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.
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.
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.
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
WEST DEPTFORD — The circumstances producing it may be different, but when you look at where they stand today, the Pennsville football team is in the same spot it was this time last year and things turned out all right. So they have that to consider as they look to bounce back from another 0-2 start.
The Eagles dropped their second straight game to open the season Friday night, 42-7 at West Deptford. They started last season 0-2, too, then rebounded to get into the South Jersey Group 1 playoffs and played two rounds.
Of course, those were two close games against Gloucester and West Deptford last year. The ones this season against the same opponents were not and that’s the worrisome part.
“Record-wise, we’re in the same position, but we’ve got to figure it out as a whole unit,” Pennsville coach Mike Healy said after explaining it to his team in a 20-minute post-mortem in the far end zone. “(Have to) better understand why are we out here, why are we doing what we’re doing.
“It’s very frustrating for all of us. We know deep down we are not putting out what we are right now and we’ve got to figure out how to find that within the kids, how to get the best of us on the field because right now we’re just not doing it.
“It’s a long season. We still have time to pull it together and accomplish our goals, but we’ve got to get it done. We can’t let it keep going like this. We have got to get it figured out and get started going. We don’t want to let the opportunity slip and then it be too late and we don’t have the opportunity any more.”
West Deptford, meanwhile, came into the game wanting to play better against Pennsville than it did in last year’s game when it needed a Sports Center highlight touchdown in the final minute from a backup quarterback pressed into action two minutes earlier to win.
The homestanding Eagles dominated this one for their second win of the season. They rushed for 366 yards (234 in the first half), racked up 22 first downs and held Pennsville to four first downs and less than 85 yards of net offense.
They scored touchdowns on four of their first five possessions and six of nine in the game. Zamir Davis rushed for 185 yards and three touchdowns. Cole Paskiewicz scored the first two touchdown of the game.
The seized the momentum from the very start. Pennsville fumbled the first snap of the game. West Deptford recovered and turned it into Paskiewicz’ first touchdown of the game.
“We looked for improvement from a year ago,” said West Deptford coach John Emel, who personally beat Pennsville for the ninth straight time. “A year ago they outplayed us.
“I told them before the game this year I want to play better than we did last year against them. I know we’re a better team, but our goal every day is to play better and I want to play better today.”
The highlight of Pennsville’s night was Perry’s Pic-Six, an 85-yard interception return for a third-quarter touchdown by senior defensive lineman Perry Meranti.
“That was nice,” he said. “That’s my first ever career touchdown, so that was a big moment for me. I definitely would have dreamed I was going to get (the first one) on offense more than defense.”
He certainly was in the right place at the right time, taking advantage of the coaches call to turn players loose in the second half for a chance to show what they can do.
West Deptford was on the verge of opening the second half with another touchdown, taking the kickoff and driving to the Pennsville 11. Quarterback Brady Cobb rolled right with the snap and for a moment looked like he was going to run it. Then all of a sudden he pulled up as he got closer to the line of scrimmage, tossed it and Meranti was there to pick it.
“Sometimes the only wrong decision is indecision,” Emel said. “He kind of looked like he wanted to run and at the last second tried to make a mountain out of a molehill and it cost us six points. He’s a smart kid, but that was not a smart play.”
The way the play flowed it didn’t take long for Meranti to clear traffic and once he got into the open field nobody was going to catch him.
“The wing, he rolled out trying to reach me, so I was just doing my job like we practice all week,” the senior said. “I’m trying to stretch the play out and I saw the QB cut up, so I tried to cut in and take him for a sack and he tried to dump it over the top and I kind of just caught it. It was just there.
“I was just trying to stay ready as much as I could. The second he pulled the pin I kind of broke for it.”
Meranti knows what has to happen for his team to get back on track.
“We have a really good team this year within us,” he said, “but us seniors, even me, we need to step up and take a role of leadership. I’ll say what our coaches said: Our leadership graduated last year and we need to take a big step forward and step up. Last year it was an internal change. We had people step up.”
