all survive girls tennis tournament openers; roundup also includes Tuesday’s cross country, girls soccer results

GIRLS TENNIS
South Jersey Group 1 Playoffs
Schalick 5, Buena 0
Woodstown 5, Palmyra 0
Pennsville 5, Salem 0

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN — Third-seeded Woodstown avoided a couple potential mental traps and easily got through its opening-round match in the South Jersey Group I girls tennis tournament Tuesday.

The Wolverines needed less than an hour to dispatch 14th-seeded Palmyra 5-0. County and TCC Diamond Division rivals Schalick and Pennsville also advanced with 5-0 sweeps.
 
The opening round had the potential to trip up the Wolverines in a number of ways if they weren’t focused. They hadn’t played in a week — two matches were rained out — and were facing an opponent that hadn’t won a match all season.

But they showed they meant business when they went 6-0 in the first set of four of their five matches and No. 2 singles Alyssa Berry put their first point on the board in about 35 minutes. Nathalie and Noelle Neron also won their singles matches, while the doubles teams of Madison LaPalomento-Emilee Kehr and Emma West-Angelina Lindenmuth swept the doubles.

“There’s been some slight apprehension, like we were out here saying we feel like we haven’t played in forever, it’s been so long since we had a match,” Berry said. “But warming up and hitting, it kind of comes back to you.

“You always start out a little more careful, but as you get the swing of things then you feel more confident.”

All five of the Wolverines’ wins came in straight sets. They dropped only four games all day. Palmyra had won only one (doubles) match in their six previous starts this season.

“When you play a team like that, you never know what you’re going to get,” Woodstown coach Jesse Stemberger said. “You see 0-6, but I’ve seen a team win a state championship that was 2-7 going into the playoffs … There are so some teams out there that you don’t know much about that aren’t what their records indicate, so you try not to look past anybody.

“For an 0-6 team, (Palmyra) battled. They worked hard. They pushed us in some positions. They made us earn it. This was not a walkover. They made us earn it.

“One of the things we try to instill in them is to beat the teams you’re supposed to beat. So, if you see an 0-6 team, don’t underestimate them, but when you get out there and you start playing, if you see that you’re better than them don’t let them think they have a chance. Just go out there and do your job, and I think we did that. I was a little concerned about rust, but they went out there and did some nice things.”

Next up for the Wolverines is sixth-seeded Schalick in the Oct. 7 quarterfinals – one day after they play each other ifor the outright Classic Division lead. The next day the Cougars play Pennsville after the Eagles host fifth-seeded Audubon in the quarterfinals.

Top photo: Woodstown coach Jesse Stemberger (R) talks with Alyssa Berry after her victory put the Wolverines’ first point on the board Tuesday.

Woodstown’s Noelle Neron sends a shot back to Palmyra’s Jane Ancker during her straight-set tournament win at No. 3 singles Tuesday.

NO. 3 WOODSTOWN 5, NO. 14 PALMYRA 0
Nathalie Neron (WO) def. Grace Stavely, 6-0, 6-0
Alyssa Berry (WO) def. Sidney Lim, 6-0, 6-0
Noelle Neron (WO) def. Jane Ancker, 6-1, 6-2
Madison LaPalomento-Emilee Kehr (WO) def. Jasmine Martinez-Karly Klipple, 6-0, 6-1
Emma West-Angelina Lindenmuth (WO) def. Lucy Reigel-Olivia Gallagher, 6-0, 6-0
Records: Woodstown 8-3, Palmyra 0-7.

NO. 6 SCHALICK 5, NO. 11 BUENA 0
Miya Watkins (S) def. Caroline Futty, 6-0, 6-1
Annmarie Podehl (S) def. Tiffany Chen, 6-2, 6-0
Macy Clow (S) def. Kara Horton, 6-0, 6-0
Olivia Lunemann-Sebrina Bradford (S) def. Makenna Feaster-Kiara Hobdy, 6-0, 6-0
Sammi Twigg-Jasmine Hunt (S) def. Julie Tomasso-Alondra Lausell, 6-2, 6-1
Records: Schalick 6-3, Buena 5-5.

NO. 4 PENNSVILLE 5, NO. 13 SALEM 0
Lily Edwards (P) def. Angelina Fothergill, 6-1, 6-2
Isabell Schrenker (P) def. JaNye Hubbard, 6-2, 6-1
Morgan Holt (P) def. Tahirah Davenport-White, 6-1, 6-1
Naomi Hess-Emma Hankin (P) def. Heaven Jones-McCullough-Zaniyah Frieson, 6-0, 6-0
Graillyn Weber-Yerlian Charon (P) def. Evangeline Jiminez Barreto-Erica Brewer, 6-0, 6-0
Records: Pennsville 9-4, Salem 2-7.

