Here are scores and highlights of Monday’s high school sports action involving Salem County teams; check the full week’s schedule at the Riverview Sports News website
MONDAY’S SCORES
FIELD HOCKEY
Pennsville 2, Oakcrest 1: Kylie Harris, Cara Holt score goals and the Eagles snap four-game losing streak.
Schalick 7, Deptford 0: Seniors Ella Shimp (two goals, two assists), Kaleigh Coombs (two goals, one assist) and Sophia Longo (one goal) all scored on Senior Night. Lydia Gilligan recorded her seventh shutout.
Salem 4, Gloucester Catholic 0: Marissa Bower and Autumn Foote both had a goal and an assist as the Rams snapped a three-game losing streak and complete an undefeated Classic Division slate.
Woodstown 6, Overbook 0: Tulana Mingin scores twice.
BOYS SOCCER
Gloucester 7, Salem 2: Kevin Wall had a second-half hat trick as the Lions rallied from a 2-1 halftime deficit. Jeremy Jimenez and Jose Vilalpiando gave Salem a 2-0 lead.
Woodstown 2, Penns Grove 0: Ayden Ellis and Grant Prater scored second half goals.
GIRLS SOCCER
Gloucester City 6, Salem 0: Meghan Gorman scored twice as the Lions scored six in the first half.
Overbrook at Penns Grove
GIRLS TENNIS
Salem 3, Bridgeton 2: Salem’s No. 1 doubles team of Gianna Pelura and Tytiana Miller won a third-set pro set 7-3 to key the victory. Yanderin Castellanos and Cassidy Werkheiser at 1 and 2 singles also won for the Rams.
Pennsville 5, Gloucester Catholic 0
Woodstown 5, Glassboro 0
VOLLEYBALL
Clearview at Salem Tech
Category: SCHALICK
This week’s schedule
Here is the high school sports schedule for Salem County teams for the week of Oct. 16-21
Oct. 16
FIELD HOCKEY
Gloucester Catholic at Salem, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Oakcrest, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Overbook, 4 p.m.
Deptford Twp. at Schalick, 6 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Salem at Gloucester City, 6 p.m.
Woodstown at Sterling, 7 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Gloucester City at Salem, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Bridgeton at Salem, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
CROSS COUNTY
State Tech School Championship, Salem Tech
VOLLEYBALL
Clearview at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Oct. 17
BOYS SOCCER
Overbook at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Salem at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Glassboro at Pennsville, 5 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Gloucester Catholic at Salem, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Schalick, 6 p.m.
Glassboro at Pennsville, 7 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Haddon Heights, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Salem, 4 p.m.
NJSIAA Group I Sectionals
Championship matches
North 1: Kinnelon at Glen Rock, 1 p.m.
North 2: Whippany Park at Glen Ridge, 3 p.m.
South: Schalick at Haddon Twp., 3 p.m.
Central: New Providence at Highland Park, 4 p.m.
CROSS COUNTRY
Tri-County Conference Showcase, Cumberland, 3:30 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Oct. 18
FIELD HOCKEY
Moorestown Friends at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Oakcrest at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Pennsville, 4:30 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Overbrook at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Salem, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Oct. 19
BOYS SOCCER
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Salem, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Glassboro at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Triton, 4 p.m.
Salem at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Schalick, 4 p.m.
NJSIAA State Tournament
Championship Matches
Mercer County Park, T
VOLLEYBALL
KIPP Cooper at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Oct. 20
FOOTBALL
Gloucester Catholic at Schalick, 7 p.m.
Pennsville at Pitman, 7 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
Clayton at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Glassboro at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Clayton at Salem, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Glassboro at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Salem at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at LEAP Academy, 4 p.m.
Oct. 21
FOOTBALL
Salem at Woodbury, 10:30 a.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 11 a.m.
Cover photo by Heather Papiano
Passing fancy
SJ-I No. 1 Schalick retakes Hars-Lake Trophy, remains undefeated after big passing game from Simmons
HORIZON DIVISION SCORES
Friday’s games
Florence 1, Bishop Eustace 0, forfeit
Haddon Twp. 20, Wildwood 0
Holy Cross 32, Gloucester Catholic 27
Overbrook 48, Lindenwold 12
Schalick 35, Cumberland 8
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
SEABROOK – If you ever wondered why Schalick coach Mike Wilson spent so much time in the offseason trying to develop a passing game when the running game has served the Cougars so well, you got the answer Friday night.
It was for games like the latest installment of this neighborhood rivalry with Cumberland and all the games going forward from this point.
Kenai Simmons completed 13 of 17 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two more scores as undefeated Schalick crushed the Colts 35-8 to take back the Hars-Lake Memorial Trophy that goes to the winner of this annual game.
The junior threw touchdown passes to Dylan Sheehan and Reggie Allen and scored on a pair of 5-yard runs. The pass attempts, completions and yardage are all career highs, and the 236 yards is second-best in school history. He threw three touchdowns passes against Pennsville, the last time Schalick played before taking forfeit wins from Lindenwold and Bishop Eustace each of the last two weeks.
