Instant impact

Thursday roundup: Louis Sepers scores a goal in his first game eligible with Schalick soccer team; Schalick’s Romano scores 200th coaching win, and more UPDATED

THURSDAY’S SCORES
BOYS SOCCER
Schalick 3, Pennsville 0
Salem Tech 1, Salem 1
GIRLS SOCCER
Schalick 6, Pennsville 0
Salem 9, Salem Tech 0
Woodstown 4, Penns Grove 0
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick 7, Cumberland 0
GIRLS TENNIS
South Jersey Group I Tournament
No. 2 Schalick 5, No. 15 Salem 0
No. 3 Woodstown 5, No. 14 Lindenwold 0
No. 4 Middle Twp. vs. No. 13 Penns Grove
No. 8 Pennsville 4, No. 9 Overbrook 1

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Louis Sepers has been chomping at the bit to get on the pitch for the Schalick boys soccer team and when he finally did, he made it count.

Sepers scored his first goal in his first game with the Cougars Thursday, a 3-0 Diamond Division road shutout of Pennsville.

The junior center midfielder transferred from Kingsway to play with his brother and cousin and had to sit out the last 31 days to restore his eligibility. He scored the last goal of the game with 5:15 to play.

“Definitely not,” Sepers said when asked if his debut could’ve gone any better. “It was a great game. We played really well. We knew coming in we need commitment, we need more leaders, so I came in here as a leader and started off.

“I’ve been going crazy. Just getting to go on the field and score a goal, just unbelievable. I never could have thought of it being any better.”

Sepers, who didn’t score in his two years with the Dragons, actually started the play that eventually led to his first Schalick goal. He sent a pass in to Luke Price, but Price got it caught on his foot in the box and fed it back to the trailing Sepers who fired point blank into the upper left corner.

“We had a feeling he would get one,” Cougars coach Joe Mannella said. “He’s been chomping at the bit to get out there. He’s a good player. He should have had one in the first half. He’s going to get his chances.”

Louis was one of three Sepers on the field for the Cougars Brother Anthony was in the game and cousin Evan posted the shutout.

Louis played his first two years at Kingsway. His brother and cousin were already at Schalick when he decided to join them, but enrolled after the Cougars had already started practicing, hence the delay.

He had been practicing with them since his arrival but was relegated to the sidelines while they went 7-3 in their first 10 games. The embargo ended just in time for him to get in a game before the Cougars’ showdown with rival Woodstown on the Wolverines’ football field Saturday night.

He brings them experience, composure and depth, all of which the Cougars will need Saturday already knowing they’ll go into the game without two starters. He spent 18 days this summer with the Spanish fourth tier club CD Numancia in Soria, and decided upon his return to The States he wanted to play with his sophomore siblings.

“They’ve been bugging me for years,” he said. “Since freshman year I was thinking about it, and I just ended up going to Kingsway, but they’ve been bugging me, especially my uncle.”

Steve Chomo scored the Cougars’ first two goals, both assisted by Oscar Hernandez. The first one was a partial breakaway with 22:01 left in the first half and the second came with 22:35 to play.

SALEM TECH 1, SALEM 1: Clinton Bobo’s goal in the second half earned the Crusaders (3-6-1) their tie. The Rams remain winless in 10 games (0-9-1)

GIRLS SOCCER
SCHALICK 6, PENNSVILLE 0: Emily Miller peppered her 25th and 26th goals of the season in between Quinn Berger’s hat trick — all in the first half — as the Cougars (8-2) overran the undermanned Eagles (3-7-2). Jael Winnberg scored the Cougars’ final goal in the the second half. All but one of the Cougars’ wins have been by shutout.

WOODSTOWN 4, PENNS GROVE 0: Talia Battavio scored two goals and Delaney Walker and Sophie Wells each had one for the Wolverines (5-6). Calista Hunt and Emma Perry each had two assists.

SALEM 9, SALEM TECH 0: Karima Davenport-White scored four goals as the Rams (3-6-1) won for the second time in their last three games. Ryann Foote had a goal and two assists, Xin Shen had two assists, and Carlysia Pierce, Lyric Hayes, Ameriyona Hunter and Jayla Turner each scored a goal.

FIELD HOCKEY
SCHALICK 7, CUMBERLAND 0: Ava Scurry scored three goals and dished two assists. Scurry now has six goals on the season. Phoebe Alward scored her 11th goal, while Lucianna Virga, Caylen Taylor and Casey Widdifield also scored. Lydia Gilligan stopped the only shot she faced for the shutout.

GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick and Woodstown postponed their regularly scheduled showdown Thursday in order to help the opening round of the South Jersey Group 1 Tournament avoid projected bad weather on Friday and both made easy work of their opponents.

Schalick, the No. 2 seed, swept No. 15 Salem 5-0, while Woodstown, the No. 3 seed, swept No. 14 Lindenwold, 5-0. No. 8 Pennsville was the third Salem County team advancing, beating No. 9 Overbrook, 4-1.

Schalick (14-2) won all five of its matches in straight sets, losing only two games in the second set of No. 1 singles, and gave coach John Romano his 200th coaching victory. Undefeated Woodstown (13-0) also won all five matches in straight sets.

“Girls, to say ‘thank you’ would be a disservice,” Romano wrote in appreciation of his milestone on the school’s athletics Facebook page. “I cannot begin to tell you how lucky I am to coach such an unbelievable group of young ladies. You’re the true reason why I come back year after year.