Top photo: Pennsville’s Perry Meranti snags the interception he returned 85 yards for the Eagles’ only touchdown against West Deptford. (Photo by Amory Alleyne)
West Deptford 42, Pennsville 7
PMHS (7)
WDEPT (42)
4
1st Downs
22
27-53
Rushing
40-366
3-8-0
Passing (C-A-I)
5-9-1
29
Passing yds
60
1-1
Fumbles-lost
1-1
4-33.8
Punts-avg
0-0
7-58
Penalties-yds
2-15
Pennsville (0-2)
0
0
7
0-
7
West Deptford (2-0)
14
14
6
8-
42
SCORING SUMMARY WD: Colę Paskiewicz 4 run (Brady Cobb kick), 8:41 1Q WD: Cole Paskiewicz 8 pass from Brady Cobb (Brady Cobb kick), 1:15 1Q WD: Zamir Davis 48 run (kick failed), 10:12 2Q WD: Zamir Davis 6 run (Colę Paskiewicz pass from Brady Cobb), 25.3 2Q P: Perry Meranti 85 interception return (Danny Knight kick), 9:33 3Q WD: Zamir Davis 2 run (kick failed), 2:20 3Q WD: Kameron Simpkins 5 run (Bryce Wynn run), 9:05 4Q
Delsea 35, Woodstown 7
FRANKLINVILLE — Delsea did what Delsea does and what it didn’t do when the teams played a year ago.
The Crusaders rushed for a whopping 465 yards as a team, with three backs each going for more than 100, to avenge their low-scoring, one-point overtime loss to the Wolverines in last year’s season opener.
Milo Gebhard led the crush with 143 yards on nine carries. He scored the first two touchdowns of the game as Delsea opened a 21-0 halftime lead. Nasir Hart had 122 yards and two TDs on five attempts, while Imair Chester had 120 yards on seven carries and the game’s final touchdown.
Freshman quarterback Frankie Hoerst scored Woodstown’s only touchdown, a 6-yard run in the third quarter that answered the coaches’ challenge at halftime. Hoerst had 25 yards rushing and completed six passes for 71 yards.
Cole Ware had an interception for the Wolverines.
“I was happy with the way our kids fought tonight,” Woodstown coach Frank Trautz said. “They (Delsea) were very physical and for our young team to get a taste of that tonight it was good for us. We can take a lot of good things away from it. I do think this will be a positive for us moving forward.”
Delsea 35, Woodstown 7
WOOD (7)
DEL (35)
10
1st Downs
17
26-62
Rushing
32-465
6-17-1
Passing (C-A-I)
1-2-1
71
Passing yds
23
2-0
Fumbles-lost
1-0
2-40.0
Punts-avg
0-0
8-51
Penalties-yds
10-100
Woodstown (1-1)
0
0
7
0-
7
Delsea (2-0)
7
14
7
7-
35
SCORING SUMMARY D: Milo Gebhard 1 run (Logan Cordero kick) D: Milo Gebhard 59 run (Logan Cordero kick) D: Nashi Hart 8 run (Logan Cordero kick) WO: Frank Hoerst 6 run (Frank Hoerst kick) D: Nasir Hart 46 run (Logan Cordero kick) D: Imair Chester 37 run (Logan Cordero kick)
WJFL Standings
DIAMOND DIVISION
ALL
DIV
Glassboro
2-0
0-0
Woodstown
1-1
0-0
Penns Grove
0-1
0-0
Salem
0-2
0-0
Schalick
0-2
0-0
Woodbury
0-2
0-0
PATRIOT DIVISION
ALL
DIV
Collingswood
2-0
1-0
West Deptford
2-0
1-0
Paulsboro
1-0
0-0
Audubon
0-0
0-0
Camden Catholic
0-1
0-0
Overbrook
1-1
0-1
Pennsville
0-2
0-1
Thursday’s Games Cinnaminson 3, Salem 0 Friday’s Games Cumberland 14, Schalick 7 Delsea 35, Woodstown 7 Glassboro 52, Haddon Heights 0 Haddonfield 41, Woodbury 0 West Deptford 42, Pennsville 7 Collingswood 27, Overbrook 14 Saturday’s Games Audubon at Paulsboro Deptford at Penns Grove KIPP at Camden Catholic
Salem Tech falls to Sterling in its first field hockey game in school history; also includes girls soccer, girls tennis
THURSDAY’S SCORES FIELD HOCKEY Sterling 4, Salem Tech 0 GIRLS SOCCER Washington Twp. 5, Schalick 0 GIRLS TENNIS Overbrook 5, Penns Grove 0 Vineland 3, Schalick 2 Wildwood at Salem
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
SOMERDALE — It was the first day of school for the students at Salem County Vo-Tech and a new day in the world of athletics at the school.