Each team names an MVP in the game and Simmons was the Cougars’ choice, Wilson said, “for the obvious reasons.”
And it was obvious why the Cougars went to the air so much this week.
“It was what Cumberland was doing defensively,” Wilson said. “They were stacking eight in the box and we said, OK, you want to stack eight, we’ll throw the ball.
“That’s basically why we did what we did in this offseason, why we put all that work in, because we knew this time of year if people are going to stack the box we’re going to throw the ball. You have to be able to throw the ball. I’ve learned in coaching for 19 years. If you can’t throw the ball and impact the games and playoff games, you’ve got to be able to do it.”
The Cougars (8-0) were playing their first game in 21 days and looked it at times, but they were solid enough to open a 21-0 halftime lead that included a blocked punt (by Simmons) and safety and led 35-0 before the Colts (3-5) finally scored.
“We played a pretty good game,” Wilson said. “Sometimes it felt like it was our first game of the year all over again, but overall we played well. The kids got the trophy back. We played a pretty good game for 21 days off and I’m very happy with the offense. The ability to throw the football is going to help us down the road.”
The Cougars are 8-0 for the first time since 2006 and have won eight games in a season for the first time since 2016. Just three seasons ago they were 0-7.
Schalick 35, Cumberland 8
| Schalick (8-0) | 12 | 9 | 14 | 0 – | 35 |
| Cumberland (3-5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 – | 8 |
Scoring plays:
S – Kenai Simmons 5 run (run failed)
S – Reggie Allen 14 run (run failed)
S – Safety, punt blocked/tackle in end zone
S – Dylan Sheehan 32 pass from Kenai Simmons (Hunter Dragotta kick)
S – Kenai Simmons 5 run (Hunter Dragotta kick)
S – Reggie Allen 20 pass from Kenai Simmons (Hunter Dragotta kick)
C – 4-yard run (Mark Sooy run)
Maybe an historic year
If the fates and numbers allow, all five Salem County football-playing schools could make the playoffs for the first time since 2017
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
Salem County is one of the smallest football-playing counties in the state, but if the fates allow and the numbers align it could get 100 percent participation in this year’s Group I playoffs.
That would be nearly one-third of the 16-team South/Central Jersey Group I bracket.
The last time all five Salem County football teams made the playoffs was 2017 and it’s close to happening now. Four of them are currently in the top 16, including the top two. Three are in the top 10 and one is on the cusp and could do a lot for its chances with a win this week.
“For a small county that doesn’t get a lot of press or a lot of hoopla, that’s pretty good,” Schalick head coach Mike Wilson said.
Pennsville coach Mike Healy agrees.
“It’s really cool to see a county that’s not as highly populated as other places have success like that,” he said. “It’s an awesome thing to see.”
Wilson’s undefeated Cougars and Woodstown are currently 1 and 2, respectively, in the South Jersey Group I UPR ratings that determine the seedings, so you have to figure they’re a lock regardless of what happens the next two weeks.
Penns Grove appears pretty solid, too, at No. 10 with a win over current No. 3 Glassboro and playing Woodstown for a division title next week. Pennsville’s comeback express has climbed into the top 16 and it would gain even more steam if it beats Penns Grove tonight.
Salem, winners of the last two Central Jersey championships, is right there but not quite in. The Rams currently sit at No. 17, just four-tenths of a point off the cut line. Because they play in the demanding Diamond Division loaded with ratings points, there’s a strong sense they would get in if they beat West Deptford in the first game in their new stadium Saturday even if they lose to Woodbury next week. Their 40.35 OSI is the highest of any team outside of the South Jersey Group I top 10.
Penns Grove got in last year without winning a game in the Diamond and with only two overall wins before the cutoff.
“I think it just shows the quality of the football down here in the Diamond Division and the West Jersey Football League and how it compares to other parts of the state,” first-year Salem coach Danny Mendoza said. “I think it will say a lot for the quality of football that’s played down in this area and will give a good outlook to everybody on what South Jersey football really is if we get all five teams in. You can’t deny the quality of football down here if that happens.”
“Football in South Jersey is as competitive as it’s ever been,” said Penns Grove coach John Emel.
Actually, all five teams made it in 2016 and 2017 and they all played in the South half of the sectional split both years. Salem has won the Central Jersey sectional title each of the last two years and played in the Central each of the last three years it made it.
In 2017, Penns Grove was the 2 seed, Salem 4, Woodstown 6, Schalick 7 and Pennsville 8. Because there were five teams in a four-game bracket, Penns Grove and Schalick met in the first round. Penns Grove played in the sectional final.
The year before, it was Pennsville 3, Salem 4, Woodstown 6, Schalick 7 and Penns Grove 8. Pennsville and Woodstown played in the first round. Salem played in the sectional final.