“Years from now when I’m old(er) and have (more) white hairs, I will reminisce on the wins and losses, but ultimately I will think about all of the lives I’ve been able to touch and the friendships and relationships I’ve formed with all of you. A true testament of a coach isn’t wins and losses on the court, it’s the success you young ladies have in life.”

Pennsville now travels to top-seeded Haddon Twp. Tuesday for its second-round match. Woodstown will host Gateway and Schalick will host Audubon. Wins by Woodstown and Schalick in Round 2 would set up a sectional semifinals battle between the two county rivals in Pittsgrove.

SCHALICK 5, SALEM 0
Singles: Rachael Irizarry (Sc) def. Mandarin Castellanos, 6-0, 6-2; Grace O’Neill (Sc) def. Cassidy Werkheiser, 6-0, 6-0; Allyson Green (Sc) def. Olivia Woolman, 6-0, 6-0.
Doubles: Emma Adams-Katelyn Little (Sc) def. Gianna Pelura-Tytiana Miller, 6-0, 6-0; Miya Watkins-Rachel Grandson (Sc) def. Angelina Fothergill-Tahirah Davenport-White, 6-0, 6-0.

WOODSTOWN 5, LINDENWOLD 0
Singles: Abby Melle def. Shanik Leiva, 6-1, 6-1; Gabby Kurds def. Chelsea Ortez, 6-0, 6-0; Cara Delia def. Leczy Estupinian, no match.
Doubles: Julianna Lindenmuth-Molly Curtis def. Fatima Arriaza-Giselle Ontiveros, 6-1, 6-0; Kathryn Milligan-Lauren Lippincott def. Tiffany Lopez-Selena Perla, 6-1, 6-0.

PENNSVILLE 4, OVERBROOK 1
Singles: Madison Newbold (O) def. Regan Witt, 7-5, 6-2; Megan Morris (P) def. Keira Riess, 6-2, 6-1; Lily Edwards (P) def. Mia Costantino, 6-1, 6-0.
Doubles: Emma Cornette-Fanta Kone (P) def. Hillary Cao-Jennifer Giovanni, 6-3, 6-0; Isabell Schrenker-Gabi Forino (P) def. Sophia Burgos-Denovia Cameron, 6-1, 6-0.

Cover photo: Schalick soccer newcomer Louis Sepers is marked by Pennsville’s Brody Wiggins (46) Thursday afternoon.

Big games all around

Every team in Salem County, undefeated or winless, has something to play for; story will be updated

SALEM COUNTY FOOTBALL
Friday’s games
Bishop Eustace at Schalick, forfeit
Overbrook at Pennsville, 7 p.m.
Penns Grove at Glassboro, 7 p.m.
Woodbury at Woodstown, 7 p.m.
Saturday’s game
Paulsboro at Salem, noon (Walnut Street)

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – From the first day the Woodstown football team showed up for summer workouts one game has been on its radar.

Ever since the Wolverines put Woodbury on the schedule as a last-minute pick-up during the COVID season, the teams have had a spirited rivalry, whether it be in games, scrimmages of 7-on-7 camp. The intensity took a big turn two years ago when the Thundering Herd scored late in the South Jersey Group I final to dash the Wolverines’ hopes of winning a state championship and it’s been driving them ever since.

Last year, with Woodstown 5-0 and Woodbury 5-1, the Herd took advantage of several Wolverine turnovers and took it to them pretty good on the way to winning the state title.

Friday night the stakes will be high again with the winner taking over first place in the WJFL Diamond Division. But for all that’s on the line, Woodstown coach John Adams is going about business like any other week because, in their division, it’s like playing in the SEC of Group I where one could put even the weakest team somewhere else and they’d be undefeated.

“We approach every week the same way whether it’s a game people have circled on their schedule or not,” Adams said. “We always make sure we prepare for everybody the same way. We had a good day of practice on Monday with the varsity. We had a good day Tuesday with everybody. We’re just looking to keep having good practices.”

Both teams come into the game with a loss or two on their record. Woodstown (4-1) lost to Glassboro in overtime. Woodbury (3-2) has lost two in a row without injured quarterback Dante Viccharelli. That hasn’t happened since 2020 when the Herd lost three straight in a stretch that included the game picked up by Woodstown.

The Wolverines are preparing as if Viccharelli will play.

“I’m preparing as if he’s playing, but I have no idea,” Adams said. “And I don’t believe anything kids say because last week people were saying Salem had some kids who weren’t playing and then they showed up and played.

“It seems always to be that way. Usually we get everybody’s best shot, so usually it’s a game where if somebody’s out they’re trying to get back for a game like this, so we’re full head of steam preparing for their quarterback to be back there.”

Whether Viccharelli is in there or not, the Herd also has a dynamic running back in Anthony Reagan Jr. The coach’s son, a Howard commitment, has rushed for 794 yards and 13 touchdowns this season, but maybe because opposing defenses know he is the best remaining threat he’s been held to less than 100 rushing in each of their last two losses.

PENNS GROVE (2-4) at GLASSBORO (3-2): The Red Devils certainly will have their eyes on that game. Depending on the outcome, they could be right back in the hunt for a share of the division title even after starting the season 0-3.

For that to happen, they’d need Woodstown to win Friday and then beat the Wolverines in their final regular-season game in two weeks forcing a potential three-way tie. Woodbury holds the head-to-head tiebreaker on them.