The Chargers have expanded their varsity sports offerings this academic year with the additions of field hockey, baseball and softball, and Thursday they played their first official field hockey match in school history.
It was a spirited debut despite losing to Sterling 4-0.
“I think we were all really excited for the game,” Chargers coach Maureen Lewis said. “The score honestly wasn’t a good reflection of how the game was actually played. If someone missed the first 10 minutes they would have thought at the end of the fourth it was 0-0.”
The game came at the Chargers fast, with the Silver Knights scoring all four of their goals in the first 10 minutes of the match. Alexis Johnston, Amelia Champion, Rilynn Eddis and McKenzie Ferrari all scored for the Silver Knights.
After that, Caroline Tighe stoned them in the cage. She was credited with five saves.
“I think we needed to get out our first official game jitters,” Lewis said. “Once we called a time out after the fourth goal was scored, we regrouped and they kicked it into gear.”
The Chargers will classify as Group 2 for NJSIAA playoff purposes and play in the Tri-County Conference Classic Division. They will compete as an independent this school year because the conference is in the second year of a two-year schedule cycle, but will be eligible for the state playoffs.
Their roster is a mix of players who may not have had an opportunity to play the sport before and, because the school now has a team to call its own, Vo-Tech students who had been playing at other programs because it had no team.
The plan is to play a schedule that gives the fledgling program every chance at early success. Most of their matches this season are against opponents that did not make the playoffs last year.
“We have some really talented players and I am really excited to see what they are going to do this season,” Lewis said. “Our new players are also doing great and getting better every day. Sometimes I forget some players are brand new to the sport. It’s been really cool to see their progress.
“This team is just really special and I’m lucky to be a part of it. It wasn’t easy for some of them to leave their teams they’ve played on for the last two or three years and I really respect how they have handled that. On the flip side, starting this team has given other players who may not have played for their home district an opportunity to play or try something new.”
The Chargers put their product in front of the home folks Wednesday against Paulsboro in their first-ever home opener.
GIRLS SOCCER WASHINGTON TWP. 5, SCHALICK 0: Corrine Myers scored two goals in the first half and Taylor Stuart scored a pair in the second half as Washington Twp. spoiled Schalick’s season opener.
Scurry, Virga each score twice as Schalick field hockey opens season of high expectations with a win; will be updated
TUESDAY FIELD HOCKEY Schalick 5, Haddon Heights 2 Pennsville 3, Bridgeton 2
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE — Ava Scurry scored a school-record 40 goals on a field hockey team that set a lot of records last season and she wasted little time setting out to break that mark this year.
The Schalick senior scored two goals in the first 100 seconds of the season Tuesday and assisted on another goal, sending the Cougars to a 5-2 win over Haddon Heights.
“We were hyping this game up a lot because we had a target on our backs from last season so we wanted to come out and show everyone we still have it,” Scurry said. “We have our whole team from last year. It was a good way to start the season and a great way to start the game.”
Her goals came on the Cougars’ first two attacks of the season. The first came 20 seconds into the game when Luci Virga lifted a ball into the circle and Scurry knocked in a pass from Phoebe Alward. The second goal came 78 seconds later when she converted a 30-yard flick from Caylen Taylor.
The first goal came so quick Scurry worried that her mother might not have gotten to the game yet to see it.
“That was really quick,” Cougars coach Heather Cheesman said. “The girls made a commitment to themselves, they’re going full force every single time, never giving up. They don’t care how far they’re behind in a game, how far they’re ahead of a game, that was one of their goals. They’re going full force, 100 percent every single time.”