SJ GROUP ! QUARTERFINALS
Oct. 7
No. 9 Lower Cape May at No. 1 Pitman
No. 5 Audubon at No. 4 Pennsville
No. 6 Schalick at No. 3 Woodstown
No. 10 Wildwood at No. 2 Haddon Twp.
Oct. 9
Semifinals
Oct. 14
Finals

GIRLS SOCCER
Pennsville 9, Salem Tech 0
Woodstown 4, Pitman 0
Glassboro 8, Salem 1
Gloucester Catholic 6, Penns Grove 0

PENNSVILLE 9, SALEM TECH 0: First-time scorers Isabella Marandola, Anastasia Moore and Maura Widener were among nine goal-scorers for the Eagles. It was the most goals they’ve scored in a game since a 9-2 win over Salem in October 2021.
WOODSTOWN 4, PITMAN 0: Delia Hahn scored her first career goal and Ellie Wygand was in goal for the shutout.
GLASSBORO 8, SALEM 1: Amina Brown scored 40 seconds into the match and the Bulldogs scored four times in the first six minutes. Carlysia Pierce scored Salem’s goal.
GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 6, PENNS GROVE 0: Bella Laumer scored twice as the Rams won their seventh straight and recorded their fourth straight shutout. 

CROSS COUNTRY
KINGSWAY TCC BATCH MEET
BOYS TOP 20:
 Trevor Szilier, Washington Twp. 16:41.81; Matthew Littlehales, Delsea 16:49.78; Andrew Dopkin, Highland 16:54.83; Michael Beaver, Kingsway 17:05.80; Liam Murphy, Highland 17:13.52; Payton Veilleux, Kingsway 17:22.57; Gavin Rakitis, Glassboro 17:24.02; Zacchaeus Harrigan, Glassboro 17:24.22; Jaeden Wesley, Glassboro 17:24.42; Joseph Saicic, Glassboro 17:42.62; Rhys Blackman, Pitman 17:30.52; Leandro Santiago, Timber Creek 17:31.84; Ryan Pancoast, Timber Creek, 17:32.79; Blair Duckrey-Furbert, Timber Creek 17:34.84; Karson Chew, Woodstown 17:55.00; Logan Pavelik, Williamstown 17:56.56; Aaron Johnson, Glassboro 17:58.26; Jacob Marino, Woodstown 18:00.05; Oluwanifemi Fadulu, Highland 18:01.30.
OTHER SALEM COUNTY TEAM LEADERS: 31. Chase Riley, Schalick 18:15:22; 58. Anthony Morano, Salem Tech 19:32.57; 67. John Johnson, Penns Grove 19:45.31; 77. Gradin Buzby, Salem 20:00.63; 109: Logan Cowperthwait, Pennsville 22:00.99.

GIRLS TOP 20: Sophia Aldridge, Williamstown 19:25.62; Aubrey Bishop, Kingsway 20:01.41; Abby Marino, Woodstown 20:57.30; Yazmire Bonhomme, Williamstown 21:32.15; Julianne Roes, Clearview 21:39.12; Julia Burgio, Williamstown 21:40.79; Ava Buchanan, Kingsway 21:41.51; Olivia Mashburn, Delsea 21:50.97; Julia Blanchard, Washington Twp. 21:54.53; Anabel Schaal, Woodstown 22:00.10; Brooke Mashburn, Delsea 22:00.57; Isabella Moran, Delsea 22:00.81; Rhea Remaly, Clearview 22:31.11; Sofia Moran, Delsea 22:34.99; Rachael Williams, Clearview 22:39.69; Lillian Pedersen, Clearview 22:39.86; Layla Chain, Washington Twp. 22:47.40; Helen Lillia, Schalick 23:13.24; Leah Hagerman, Clearview 23:14.39; Kate Yanek, Clearview 23:15.54.
OTHER SALEM COUNTY TEAM LEADERS: 28. Sawyer Slad, Pennsville 23:52.78; 61. Abigail Vanaman, Salem Tech, 27:08.65; 

Monday roundup

Here are scores and details from Monday’s Salem County high school action; will be updated

FIELD HOCKEY

Oakcrest 3, Pennsville 2: Gracie Mease scored both Pennsville goals.
Clearview 9, Schalick 1: Celeste Conklin, Maddie Reeves and Addison McConnell all scored a pair of goals. Schalick goalie Lydia Gilligan made 27 saves and is now six shy of 500 for her career. The milestone could come Wednesday against Pennsville. Luci Virga scored the Cougars’ goal.
Woodstown 1, Timber Creek 1: The Wolverines (4-3-1) got the tying goal in the third quarter.

BOYS SOCCER
Schalick 7, Moorestown Friends 1: Tyler Vanlier, the freshman who moved to striker following an injury to Luke Price, scored three goals, and Josh Stecher scored the first two goals of his career.
Pennsville 1, Buena 0: John Sassi scored the Eagles’ goal in the 27th minute and the usually stout Pennsville defense made it stand. All six Pennsville wins have been by shutout.
Cape May Tech at Salem: Both teams are looking for their first wins of the season.