“I didn’t even look at that until yesterday and I said the same thing to myself,” Penns Grove coach John Emel said. “In the big picture, the first thing you always tell yourself you want to win your division because that will get you high in the playoffs and I know that’s a couple weeks out but an opportunity to beat Woodstown would go a long way to getting a couple home games in the playoffs.

“At the end of the day you only have opportunities to win so many things and winning the division is part of having a special season. Last year in the division we were winless, so to go into the last game of the season and have an opportunity to win the division, that to me would be a big step in the right direction.”

First, though, they have to get past the Bulldogs, a traditional opponent who beat Woodstown in overtime two weeks ago and are the current No. 1 in the South Jersey Group I UPR ratings. The Red Devils should have a little more pep in their step after playing their best half of the season last week and coming from 19 down at halftime to beat Paulsboro last week for their second win in three games.

Take out the season opener when they were bedeviled by turnovers, the Red Devils have outscored their opponents in the second half 37-29. It was the first quarter that doomed them in the Woodbury game; they were only outscored 8-6 in the second half of that one.

“Sometimes I feel like our team and our younger guys lack a little confidence so hopefully this will be an example we can use not just the rest of this season but next year that when things aren’t going well there’s always an opportunity to turn it around,” Emel said. “I think every game this year except for Woodbury has come down to the second half. We feel we’re competitive and we’re a good enough program that every game will be decided the second half.

“You say that to your guys as a coach and you practice to reinforce that, but until they have success in that type of situation those words probably sometimes ring hollow. Hopefully this will give our young players confidence not just the rest of this season but in the future that the game is never over good or bad. Football’s a long game and things can change really quickly. We’ve got to just keep playing, play hard in the second half and we’ve got to finish games, and we did that last week.”

OVERBROOK (3-2) at PENNSVILLE (3-2): It’s an out-of-division game against a bigger opponent, but it’s another chance for the Eagles to get better, avenge another of last year’s losses and enhance their position for a playoff spot. And it all comes on Homecoming, to boot.

The Eagles remain at No. 17 in the South Jersey Group I UPR ratings, two-tenths of a point out of the last qualifying spot, but stand to pick up a lot of points if they can knock off a Group II team with a winning record and a dynamic quarterback.

Overbrook took it to them pretty good last year and has won three of the last four games in the series, but the Eagles are in a different place this season. They’ve already beaten two teams that took them down last year (Gateway and Cumberland).

“It’s similar to the whole theme of our year, just trying to get back respect,” Eagles coach Mike Healy said. “It’s a situation where we want to go in and show we are a different team this year and we believe we could do it.

“And just like every game right now this is another huge one in terms of playoffs. Right now we’re still stuck at 17, so we’ve got to do some work still. Regardless of that, we’ve got to just keep winning anyway. We’re still fighting and just want a shot in the playoffs.”

A win would give them as many wins as the last two seasons combined and four in a season for the first time 2017 (4-6). They won their fourth game that year in the eighth game.

“We’ve played better in every game this year compared to last year,” Healy said. “In that sense it’s all been positive, but we’re still trying to learn and we have not reached our full potential yet, so we have to keep getting after it and getting better every week, but we’re seeing constant improvement. There’s a ton of positives this year already.”

Signs of that improvement can be found in sophomore quarterback Robbie McDade, who took a big step towards turning into the quarterback the Eagles need him to be with last week’s 300-yard game against Cumberland. McDade threw for 205 yards on 16-of-29 passing – all career highs – and rushed for 102 yards. He accounted for three touchdowns in the 25-12 victory.

“He’s even said he feels a lot more comfortable now,” Healy said. “You can see him taking command of the offense. He’s fixing kids when they make mistakes instead of the coaches having to do it. He’s really taken a leadership role and developed a much better understanding of the offense as a whole.

“As a sophomore that’s really want to see from him. He’s still a young player and he’s going to make mistakes and we expect that, but to see these steps in terms of leadership and just understanding what we’re trying to do is huge and going to pay big dividends for him. Like everyone else he’s getting better, but I definitely think he’s starting to kind of get in a groove.”

SCHALICK vs. BISHOP EUSTACE: http://rb.gy/e58jq

Saturday’s game

PAULSBORO (0-5) at SALEM (0-6): In a game between two storied programs, strangely, somebody’s going to get their first win this week. Paulsboro, which hasn’t been winless this long since 1970, has come close the last two weeks. Last week the Red Raiders blew a 19-0 halftime lead at Penns Grove and scored all three of their touchdowns on big plays

Salem has shown signs of turning the corner, but needs to put four quarters together. The Rams were one big play from being tied with Camden at halftime, threatened Cedar Creek in the second half until a late turnover ended their comeback, and stopped Woodstown at the goal line at the end of a time-consuming opening drive last week.

The game will be played at the Walnut Street Field as the Rams’ on-campus stadium isn’t quite ready for game day. School officials are hopeful it will be ready in time for next week’s Homecoming Game.

Another free one

Schalick off for second week in a row after Bishop Eustace forfeits Friday’s game, gives Cougars share of Horizon Division title UPDATED

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – The undefeated Schalick football team finds itself with an unexpected open date for the second week in a row after athletics department officials were informed Monday of Bishop Eustace’s intention to forfeit Friday night’s WJFL Horizon Division game due to a lack of players to safely field a competitive varsity team.

The Cougars also received a forfeit win from division opponent Lindenwold last week for the same reason. They have not played on the field since Sept. 22 when they beat Pennsville 38-20.