Pennsville has been away from the playoffs the longest, missing since 2019. Schalick got back in last year after not making it since 2018. Penns Grove, Salem and Woodstown have been fixtures.
“There are only five schools here but we have some good football down in the county and getting all five of those in would be a way to just showcase it,” Woodstown coach John Adams said. “Sometimes people feel like Salem County is down and out of the way, but to have five of those top 16 teams in Group I be from one county that’s pretty special.”
A couple things still have to happen before it all shakes out. Just something to think about as the regular season winds down.
RECENT SALEM COUNTY PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS
2022: Penns Grove (S), Woodstown (C), Schalick (C), x-Salem (C).
2021: Penns Grove (S), Woodstown (S), x-Salem (C)
2020: No playoffs.
2019: x-Penns Grove (S), Salem (C), Pennsville (C), Woodstown (C)
2018: x-Penns Grove (S), Woodstown (S), Schalick (S), Salem (S)
2017: Penns Grove (S), Salem (S), Woodstown (S), Schalick (S), Pennsville (S).
2016: Pennsville (S), Salem (S), Woodstown (S), Schlaick (S) Penns Grove (S)
S-South Jersey bracket, C-Central Jersey bracket, x-won sectional title
CURRENT SJ-I UPR TOP 16
(Through Oct. 12)
1. Schalick (7-0)
2. Woodstown (5-1)
3. Glassboro (3-3)
4. South Hunterdon (6-1)
5. Florence (5-0)
6. Shore (4-2)
7. Middlesex (5-1)
8. Woodbury (3-3)
9. Audubon (3-2)
10. Penns Grove (3-4)
11. Keyport (6-1)
12. Riverside (5-1)
13. Burlington City (5-2)
14. Clayton (3-3)
15. Pennsville (4-2)
16. Dunellen (4-2)
PROJECTED PLAYOFF PAIRINGS
(Based on this week’s UPR)
South Jersey Group I
No. 16 Dunellen (4-2) at No. 1 Schalick (7-0)
No. 9 Audubon (3-2) at No. 8 Woodbury (3-3)
No. 13 Burlington City (5-2) at No. 4 South Hunterdon (6-1)
No. 12 Riverside (5-1) at No. 5 Florence (5-0)
Central Jersey Group I
No. 14 Clayton (3-3) at No. 3 Glassboro (3-3)
No. 11 Keyport (6-1) at No. 6 Shore (4-2)
No. 10 Penns Grove (3-4) at No. 7 Middlesex (5-1)
No. 15 Pennsville (4-2) at No. 2 Woodstown (5-1)
Salem currently No. 17
‘It was our day’
Schalick girls finally solve Gateway, reach South Jersey Group I sectional tennis finals; also includes Thursday’s scores around the county
THURSDAY’S SCORES
FIELD HOCKEY
Glassboro 3, Schalick 2
GIRLS SOCCER
Paulsboro at Penns Grove
GIRLS TENNIS
Pitman at Penns Grove
Salem at Overbrook
Woodstown 5, Gloucester Catholic 0
South Jersey Group I Tournament
Semifinals
Schalick 3, Gateway 2
Haddon Twp. 5, Pitman 0
VOLLEYBALL
Highland Regional 2, Salem Tech 0 (25-16, 25-15)
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – After two years of frustrating finishes, the Schalick girls tennis team was ready to get the gator, er, monkey, off their back named Gateway.
The Cougars showed the grit and guile that has epitomized their season and knocked off the nemesis that beat them in the South Jersey Group I Tournament each of the last two years 3-2 to reach this year’s SJ-I finals.
The Cougars (17-2) will play at top-seeded Haddon Twp. (15-3) Tuesday for the sectional title and a spot in the Group I Final Four Oct. 19 at Mercer County Park.
“It was our day,” Schalick coach John Romano said. “Our girls came out there, they were prepared. They were ready to get the monkey off their back so to speak. They were just ready to take that step forward, and they did.
“The last three years it could have gone either way. We were fortunate to get the best of them this time.”
The Cougars swept the doubles points and ultimately clinched the match on junior Ally Green’s 6-1, 6-3 win over Allison Eckstein at third singles. Green trailed in the second set 3-2, then, showing the drive that took her from first doubles to No. 3 singles this season, won the next four games convincingly to win her match with one still on the court.
She knew the match was close, but she didn’t want to ask if it might come down to her court.
“I didn’t want to put it in my head and stress myself out, but I had a feeling when I saw our first single walk off and I saw the stress going on at second,” Green said. “There was definitely more pressure on that second set.
“I felt tired for some reason today and there was a point she had me 3-2. We had switched sides and I could hear her coach give her a lot of confidence and when other coaches are hyping someone against me it makes me a little more nervous.”
But she overcame that with a smooth, consistent approach to every shot and started clicking off points.