GIRLS SOCCER
Pennsville 6, Buena 0: Molly Gratz and Sloan Marquette each scored two goals and Taylor Bass had a goal and two assists. Kallie Morrison had the Eagles’ other goal.
Medford Tech 5, Salem Tech 2: NJTAC Group 1/2 Tournament quarterfinal game.
Cape May Tech 7, Salem 3: The Hawks pulled away from a one-goal game with four goals in the second half for their first win of the season.
Mainland 2, Schalick 0: The Mustangs scored a goal in each half.
GCIT 3, Woodstown 0: The Cheetahs scored three goals in the second half, ending Woodstown’s six-game unbeaten streak.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech 2, Cape May Tech 0 (25-19, 25-22): Alan’s James had four kills and an ace, and Casey Zaluske recorded seven digs. The Chargers (4-2) have won three of their last four matches.

GIRLS TENNIS
WEST DEPTFORD 5, SALEM 0
Gianna Concordia (WD) def. JaNye Hubbard, 6-1, 6-2
Alyssa Taylor (WD) def. Tahirah Davenport-White, 6-0, 6-1
Judy Wu (WD) def. Heaven Jones-McCullough, 6-0, 6-1
Anastasia Besar-Harper Short (WD) def. Erica Brewer-Evangelyn Jimenez Barreto, 6-0, 6-0
Summer Fallon-Laura Monticolo (WD) def. Phoenix Holland-Aleena Allen, 6-0, 6-0
Records: West Deptford 5-11, Salem 2-6.


WJFL scoreboard

Here are Saturday’s scores in the West Jersey Football League, includes Thursday’s and Friday’s games and the upcoming schedule; Salem County games in bold

SATURDAY’S GAMES
Glassboro 52, Woodbury 13
KIPP Cooper Norcross 74, Lindenwold 22
Lawrence 49, Pemberton 14
Moorestown 28, Haddon Heights 14
Paul VI 27, Willingboro 24
Pennsauken 35, Eastern 28
Princeton 14, Robbinsville 0
Winslow 49, Millville 6

FRIDAY’S SCORES
Atlantic City 24, Cherokee 20
Bordentown 24, Maple Shade 0
Burlington City 48, Florence 7
Burlington Twp. 22, Delran 10
Camden 8, Rancocas Valley 6
Cedar Creek 43, Holy Spirit 33
Clayton 38, Gateway 22
Collingswood 36, Haddon Twp. 0
Egg Harbor 35, Deptford 21
Ewing 27, Trenton 13
Hamilton West 42, WW-Plainsboro South 0
Highland 13, Cherry Hill West 0
Lower Cape May 31, St. Joseph 19
Nottingham 34, Hightstown 13
Oakcrest 26, Absegami 14
Ocean City 14, Hammonton 7
Pennsville 18, Camden Catholic 16
Pitman 51, Mastery Camden 18
Pleasantville 6, Haddonfield 3
Riverside 28, Holy Cross 21
Seneca 35, Gloucester 7
Shawnee 42, Lenape 14
Steinert 26, Notre Dame 18
Sterling 55, Gloucester Catholic 0
Triton 31, Bridgeton 14
Vineland 49, Clearview 6
Washington Township 38, Williamstown 7
Wildwood 25, Palmyra 6
Woodstown 9, Penns Grove 0

THURSDAY’S SCORES
Bishop Eustace 28, Buena 13
Cherry Hill East 42, Atlantic Tech 0
Cumberland 37, Middle Twp. 0
Delsea 21, Timber Creek 6
Kingsway 45, Camden Eastside 6
Northern Burlington 31, Cinnaminson 14
Paulsboro 26, Overbrook 16
Salem 26, Schalick 13
St. Augustine 17, Mainland 7
West Deptford 29, Audubon 0

OCTOBER 2
Woodstown at Pleasantville, 6 p.m.
Lindenwold at Pitman, 7

OCTOBER 3
Mainland at Ocean City, 3 p.m.
Allentown at Northern Burlington, 6
Cherokee at Shawnee, 6
Cinnaminson at Florence, 6
Clearview at Cherry Hill East, 6
Cumberland at Bridgeton, 6
Delran at Hightstown, 6
Glassboro at Deptford, 6
Hammonton at Kingsway, 6
Highland at Notre Dame, 6
Hopewell Valley at Seneca, 6
Lower Cape May at Egg Harbor Twp., 6
Oakcrest at Cedar Creek, 6
Palmyra at Maple Shade, 6
Paulsboro at Schalick, 6
St. Joseph at Buena, 6
Timber Creek at Willingboro, 6
Triton at Cherry Hill West, 6
Vineland at Atlantic City, 6
Williamstown at Rancocas Valley, 6
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 6:30
Burlington Twp. at Burlington City, 7
Collingswood at Sterling, 7
Haddonfield at West Deptford, 7
Lenape at Washington Twp., 7
Millville at Delsea, 7
Overbrook at Clayton, 7
Bishop Eustace at Riverside
Eastern at Trenton
Holy Cross at Princeton
KIPP Cooper Norcross at Ewing
Robbinsville at Bordentown

OCTOBER 4
Gateway at Woodbury, 10 a.m.
Mastery Charter at Wildwood, 10
Audubon at Gloucester Catholic. 11
Camden Catholic at Haddon Heights, noon
Pennsauken at Eastside, noon
Salem at Middle Twp., noon
Moorestown at Steinert, 2 p.m.
Winslow at Camden, 2 p.m.
Atlantic County Tech at Absegami
Pemberton at Keansburg