Eustace was said to have 16 players available for the game against a Schalick program with more than 60.

With the forfeit, the Cougars, now 7-0 for the first time since 2006 after the forfeit, clinch a share of their second straight Horizon Division title. They can claim the crown outright Friday if Riverside beats Gloucester Catholic since they own the head-to-head tiebreaker over Riverside and everyone else in the league will have at least two losses.

The Cougars were No. 1 in the UPR power ratings that determine playoff seedings before the first forfeit and fell to No. 2 afterwards. While they will collect ratings and power points from the game – Eustace is 3-2 and No. 8 in NJSIAA Non-Public Group B – it was uncertain what this latest forfeit would do to their position.

They could have found a replacement opponent for last week’s forfeit but “in the best interest of the team” that had been going without a break since the first day of practice they decided to take the forfeit. They did seek a replacement opponent this week, but no team in the WJFL had an open date and the unnamed Shore Conference team in North Jersey they found that did have a corresponding open date declined the game.

Both forfeits were winnable games for the Cougars, but head coach Mike Wilson would prefer to play on the field.

“They’re claiming they don’t have enough kids and they’ve got injuries, but they’ve had low numbers all year,” Wilson said. “The league cannot allow this to happen. If you’re committed to varsity, you play varsity football, they should not allow them to play varsity the rest of the year. It’s not fair.

“Yes, they’re wins on paper, but these kids need to play football. It’s not going to hurt us on playoff seeding, it’s not going to hurt us winning our division … but it kind of loses its luster when you don’t actually play the games.

“It’s not fair. You’re taking games away from these kids, and especially my seniors – and I don’t have a lot of them. These were the COVID kids. They lost games their freshmen year because of COVID. It’s not fair. The league has to do something about it. It’s frustrating because the kids have worked so hard.”

Wilson and Schalick athletics director Doug Volovar have reached out to various West Jersey Football League officials to express their concerns. Volovar was told by WJFL president Joe McColgan, the Moorestown AD, there was no recourse in place at this time either for relief or sanctions for a situation that impacts a wide range of institutional constituencies. Riverview Sports News sent an email to McColgan seeking comment and is awaiting a reply.

“We just have to accept it and move on, that’s really all we’re allowed to do,” Volovar said. “It’s just unfortunate for us that it’s happened to us twice.”

Penns Grove head coach John Emel, president of the WJFL coaches association, doesn’t like seeing the forfeits but his group doesn’t have power to make changes. He feels for the Cougars.

“I don’t like it,” he said. “It’s not good for the sport; the forfeits aren’t good for the competitiveness of the league and the competition and things like that. My position is I want to try to avoid them at all costs. I feel bad for Schalick in terms of their kids and the seniors and things like that. It stinks. I don’t think there’s a solution for it short term.”

In a sense, Shalick is a victim of its own success. After some down seasons, the Cougars were relegated to a weaker division in the last WJFL reshuffle and Wilson has been building them back for inclusion in a stronger grouping that’s expected to occur in the realignment after this season.

It wasn’t immediately known if the Eustace position would be just for this week or longer, but Schalick officials would be “really disappointed” if either forfeiting team would drop down to play a JV schedule in their current state and then return to varsity play during the same season when convenient. The Crusaders are scheduled to play Florence, currently No. 3 in the SJ-I UPR, at home next week

“To me that’s one of the more disturbing issues,” Volovar said. “The feeling is if you have players and you say that you’re going to commit to a varsity schedule, but then you’re dropping down to a JV schedule, that’s concerning to me because if you have enough players to play a game of football you should be playing a game because that’s what you committed to at the beginning.

“Maybe some schools aren’t as fortunate as we are, but at the same time, because we’ve done what we’re supposed to do and we’re trying to do what’s better for our kids and our programs we’re unfortunately getting penalized.”

As for the Cougars, they reduced their practice week schedule last week, but they’re going through this one just as if they were playing a game Friday.

“When you look at the grand scheme of things we’re going to be OK, that’s what I told the kids,” Wilson said. “If you came out to practice yesterday you would’ve never even known we didn’t have a game; we had a great practice. I think the kids get the importance of what we still have to accomplish this season.

“And I think there’s maturity there. They’ve finally learned to control what you can control.”

Schalick is scheduled to play Cumberland next week. There’s close to 100 percent chance that game will be played .

It’s the trophy game between the two schools —
the Tom Lake & Mike Hars Memorial Game, formerly known as The Neighborhood Game.

Woodstown’s wild week

Wolverines’ girls tennis team edges Pennsville as part of a big week of matches that could be impacted by weather

TUESDAY’S SALEM COUNTY SCORES
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick 5, Salem 0
Woodstown 3, Pennsville 2
BOYS SOCCER
Overbrook 4, Pennsville 1
Pitman 5, Salem 0
GIRLS SOCCER
Glassboro 7, Penns Grove 1
Gloucester Catholic 10, Salem Tech 0
Pennsville 3, Overbrook 1Pitman 6, Salem 0
Schalick 4, Woodstown 0

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Between the county rivals already on the schedule and state tournament opener added just today, this was shaping up to be a big week for the Woodstown girls tennis team.

Then a phone call to Wolverines coach Jesse Stemberger towards the end of Tuesday’s match with Pennsville informing him of possible inclement weather late in the week threatens to put a (pun intended) damper on it all. But it also has the potential to make for an even bigger week later in the season.