“Any time you play you want to have a solid third singles player,” Romano said. “We’ve been very fortunate over the past few years to have very, very good third singles players and she epitomizes that. She’s gritty, she gets everything back. That’s what their coach said: She gets everything back. She’s tough.”
The Cougars have been to the sectional semifinals or finals eight of the last 14 years. They’ve played Gateway in one of them four times.
The Gators ended their tournament dreams each of the previous two years, both in 3-2 nailbiters. It was in the sectional finals in 2021 and the semifinals last year.
“I really wanted that for (the seniors), this being their senior year and this being their last shot at it, so it made me really happy we were able to take them further,” Green said. “But not only them, I really wanted it for Romano because I knew how bad he wanted that win and I know he wanted the season to keep going, so to see him get happy on the side and he was all pumped up, it made us all really happy.”
The other sectional finals are Highland Park-New Providence (Central), Kinnelon-Glen Rock/Lenape Valley (North 1) and Whippany Park-Glen Ridge (North 2).
SCHALICK 3, GATEWAY 2
Singles
Morgan McNally (G) def. Rachel Irizarry, 6-0, 6-1.
Tabitha Bay (G) def. Grace O’Neill, 6-1, 0-6, 10-8.
Ally Green (S) def. Allison Eckstein, 6-1, 6-3.
Doubles
Emma Adams-Katelyn Little (S) def. Viena Chen-Sarah Martin, 6-2, 6-0.
Miya Watkins-Rachel Goranson (S) def. Addison Packer-Ashley Jackson, 6-1, 6-0.
Records: Schalick 17-2, Gateway 11-9
Schalick sweep
Cougars sweep boys and girls titles in Salem County XC Meet; Hadfield blows away girls field, Fuerneisen wins boys race for first time
AROUND THE COUNTY
WEDNESDAY’S SCORES
FIELD HOCKEY
Highland Regional 1, Pennsville 0
BOYS SOCCER
Overbrook 7, Salem 0
Penns Grove 5, Salem Tech 0
Pitman 1, Pennsville 0
Schalick 6, Clayton 0
Woodstown 5, Wildwood 1
GIRLS SOCCER
Overbrook 3, Salem 1
Penns Grove at Salem Tech
Pitman 1, Pennsville 0
Schalick 5, Clayton 0
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville 5, Wildwood 0
Woodstown 5, West Deptford 0
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – Missy Pine never ceases to be amazed at what she sees every time Jordan Hadfield steps on the cross country course.
A soccer player for most of high school career with some track experience in the spring, Hadfield decided to run cross country this fall and has really taken off. Like best girls runner in the state any classification taken off.
The Schalick junior was especially impressive Wednesday, blowing away the Salem County Meet record while winning the girls race in 18 minutes, 26 seconds on an absolutely perfect day to run on her home course. Amazingly, it came four days – four days – after she broke 19 for the first time at the South Jersey Open.
It was clean sweep for the Cougars. Charles Fuerneisen won the boys race for the first time in a personal best 16:58 and both Schalick teams ran away with team titles.
Hadfield was so dominant, she was more than three and a half minutes ahead of race runner-up Sarah Seiden of Salem Tech.
“She amazes every time that she goes out there,” Pine, the Schalick girls coach, said. “She just wants to better herself and better herself and better herself. I think she’s starting to realize what it takes to push herself and get a little bit better each time and she’s starting to be proud of the runs she puts forward even though I’m proud of her every week.
“It’s really difficult to come out and dominate the way that Jordan has this year. Cross country is a much more difficult sport than I think anybody anticipates or expects, and for her to dominate the way that she has it’s been amazing and inspiring to her teammates and the coaching staff as well.”
It isn’t always as easy as Hadfield sometimes make it – she does have “really bad races” – but there are times even she’s amazed with the immediate success she’s had. She admitted she was with Wednesday’s run.
“Today I was going for the school record,” she said. “I was really just trying to get into the 18s. I’m glad I finally did Saturday and today was just another step closer. It means more (to win) being at home, winning in front of everyone we go to school with. It means a lot.”
Fuerneisen has been chasing the county championship for three years, inching closer each year until finally grabbing the brass ring Wednesday. He was 10th as a sophomore and held on for a second-place finish last year.
“There was a lot of pressure to do it, even carrying over from last season, so to actually do it, I couldn’t be happier,” he said. “As long as the first two numbers were 16 I was going to be happy.”
It was a tight race early. Calling it “a perfect run” and saying it was the best he’s ever felt during a race, he got out to a fast first mile and as the pack came out of the woods he started to pull away. The last half of the race it was him against the clock and he won by a comfortable 44 seconds over Woodstown runner-up Karson Chew.
“Charles was hungry for it,” Cougars boys coach Justin Franzwa said. “I think this has been one he’s circled on his calendar for a while.”
In the team races, the Schalick boys had four of the seven medalists, going 1-3-5-7 – all under 19 minutes – and placed all five counters in the top 12. The Cougars finished second last year on their course.