Virga, a 22-goal scorer last year, lit the lamp twice in the second quarter to give the Cougars a 4-0 halftime lead. Addi Shimp scored their final goal in the third off another assist from Alward.
“That forward line (Virga, Alward, Scurry), all three of them are a force to be dealt with,” Cheesman said. “All three of them together have their own strength and just together they get it done.”
NOTES: Lydia Gilligan made 10 saves in the cage on her 17th birthday for the keeper win … The Cougars have been invited to play in the new 16-team South Jersey Field Hockey Coaches Tournament of Championship Oct. 4 at Camden Catholic and Oct. 5 at Clearview.
PENNSVILLE 3, BRIDGETON 2: Izzie Saulin scored twice and Laura Tamburella once as the Eagles won a back-and-forth affair for their first season-opening win since 2020. Kelsey Cook posted her 100th career save during the game while preserving the victory.
Getting to know … Ava Scurry
Schalick senior talks about her love for field hockey, becoming a goal-scoring machine, the expectations for her senior season and playing with his sister.
RIVERVIEW SPORTS NEWS: You play a lot of sports at Schalick, but you’re a field hockey player first. Why did it rise to the top of your sports menu?
AVA SCURRY: I just enjoy it so much. I’ve been playing with all these people, my teammates, since I started in fourth grade. I played softball since I was like 4. (Field hockey) is just so much more fun to me.
RSN: What was the first success you enjoyed in it that told you this was the sport for you?
AS: Probably winning when we were in fourth and fifth grades, winning big games or big tournaments with all of our team, just celebrating. We made so many fond memories and had so many big moments.
My mom told me when I was like 12 I thought softball was going to be it for you and then field hockey just like kind of sucked it away.
RSN: I remember you early on as a big assist person, but last year you turned into a big goal scorer. Was that a conscious effort on your part or did it just happen?
AS: I think it just happened like that because I’m always trying to assist my teammates. I still try, but now being on the right side helps a lot and I think my teammates do great at sending balls (my way), that’s what changed.
I played on the left when I was a freshman and sophomore and I think that helped a lot with me getting a lot of assists. I moved to right last year and I think that made a huge change.
RSN: You guys had a really big year last year and everybody is back from that team, so what are your expectations for this year?
AS: Very high. I think our goal is to win state championship. It’s our last time as a group being together.
RSN: How much better is it now?
AS: I think we’ve progressed all season. We’ve been working in the offseason. We’ve been with each other all summer. We do camps together.
RSN: You’re playing with your sister Renee this year, a year delayed because of her injury, what will that be like?
AS: When we were little I didn’t really like it that much, but now I think it’s so much fun playing with her. We come to school together every day, we come to practice together, it really strengthens our bond. It’s just so much fun doing something that you love with your best friend.
RSN: What’s recruiting like for you?
AS: I’m committed to Montclair State. I’ve been committed since April. I knew I wanted to stay close to home, but not too close. I thought Rowan was way too close. Montclair is a bigger D-III. I liked the size. And the coaches and team atmosphere were really nice.
Tennis
Tuesday’s matches Pennsville 5, Penns Grove 0 Salem at Gloucester Catholic Schalick 5, Overbrook 0 Woodstown 5, Glassboro 0
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
Schalick jumps out to early in coach’s debut, but Group 3 visitors’ depth takes over in second half
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – Matt Bloom and a couple of his Somerville assistants took the two-hour ride down the turnpike last Friday to check out Schalick’s final scrimmage of training camp. What they saw in the varsity half they watched didn’t really impact what they did in their game Friday night, but it never hurts to look.
They did pick up a tidbit or two during their visit, but it was more depth than play calls that played the biggest role in the Pioneers’ 34-17 win that spoiled by debut of Schalick head coach Kevin Leamy.
“You never take that for granted; you never know,” Bloom said. “It’s always being sure. New staff, lot of new players, a lot of things. We’ve never played anybody down in this part of the state, so it was one of those things we needed to make sure we got eyes on them from a first-hand experience.
“Plus, on film, they hadn’t played any offenses like our offense. Seeing them in person was crucial. I’m very glad we did (make the trip).”