First things first. As for the day’s activities, the Wolverines edged Pennsville 3-2 to remain undefeated. About two hours before the match, the Wolverines were installed as the No. 3 seed in the South Jersey Group I girls tennis tournament that starts Friday.

Because of the predicted bad weather Friday, host teams have been encouraged to move their opening-round tournament games to Thursday, a move towards which both Woodstown and Pennsville are leaning. Woodstown hosts Lindenwold and Pennsville, the No. 8 seed, hosts Overbrook.

Here’s where it gets interesting. The Wolverines have a showdown with Schalick for the Diamond Division lead Thursday and since state tournament games supercede all else, they’d have to move the regular-season match to later in the season, setting up the possibility of playing the Cougars three times in a span of about 10 days.

Why three? Schalick is the No. 2 seed in the SJ-I tournament, setting up the possibility the two county rivals could meet in the sectional semifinals. Schalick opens the tournament against Salem, a team it beat Tuesday 5-0.

“When you look at how the whole schedule’s played out,” Stemberger began, “there are certain weeks where things were a little bit lighter, but when you look at this week you think, wow, this is kind of a tough week.

“You have to live in a cave to not know what’s going on. This is a big match. John (Romano, Schalick’s coach) knows it, we both know what’s going on. And I don’t think either one of us is prolonging it; it’s a series of unfortunate events, but it does make it interesting because if things go according to plan we’ll play them three times in the last two weeks. We’re going to be intimately familiar with them.”

The only match Stemberger had on his mind Tuesday, though, was the one in front of him. The Wolverines (11-0) took control of it by sweeping the doubles points, keeping their doubles teams of Vivian Ward-Camille Osborn and Molly Curtis-Julianna Lindenmuth undefeated on the season.

They clinched their 14^th straight regular-season victory – or “secure the bag,” as No. 1 singles Abigail Melle says – when Melle outlasted Regan Witt through two competitive sets.

“She was a consistent player, so it was hard,” Melle said of her match. “She didn’t make any mistakes and I had to be the first not to make a mistake, so we had a lot of good rallies and I struggled to put one in on the court because she got to every ball,. I had to stay out of my head and get the point, stay focused.”

The Eagles (7-5) made it close with junior Megan Morris and sophomore Lily Edwards winning in straight sets at Nos. 2 and 3 singles. Morris’ consistent and calculated victory kept her undefeated (12-0) in her first year in the singles spotlight. She has not lost a set.

“I’m really surprised,” Morris said. “I never thought I’d be able to do it,. When I went against Kingsway and Pitman and Woodstown, they’re just all great schools and I never thought I could do it, but I was able to prove myself that I can do it.”

She didn’t realize she had an undefeated string going until her dad mentioned it at around 9-0. “I had no clue and I’ve been counting from there,” she said.

NOTES: In addition to Schalick, Woodstown, Pennsville and Salem, Penns Grove also made the tournament field – as the No. 13 seed. The Red Devils will travel to Middle Twp. for their tournament opener. “I told the guys in a group chat with coaches I thought the seeds were fair across the board,” Stemberger said.

WOODSTOWN 3, PENNSVILLE 2
Singles
Abigail Melle def. Regan Witt, 6-4, 6-2
Megan Morris (P) def. Gabby Kurpis, 6-1, 6-3
Lily Edwards (P) def. Cara Delia, 6-1, 6-4
Doubles
Vivian Ward-Camilla Osborn def. Fanta Kone-Emma Cornette, 6-3, 6-1
Molly Curtis-Julianna Lindenmuth def. Gabi Forino-Isabell Schrenker, 6-1, 6-1

SCHALICK 5, SALEM 0: The Cougars (12-2) dropped only three games in sweeping the Rams. The teams meet again in the first round of the state tournament later this week. The No. 1 doubles team of Katelyn Little and Emma Adams remained undefeated.

Girls soccer

PENNSVILLE 3, OVERBROOK 1: Karsen Cooksey scored a pair of goals and Anikka Macalino extended the Eagles’ lead to 3-0. Cooksey has a team-leading seven goals.

WOODSTOWN 4, SCHALICK 0: Each of the Wolverines’ last five victories have been by shutout. Keeper Carly Hayman may have been called to make only four saves in the game, but coach Will Kemp said, she’s “still a general on the field to help the squad.” Emily Miller scored two goals, giving her 24 for the season.

GLASSBORO 7, PENNS GROVE 1: Alana Figueroa and Marianna Dempster scored two goals apiece for Glassboro. A’Mani Taylor scored Penns Grove’s goal.

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 10, SALEM TECH 0: Ten players scored goals for the Rams (5-3).

PITMAN 6, SALEM 0: Audrey Duffield scored the first of her two goals less than two minutes into the game to open a four-goal first half. Pitman extended its 3-0 halftime lead with a pair of goals three minutes part in the second half.

Boys soccer

OVERBROOK 4, PENNSVILLE 1: Angel Mejia-Castro had two goals and an assist and David Ayala-Rivas scored his team-leading 13th goal to lead Overbrook to its third straight win. The Rams (7-4) won only four games last year. Stone Mumink scored Pennsville’s goal, his fifth in the last four games.

PITMAN 5, SALEM 0: Logan Williams scored the first two goals of the game two minutes apart in the first 15 minutes.