“The whole team had a really good day; they’ve been working so hard,” Franzwa said. “As a team effort, we knew it all depended on how fast could Charles get out and how hard he could pull the rest of us. Credit to the other coaches. There were kids we could go against, that we could chase after, that really brought them along.”
The girls finished 1-3, had three in the top seven and placed all five counters in the top 10. Elizabeth Petrunis was third.
Salem County XC Championship
BOYS TEAM SCORES: Schalick 28, Salem Tech 68, Woodstown 73, Pennsville 83, Salem 108, Penns Grove 161.
GIRLS TEAM SCORES: Schalick 27, Woodstown 55, Salem Tech 56.
| BOYS TOP 10 | GIRLS TOP 10 | ||
| Charles Fuerneisen, Sch | 16:58 | Jordan Hadfield, Sch | 18:26 |
| Karson Chew, Wood | 17:42 | Sarah Seiden, Tech | 21:59 |
| Matthew Tozer, Sch | 17:54 | Elizabeth Petrunis, Sch | 22:19 |
| Jacob Marino, Wood | 18:21 | Kayla Ayars, Wood | 23:13 |
| Sal Longo, Sch | 18:26 | Savannah Johnson, Tech | 23:49 |
| Gary Schwegen, Pv | 18:37 | Makayla Butz, Pv | 24:12 |
| Wyatt Juczak, Sch | 18:51 | Aubree McKishen, Sch | 24:36 |
| David Farrell, Wood | 19:04 | Sammy Sterner, Wood | 24:43 |
| Colton DiRenzo, Tech | 19:13 | Jordan Goode, Sch | 24:50 |
| Dominic Militti, Tech | 19:14 | Ava Melnick, Sch | 25:21 |
Cover photo: Schalick’s Charles Fuerneisen (left) and Jordan Hadfield celebrate their respective wins in the Salem County Cross Country Championships.
Playing for something
In a couple riverview rivalries this week, Pennsville-Penns Grove and Schalick-Cumberland both have historic trophies for the winners to claim
THIS WEEK’S GAMES
Friday’s games
Schalick at Cumberland, 6 p.m.
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Haddonfield, 7 p.m.
Saturday’s game
West Deptford at Salem, noon
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
Mike Healy has never beaten Penns Grove in his tenure as Pennsville’s head football coach. In some circles that lack of success in a storied rivalry might get a coach a change of address. Strangely, even if he pulls it off this week he knows he’s going to get the Boot.
The same holds for Penns Grove coach John Emel. Even if his team wins the game under the temporary lights at home Friday night, he’ll get the Boot as well.
Relax. Nobody’s getting fired. The two schools, 8 miles apart, are just playing for The Boot – the trophy that has gone to the winner of this riverview rivalry for years. It’s such a prized possession, winning coaches have used it as the centerpiece next the turkey on their Thanksgiving table back when the game was played on that day.
“It’s a huge deal,” Healy said. “Our towns border each other. The kids all know each other, do social media and all that stuff, and play against each other. For me, you want to win the rival game, it’s big as a coach, but for the players it means more, the bragging rights and just the ability to pump your chest a little bit and have that for the year.
“It’s a feeling we haven’t had in a while, so it’s something that means a lot to the town. It was a Thanksgiving Day game. Thanksgiving Day games mean a lot in New Jersey. We don’t have them anymore, but still that rivalry is there.”
The trophy awaiting the winner is named in honor of Norm “Wildman” Willey, the three-time Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro defensive lineman of the ’50s who taught PE and drivers ed at Pennsville for 30 years. He still holds the NFL record for sacks in a game – 17 against the New York Giants – at a time before sacks were an officially recognized league stat. He passed away in 2011.
The reason it’s called The Boot is because one of Willey’s football cleats is part of the trophy.
“Nowadays it’s pretty cool for the kids to play for a trophy,” Emel said. “It’s a pretty cool trophy. Adds something to the game.
“To be honest, we don’t spend much time talking about it outside of the one week a year we play Pennsville, but … it’s something we’re excited to currently have and we’re going to play this week with the goal to keep it. I’ve been in this program long enough where we’ve watched the other side walk off with it (and) it’s not a fun feeling.”
Pennsville is trying to get The Boot back. The Eagles haven’t won it since 2016 and the games have been quite one-sided, too. Penns Grove leads the series 36-27-4 and is 10-4 since 2010.
Both teams are on a roll and have their sights on a playoff berth. Both have won three of their last four and are looking to win their third straight.
The Eagles (4-2) haven’t won three in a row since 2016. Their four wins already are the most in a season since 2017 (4-6) and getting the Boot would guarantee them their first winning regular season since 2016.
The Red Devils (3-4) have steadily eliminated their turnovers in recent weeks and are working on a string of six straight shutout quarters. They haven’t won three in row since 2020. They’ve already matched their win total from last year and keeping the Boot gives them a chance to guarantee a winning regular season when they play for the Diamond Division title against Woodstown next week.