From what they had seen in that very vanilla scrimmage, the Pioneers couldn’t have anticipated the way Schalick came out against them.
The Cougars were “ready for the moment,” jumped out to a 10-0 first-quarter lead with their first two possessions and led 17-14 at halftime. But it was all Somerville in the second half.
The Group 3 visitors scored three touchdowns with their punishing ground game and kept the Cougars out of the end zone while holding them to only 31 yards of offense. The Pioneers ran up 174 yards of offense in the half before taking three knees to run out the final 1:40 of the game.
“What I said in the locker room (at halftime) was it wasn’t going to be about what plays we called, what defensive fronts that we’re in, it’s all about how hard we play,” Bloom said. “That’s really what we showed in the second half. How bad do you want to win and how bad you want to impose your will on opponents.”
“I don’t think it was anything necessarily momentum,” Leamy said. “We were exposed with not having much depth and their offensive line, a lot of credit to them in the second half, came out and pushed us around a little bit. That offensive line really took over the game in the second half and I give them a lot of credit more than it is a negative to our kids.”
Sophomore Kenny Bartee drew Schalick’s opening-night start at quarterback and showed enough continue in that role. (Top photo) Kevin Leamy addresses the team after his first game as head coach. (Photos by Heather Papiano)
One thing the Somerville coaches were glad to get on their visit was a glimpse of Schalick sophomore Kenny Bartee playing quarterback because the Cougars hadn’t decided between Bartee and Gary Simonini as their starting signal-caller at the time.
Bartee was given the nod Monday morning and he showed his athleticism not only in the regular offense but also on special teams, returning the kickoff after Somerville’s first touchdown 89 yards for a score.
He rushed for 67 yards on 12 carries, completed a pass for 28 yards and comported himself well enough in his first varsity game at the position that Leamy said he is “probably that guy moving forward.”
“That was pretty clear and obvious he was the guy,” Bloom said. “I’m glad we came down here and saw that because you never know. He’s a good football player. They have some good kids, for sure.”
Leamy’s called the start of his first game as the Cougars’ head coach “really exciting … until it wasn’t.”
The Cougars built their 10-0 lead on a 47-yard touchdown run by David Stewart on their first play from scrimmage and a career-best 39-yard field goal by Hunter Dragotta to cap their second possession. Then the Pioneers came to life.
“There were a lot of ups and downs throughout the game, but you’re not defined by one game; no coach is defined by one game win or lose,” Leamy said. “We’re on to next week. The message to the kids is this is one step, this is Week Zero, and our goal is to be playing our best football when it matters in October and November.
“Yes, we lost, but we learned a lot. The kids realized what they’re really good at and what they need to work on. We’re going to be better off having played this team than scheduling a different game.”
David Stewart turns the corner on his 47-yard touchdown run on Schalick’s first play of the season. (Photo by Heather Papiano)
SOM (34)
SCH (17)
15
1st Downs
7
42-220
Rushing
27-124
6-10-1
Passing (C-A-I)
3-12-2
75
Passing yds
42
1-0
Fumbles-lost
1-1
4-34.8
Punts-avg
2-30.0
8-80
Penalties-yds
11-58
Somerville 34, Schalick 17
Somerville (1-0)
0
14
13
7-
34
Schalick (0-1)
10
7
0
0-
17
SCORING SUMMARY SC: David Stewart 47 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 10:00 1Q SC: Hunter Dragotta 39 FG, 3:29 1Q SO: Aiden Bush 1 run (Austin Rynearson kick), 7:19 2Q SC: Kenny Bartee 89 kickoff return (Hunter Dragotta kick), 7:02 2Q SO: Justin Bowen 1 run (Austin Rynearson kick), 4:55 2Q SO: Justin Bowen 2 run (kick failed), 4:40 3Q SO: Aiden Bush 41 run (Austin Rynearson kick), 1:44 3Q SO: Aiden Bush 1 run (Austin Rynearson kick), 7:08 4Q
Schalick’s Jace Volovar reaches for a pass during the second half of Friday’s game with Somerville. (Photo by Heather Papiano)
Riverview Sports News 