Power move

Monday roundup: DiGregorio goal lifts Woodstown over Schalick in key Diamond Division field hockey game, also includes boys soccer, girls tennis

MONDAY’S SALEM COUNTY SCORES
FIELD HOCKEY
Gloucester Catholic 4, Pennsville 0
Salem 8, Clayton 0
Woodstown 1, Schalick 0
BOYS SOCCER
Penns Grove 6, Clayton 0
Salem Tech 1, Wildwood Catholic 0
Woodstown 2, Pennsville 0
GIRLS SOCCER
Wildwood Catholic 8, Salem Tech 1
Woodstown 6, Pennsville 1
GIRLS TENNIS
Washington Twp. 3, Pennsville 2
Woodstown 4, Kingsway 1

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – Whenever a new coach comes to town there are bound to be changes within the organization. One of the first decisions Bryanna Roberts made when she got the Woodstown field hockey job – after looking at the personnel, of course – was move Braeley DiGregorio to wing and it dramatically changed the Wolverines’ offense.

DiGregorio banged home her ninth goal of the season – and 10th of her career – with just under three minutes left in the third quarter Monday and it carried Woodstown to a 1-0 victory of Schalick in the first of their Tri-County Diamond Division showdowns. The win gave the Wolverines (6-1) sole possession of first place in the division.

“We’ve been anticipating this game for a while,” Roberts said. “To finally get to this game and win it just shows all the hard work and effort the girls have been putting forth this whole season.”

For the first two years of her varsity field hockey career DiGregorio was assigned to a more defensive posture as a reserve outside mid. But Roberts was impressed with the way she moved on the outside and pulled her up to forward wing.

There was uncertainty at first, but once the junior figured it out “I really took off running with it.” Now she leads the team in goals and is second in Salem County in goals and points. The Wolverines have outscored their seven opponents. 32-6.

“Braeley has really worked hard to get to where she’s at,” Roberts said. “She’s really shown all the hard work she’s been doing in the off-season.

“We bumped her up to that wing spot because she has that big ball from the side and she finds a way around the goalie and gets her stick on it, so this is new for this season. During the preseason I talked with the coaches and we all agreed that with the way she was moving down the field and moving inside the circle it was the best move for her and she’s shone through it. It’s awesome to see it work. It was a great move all around.”

DiGregorio’s latest goal came as the Wolverines amped up their attack in the second half. The Cougars dominated the first half outshooting Woodstown 7-2 and collecting six penalty corners, but they couldn’t find the back of the net.

Woodstown turned up the heat after a spirited halftime talk shook the players from their doldrums and the momentum shifted. The Wolverines outshot their hosts 7-1 in the second half and had four penalty corners.

Megan Donelson almost got them on the board five minutes into the second half, but Emma Cheesman was there to turn her away with a defensive save.

“We definitely dominated the first half and then the second half we were flat on our feet,” Schalick coach Heather Cheesman said. “We looked like we were tired, which gave them a lot of opportunities.”

“I always tell them that you have to find that will inside and they did,” Roberts said. “This win truly shows that the girls want it and they’re out here to play.”

The Wolverines finally broke the stalemate with 2:59 left in the third quarter. Kayla Brown’s initial shot was blocked by Schalick goalie Lydia Gilligan, but the rebound came right to DiGregorio, who squeezed her shot through a six-inch space between the keeper and the left post. They almost got a second goal in the closing seconds of the quarter but Gilligan came off her line to make a sliding save on Hannah Hitchner.

“I just happened to be there to finish it,” DiGregorio said of her goal. “It’s always very hit or miss with that (rebound) and you’re just lucky when you get a chance and it’s always exciting.”

But not totally surprising. The Wolverines have scored 20 of their goals this season in the second half.

SALEM 8, CLAYTON 0: Autumn Foote and Rhionna Timmons each scored a pair of goals as the Rams (6-1) bounced back from their first loss of the season in a big way.

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 4, PENNSVILLE 0: The Rams took control of the game with three goals in the first quarter. Bridget Taney scored twice in the game.

Boys soccer

WOODSTOWN 2, PENNSVILLE 0: Kaleb Gerace scored his first goal of the season and Blake Biaklecki scored his second goal in as many games – both in the second half — to extend the Wolverines’ winning streak to seven games and snap the Eagles’ three-game streak.

Freshman Ayden Ellis got his first career assist (on Bialecki’s goal) and Ben Stengel posted the Wolverines’ third shutout.

The game opens a three-game week of county opponents for the Wolverines. They play at Penns Grove Thursday and host Schalick in a 7 p.m. game Saturday in the football stadium in a rematch of their season-opener and Woodstown’s only loss. They are 4-1 against in-county competition this season.

PENNS GROVE 6, CLAYTON 0: Sebastian Hernandez scored the first of his two goals in the opening two minutes of the match and Ashton Harris scored twice in a three-minute stretch later in the half as the Red Devils scored their second win of the season to snap a five-game winless streak. Theus Berrios and Frankie Juarez Reynoso scored their other goals.

SALEM TECH 1, WILDWOOD CATHOLIC 0: In one of their gutsiest performances of the season, the Chargers (3-6) overcame playing most of the second half one man down and won in overtime. Graham Fields buried a penalty kick in overtime for the game’s only goal. Joshua Trinidad and Cody Messina combined for the shutout. All three of the Chargers’ victories this season have been by shutout.

Girls soccer

WOODSTOWN 6, PENNSVILLE 1: Talia Batavia had two goals and two assists as the Wolverines (4-5) snapped a two-game shutout slide. Emma Morgan, Lia Covely, Delaney Walker and Bailey Arnold Peters scored their other goals. Molly Gratz found the back of the net for Pennsville (2-6-2), which had been unbeaten in its last three.