“It’s hard not to be a little more excited for this game than other games,” Healy said. “There’s always the competitive side, but any time it’s a rival, especially when you haven’t been successful against them and just feeling we have a good shot this year, it’s hard not to be a little more juiced up for it.
“That being said we still have to make sure we’re doing what we’re doing. We can’t just rely on adrenaline out there. I felt like today we were more focused at practice. You really don’t have to do anything to get your kids excited when it comes to this week.”
This one’s personal
SCHALICK (7-0) at CUMBERLAND (3-4): Mike Wilson has played and coached in a lot of rivalry games in his day, but the one his undefeated Schalick Cougars play this week is about as intense as they come.
They don’t call this one “The Neighborhood Game” for nothing. The schools are 6 miles apart. The players know each other, they’ve played with and against each other for years. The coaches and administrators overlap. Current Schalick athletics director Doug Volovar’s last game as Cumberland’s head football coach was in this game in 2002, so he has seen it from both sides.
The Gloucester City game might be the Cougars’ longest-standing football rivalry, but this one is personal.
“It definitely has that kind of taste to it,” Wilson said. “I’ve been on staffs where the people in town only care about one game; this game has that same type of level. Whether both teams are 7-0, 0-7 or whatever it doesn’t matter.
“This one checks all the boxes. It used to be Schalick and Cumberland’s Super Bowl when Thanksgiving kind of ended your season. I still think it’s a mid-year Super Bowl. It’s a big deal. These kids are going to come out ready to play and you’re going to see the best effort on both sides.”
There is a trophy, the Hars-Lake Memorial Trophy, established last year and named in the memories of longtime Cumberland coach Tom Lake, who oversaw the most successful stretch in Colts history, and former Schalick history teacher Mike Hars, who served as an assistant coach at both schools. Each team names an MVP when it’s over.
For the record, Schalick holds a 14-8 lead in the series, which began in 1977 with the first varsity football games in both schools’ history and then broke until 2002 when the Colts joined the Tri-County Conference. Cumberland won last year’s game in Pittsgrove 21-16 in front of about 1,200 people, snapping Schalick’s six-game winning streak under the weight of more turnovers in one game than the Cougars had to that point all season.
Nobody has won back-to-back since the Cougars won in 2018 and 2019. The Colts’ last won back-to-back games in 2007 and 2008.
The Cougars should be especially amped to play. They’ll be back on the field for the first time since Sept. 22 after getting two forfeit victories that earned the top spot in the South Jersey Group I UPR ratings and a second straight Horizon Division crown. They stand to pick up a lot of ratings points if they can knock off a Group III team with three wins.
“Looking at the big picture our ultimate goal is to secure home field advantage in the playoffs,” Wilson said. “That adds an extra layer in this game for us.”
Cover photo: The Hars-Lake Memorial Trophy (right) and the Norm Willey Boot, the trophies awarded the winner in the Schalick-Cumberland and Pennsville-Penns Grove games.
CURRENT SJ-I UPR
(Updated Oct. 8)
(Top 16 qualify for playoffs)
1. Schalick (7-0) 2.6
2. Woodstown (5-1) 4.2
3. Glassboro (3-3) 4.4
4. South Hunterdon (6-1) 5.2
5. Florence (5-0) 5.8
6. Shore (4-2) 6.0
7. Middlesex (5-1) 8.4
8. Woodbury (3-3) 8.4
9. Audubon (3-2) 9.0
10. Penns Grove (3-4) 9.4
11. Keyport (6-1) 10.6
12. Riverside (5-1) 11.0
13. Burlington City (5-2) 12.8
14. Clayton (3-3) 12.8
15. Pennsville (4-2) 13.6
16. Dunellen (4-2) 16.6
17. Salem (1-6) 17.0
18. Manville (2-5) 19.0
19. Maple Shade (2-5) 20.8
20. Asbury Park (0-5) 21.4
Starting fast
Tuesday’s roundup: Woodstown field hockey parlays quick start into victory over Salem, Schalick tennis advances to SJ Group I semifinals, and more
TUESDAY’S SALEM COUNTY SCORES
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick 3, Pennsville 0
Woodstown 2, Salem 0
GIRLS SOCCER
Pennsville 3, Overbrook 2
Woodstown 5, Penns Grove 0
GIRLS TENNIS
Salem 5, Gloucester Catholic 0
NJSIAA South Jersey Group I Tournament
Quarterfinals
Haddon Twp. 3, Pennsville 2
Gateway 3, Woodstown 2
Schalick 5, Audubon 0
VOLLEYBALL
Washington Twp. 2, Salem Tech 0 (25-4, 25-7)
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
SALEM – For the longest time this season the Woodstown field hockey team was pretty much a second-half team. The Wolverines were doing most of their scoring in the second half of games and while it was producing wins, it was becoming somewhat of a concern as the games became more intense and more important.