Girls tennis

WOODSTOWN 4, KINGSWAY 1: The Wolverines go into Tuesday’s state tournament seeding meeting 10-0 after this latest victory and the projected fourth seed in South Jersey Group I.

Their No. 2 doubles team of Molly Curtis and Julianna Lindenmuth won a second-set tiebreaker to keep their match alive and then won the third set 10-6 to give the Wolverines a sweep in doubles. No. 1 doubles team of Vivian Ward and Camille Osborn won a first-set tiebreaker to set up their straight-set win.

Abigail Melle and Cara Delia won singles points in straight sets.

WASHINGTON TWP. 3, PENNSVILLE 2: Megan Morris and Lily Edwards won straight set matches for Pennsville, the projected 8 seed in SJ Group I.

Cover photo: Woodstown’s Braeley DiGregorio (R) and Schalick’s Sophia Longo battle for a ball near midfield in their field hockey game Monday afternoon.

This week’s schedule

Here is the schedule for Salem County high school sports for the week of Oct. 2-7

Oct. 2
FIELD HOCKEY
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Salem at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Schalick, 4 p.m.

BOYS SOCCER
Clayton at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.

GIRLS TENNIS
Kingsway at Woodstown, 4 p.m.

Oct. 3
BOYS SOCCER
Glassboro at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Salem, 4 p.m.

GIRLS SOCCER
Overbrook at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Salem at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Schalick, 4 p.m.

GIRLS TENNIS
Penns Grove at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Salem, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Pennsville, 4 p.m.

Oct. 4
FIELD HOCKEY
Deptford Twp. at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Salem at Pennsville, 4 p.m.

Oct. 5
FIELD HOCKEY
Cumberland Reg. at Schalick, 4 p.m.

BOYS SOCCER
Salem Tech at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.

GIRLS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.

Oct. 6
FOOTBALL
Overbrook at Pennsville, 7 p.m.
Penns Grove at Glassboro, 7 p.m.
Schalick at Bishop Eustace, 7 p.m.
Woodbury at Woodstown, 7 p.m.

FIELD HOCKEY
Salem at Audubon, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Williamstown, 4 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Delsea at Total Turf, Pitman, 5:45 p.m.

GIRLS TENNIS
Woodstown at Delsea, 4 p.m.

Oct. 7
FOOTBALL
Paulsboro at Salem, noon

BOYS SOCCER
Schalick at Woodstown, 7 p.m.

GIRLS SOCCER
Schalick at Our Lady of Mercy, 4 p.m.

It’s a hat trick

Fogelin Bowl IV goes to the younger brother for the third year in a row

FRIDAY’S SALEM COUNTY SCORES
BOYS SOCCER
Palmyra 4, Schalick 0
Pennsville 6, Paulsboro 1
GIRLS SOCCER
Sterling 3, Schalick 0
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville 5, Salem 0
Schalick 5, Glassboro 0

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PAULSBORO – Three was a big number in Foglein Bowl IV this year.

Bragging rights around the family Thanksgiving table goes to the younger brother for the third year in a row and Stone Mumink scored three goals to lead the charge.

Mumink scored a hat trick in a four-goal first half and Derek Foglein’s Pennsville squad went on to beat Paulsboro and older brother Doug 6-1 Friday in Foglein Bowl IV

Doug won the initial installment of the soccer sibling rivalry when he was coaching at Clayton, their alma maters. Derek and the Eagles have won each of the last three years, the last two convincingly.

“I’m really happy with how the team stepped up and took care of business, and beating Doug to cap off a three-win week made it feel a little extra special,” Derek said. “We really want to take the momentum into a huge game with Woodstown on Monday.”

After a slow start, the Eagles (4-6) started scoring in rapid fire fashion. Mumink scored the first two goals of the match on penalty kicks, then Jake Isaac made it 3-0 shortly thereafter. Mumink completed his hat trick before the half ended, giving him a career-high six goals for the season.

Trevor Hann extended the lead to 5-0 before Justin Roman Venosa got Paulsboro (0-9) on the board. Brody Wiggins scored the final goal on an assist from Stathis Efelis.

“Honestly, I felt again we started a little slow and Doug really had his team up to play,” Derek said. “It took us about 22 minutes to get the first one off a little bit of a controversial PK, but the second one was very quick after that and it was an obvious PK. Then the passing connection to Jake for the third came shortly after and we took control of the game.

“I was excited to get Brody a goal. He’s a junior who’s played for me all three years and always works really hard in practice. He usually plays outside back, so I put him up at striker and got him the sixth goal.”

Milestone in OT

Two of the highest scoring field hockey teams in region play to scoreless tie in regulation, then Schalick gets game-winner on rebound in OT, hands Salem first loss, Cheesman 100th win

THURSDAY’S RESULTS
FIELD HOCKEY
Pennsville 8, Deptford 0
Schalick 1, Salem 0 (OT)
Woodstown at Gloucester Catholic, ppd.
GIRLS SOCCER
Clayton 5, Penns Grove 0
Highland Regional 1, Woodstown 0
GIRLS TENNIS
Woodstown 5, OLMA 0
Vineland 3, Schalick 2

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM – Heather Cheesman couldn’t tell you her Schalick field hockey team’s record in overtime games or even if they were going to play one Thursday as regulation was winding down, so when the Cougars went to extra time she came up with the fastest strategy that came to mind.