Now, the Wolverines are getting off to quicker starts and it couldn’t be coming at a better time.
They scored a little more than three minutes into Tuesday’s game with Salem and carried that momentum to a 2-0 victory. It was as if their victory over Delsea Friday, their first win over the Crusaders in 11 years, flipped a switch.
“Since our big win against Delsea we started just coming on from the get-go,” Woodstown coach Bryanna Roberts said. “Even this game they came out and scored right away, so it just showed me they’re out there to play and ready to go, which was a huge piece.
“It was super exciting just to get that (first goal) because coming into a game like this we’re all super anxious and you never know how the girls are going to come out. They came out ready to play. By scoring that first goal it just kind of showed they were ready to come out here and get another win under their belt.”
In their first seven games of the season the Wolverines (9-2) scored 20 of their 32 goals in the second half and went 6-1. They started leveling the ledger in a lop-sided win over Deptford, but over the last three games they have scored three of their four goals in the first half and two of them in the first quarter.
They scored both of their goals against Delsea in the first half and have now scored 21 goals in the first half and 24 in the second.
Their first goal against the Rams (8-3) started and ended with Kayla Brown, who always seems to be around when a goal gets scored. The senior forward got the play started with a corner. Megan Donelson blasted a shot from just inside the 16 that Salem keeper Dominique Lewis stopped, but Brown was right on Lewis’ pads and flicked the rebound home with 3:11 gone. It was her seventh goal of the season.
The Wolverines scored just as quickly to open the second half. Tulana Mingin punched in an insurance goal 3:15 into the third quarter.
“It just really sets the tone for the rest of the game for us,” Brown said of scoring quickly. “It was always a little discouraging when we would go through by the second half without a goal yet. We had to change that. We want to start off strong and end strong, and since that Delsea game it’s been going really well for us.”
The win, with its accompanying power points, vaulted the Wolverines into second place in the South Jersey Group I standings with a big match coming up against current No. 3 Schalick at home Friday.
SCHALICK 3, PENNSVILLE 0: Phoebe Alward scored her 12th goal of the season, Luciana Virga notched her seventh and Caylen Taylor her eighth. Lydia Gilligan posted her sixth shutout.
Girls soccer
WOODSTOWN 5, PENNS GROVE 0: Emma Perry scored her team-leading sixth goal, Alyssa Baber scored the first of her career and Taylor Sparks scored her first of the season after converting to center back for the good of the team. Blair Baldi and Calista Hunt scored the Wolverines’ other goals.
“Taylor stepped up in a big way for us to fill the role as a defender,” Woodstown coach Kieran Keyser said.
PENNSVILLE 3, OVERBROOK 2: Karsen Cooksey and Anikka Macalino scored second-half goals as the Eagles rallied from a 2-1 halftime deficit. Riley Bowman scored Pennsville’s first goal and assisted on Macalino’s game-winner. The Eagles (4-7-2) are 4-2-1 in their last seven games.
Girls tennis
GATEWAY 3, WOODSTOWN 2: The Gators won pro set tiebreakers at No. 1 and No. 3 to sweep singles and upset third-seeded Woodstown in the South Jersey Group I girls tennis tournament, handing the Wolverines (12-1) their first loss of the season.
Morgan McNally rallied from dropping the first set to win 6-0, 10-4 at No. 1, while Allison Eckstein bounced back from dropping the second set to win her pro set 10-5. The Wolverines swept the doubles matches.
In the other tournament matches involving Salem County teams, Schalick swept Audubon, 5-0; and Pennsville took top-seeded Haddon Twp. to the wire before falling 3-2.
Schalick’s Nos. 2 and 3 singles, Grace O’Neill and Allyson Green, won their matches without dropping a game. Lily Edwards and the No. 1 doubles team of Emma Cornette and Fanta Kone scored Pennsville’s points.
Schalick now hosts No. 6 Gateway in the sectional semifinals. The Cougars (16-2) have won seven in a row, six of them by 5-0 sweeps.
This week’s schedule
Here is the high school sports schedule for Salem County teams for the week of Oct. 9-14; to submit corrections or alterations email al.muskewitz@gmail.com
Oct. 9
FIELD HOCKEY
Gloucester City at Salem, noon
Our Lady of Mercy at Schalick, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Gateway at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
Paulsboro at Salem, 4 p.m.
Washington Twp. at Schalick, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Schalick at Washington Twp., 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Audubon, 7 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick at Haddon Heights, 4 p.m.
Oct. 10
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Salem, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Pennsville at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Gloucester Catholic at Salem, 4 p.m.
NJSIAA South Jersey Group I Tournament
Quarterfinals
Pennsville at Haddon Twp.
Pitman at Middle Twp.
Gateway at Woodstown
Audubon at Schalick
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Washington Twp., 4 p.m.
Oct. 11
FIELD HOCKEY
Pennsville at Highland Regional, 6 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Clayton at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Pitman, 7 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Overbrook at Salem, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Pitman, 5 p.m.
Schalick at Clayton, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at West Deptford, 4 p.m.
CROSS COUNTY
Salem County Championship at Schalick, 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 12
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Paulsboro at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Gloucester Catholic at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Highland Regional, 4 p.m.
Oct. 13
FOOTBALL
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
Schalick at Cumberland, 7 p.m.
Woodstown at Haddonfield, 7 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
Salem at Gloucester Co. Tech, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Audubon at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Clayton at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Glassboro at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Salem Tech at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Camden Academy, 4 p.m.
Oct. 14
FOOTBALL
West Deptford at Salem, noon
FIELD HOCKEY
Gloucester City at Woodstown, 1 p.m.
Cover photo of Woodstown’s Anthony Ford Dale looking for running room against Woodbury by Ellen Sickler.
Hats off to Sepers
Schalick sophomore posts hat trick to lift Cougars over Woodstown, all four of his goals this season have come against the Wolverines
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – Anthony Sepers didn’t know much about Schalick’s soccer rivalry with Woodstown when he transferred into the school this summer. As the new kid he just wanted to do something to make new friends.
That was after he scored the game-winning goal when the teams played in their season opener.
They may give him a parade now.
The sophomore right wing scored a natural hat trick that spanned each half to lead the Cougars past their rivals 6-2 Saturday and spoil the Wolverines’ Alumni Night under the lights in the football stadium.
“It was just wanting it. Everyone’s here. It was a big game,” Sepers said. “This is my first year at the school so I didn’t really know the rivalry was that big. The first day of school we played them and everyone was talking about it so I just thought I had to come out here and do something, score a goal, and thought I’d make these people like me.”
Sepers has scored only four goals since joining the Cougars and all four have come against the Wolverines. He had the game-winning goal in both games as his first goal – with 2:37 left in the first half – gave them a 3-2 lead.
His first goal came after Woodstown’s Adrian Ibarra and Cole Lucas swapped goals with Michael Nelson and Luke Price. He took a cross from Nolan O’Toole near the left post, hit the post with his initial shot and then banged home the rebound.
His first goal in the second half came after he played a long throw-in off his chest and tucked it inside the left post. He completed the hat trick three minutes later in a similar manner.
“We had a guy here tonight, an alumnus, who always seemed to score in these games against Woodstown,” Cougars coach Joe Mannella said. “Some guys do that. Some teams they just find a way to do good things against and if that’s something, (Sepers will) do it, but I think he’ll score a lot of goals before it’s said and done.”
The player he referenced was Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland freshman Jesse McFarland. Ironically, McFarland also scored a hat trick earlier in the day in his team’s win over County College of Morris.
The win was one of the gutsiest for the young Cougars (8-3). They already were down two starters and fell behind 1-0 and 2-1, but they didn’t get discouraged and rose up to win the fifth time in their last six games. The loss snapped Woodstown’s seven-game winning streak since that Opening Day loss to the Cougars.
“It certainly wasn’t easy,” Mannella said. “It was (all about) how our guys are gonna respond when it gets like that, because it’s an intense atmosphere and now you’re behind twice. They showed me a lot tonight.
“The occasion wasn’t too big for them. When you’re trying to build a championship team games like this kind of show you what you’re made of a little bit, especially in that mental character portion of it. Can you still play your game when it’s under pressure. That was a pressure-filled first half and to come out of that first half (up) 3-2 was huge.”
The win also moved the Cougars a half-game ahead of Glassboro for first place in the Diamond Division, tied in the loss column. The teams play at Schalick Friday.
“You control your own destiny at that point,” Mannella said. “Hopefully, they get a little taste of what this could be and run with it.”
NOTES: Schalick and Glassboro are both 5-1 in the division, Woodstown is 4-1 … O’Toole scored Schalick’s final goal … You’ll have to go back past 2010 to find the last time a team scored six or more goals in the rivalry … Woodstown recognized its Tri-County Conference championship teams of 1984, 1989, 1999 and 2009 at halftime. Current Wolverines head coach Darren Huck played on the 1989 team.
Schalick 6, Woodstown 2
| Schalick (8-3) | 3 | 3 – | 6 |
| Woodstown (7-2) | 2 | 0 – | 2 |
Goals:
W – Adrian Ibarra, 15 (Kaleb Gerace), 3:21
S – Michael Nelson, 3 (Lucas Sepers), 6:04
W – Cole Lucas, 2 (Blake Bialecki), 27:17
S – Luke Price, 7 (unassisted), 32:28
S – Anthony Sepers, 2 (Michael Nelson), 27:23
S – Anthony Sepers, 3 (unassisted), 60:08
S – Anthony Sepers, 4 (Michael Nelson), 63:35
S – Nolan O’Toole, 2 (Oscar Hernandez-Guzman), 74:18
Cards: Elijah Cummings, Schalick (Y), 34:16; Grant Prater, Woodstown (Y), 54:53