Put the players who had been playing the best in the game and just have at it.

What is it they say? The first instinct is usually the right one? After the teams played to a spirited scoreless tie in regulation, Phoebe Alward banged home a doorstep rebound just over two minutes into sudden death overtime giving the Cougars a 1-0 victory over Salem and handing Cheesman her 100th career victory.

It was the first overtime game either team has played this season, a testament to their dominance over their opponents this year. The Cougars (6-2) had played three previously since the sport went to a four-quarters format in 2020 and were 1-1-1 in those games.

“I put our most skilled players in, they weren’t actually our most skilled, but they were the kids who were playing really well today,” Cheesman said. “I think our team is very skilled, but I picked the girls who were having a good game today and then we took it from there.”

With only 10 extra minutes to get something done, you have to be aggressive and the Cougars were. They never gave the Rams a chance.

“That’s the way I am,” Cheesman said. “I said if we win the toss to get possession; we want to start off with the ball. We have to beat them to the ball. Once we get in the circle we’ve got to shoot and we’ve got to get a stick on it.”

The goal came just that way. Caylan Taylor sent a ball to Ava Scurry who had gotten well behind the defense. Scurry broke in alone on the goal, Salem keeper Dominique Lewis stood her ground and made the initial save with her pads, but the rebound came right to Alward and she sent it back into the cage for her county-leading 10th goal of the year.

It took all of 2 minutes and 3 seconds of sudden death.

Both teams are among the most prolific-scoring squads in the region, but curiously they couldn’t put one home in regulation. That’s not to say they didn’t have chances on the windy, blustery day. The action was end-to-end and both goalies were excellent in keeping their opponent out of the net.

Schalick finished with 14 shots and 12 penalty corners. Salem had 11 shots and 11 corners. Cougars keeper Lydia Gilligan made 12 saves and got help from defensive stops by Hanna Widdifield and Ella Cheesman. Lewis has 14 saves.

The one that got through was only the second goal the Rams (5-1) have allowed this season. They’d outscored their first five opponents 33-1.

“I think we were pretty evenly matched,” first-year Salem coach Shanna Scott said. “We were capitalizing on their weaknesses and they were capitalizing on ours.

“Our goalie played great. This is the best she’s played.”

Reaching the milestone victory was special for Cheesman. She’s been coaching at Schalick 10 years and reached the mark in her eighth season as head coach.

“It was amazing,” she said. “It helped me reflect on all the athletes present and previously who played for me (and) all the triumphs and heartbreaks we experienced as a team.”

It’s been a good 24 hours of overtime experience in the Cheesman household. The night before her daughter Emmi scored the game-winner for her Cedar Crest College team in a penalty-stroke shootout.

“I watched it, they stream everything; it was exciting,” Heather said. “Now I’m going to have to call her and be like, ‘We went to overtime.’”

PENNSVILLE 8, DEPTFORD 0: Sophia Marandola had a hat trick and Isabelle Saulin had two goals and an assist as the Eagles (2-6) won their second straight.

**Schalick’s Ava Scurry (R) tries to advance the ball against Salem’s Michele Brittingham during Thursday’s field hockey game.**

Girls tennis

WOODSTOWN 5, OLMA 0: Gabby Kurpis prevailed in a third-set tiebreaker 10-2 to win at No. 2 singles and complete the undefeated Wolverines’ sweep. The Wolverines (9-0) have won each of their last five matches 5-0.

VINELAND 3, SCHALICK 2: Once-beaten Vineland (12-1) snapped the Cougars’ six-match winning streak. No. 3 singles Allyson Green and the No. 1 doubles team of Katelyn Little and Emma Adams won matches for Schalick (9-2).

Lighting it up

Wednesday roundup: Pennsville, Woodstown boys soccer score big in their first halves, also includes girls soccer and girls tennis

By Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – When the train comes in, everybody rides.

Pennsville scored seven goals on 10 shots in the first half Wednesday in a 7-2 boys soccer rout of Salem.

Six different players found the back of the net for the Eagles, and one of the goal was particularly special.

Senior Stathis Efelis has been playing with the varsity for the past three years and scored his first goal since his sophomore year in the first-half onslaught. Actually, he had a goal and an assist in the game.

“To get a goal today felt incredible,” he said. “The assist and the build up was very intense and I was so glad to be able to celebrate it with my teammates.”

Stathis assisted on Maddox Efelis’ goal shortly after scoring his own. Shane Puckett got the first two followed by Stone Mumink, then John Thomas and Jake Isaac scored after the two Efelises’ goals.

It was the Eagles’ most prolific half of goalscoring in Derek Foglein’s tenure as head coach.

“To be completely honest, if you asked the team they’d say we started slow,” the coach said. “Once we got those (first) two, they settled down and moved the ball.

“The thing I’m really pleased about today is the fact the team did a great job moving the ball as the first half developed and as the score line showed we got everyone involved.”

Jose Vilalplando scored both Salem goals in the second half.

WOODSTOWN 9, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 0: Bryce Ayars banged home a header 30 seconds into the game and the Wolverines (6-1) went on to pump in nine goals on 16 shots in the first half to win their sixth straight.

Adrian Ibarra scored the first of his two goals 40 seconds after Ayars’ header and the rout was on. They had another flurry later in the half in which they scored four goals in four minutes. Ibarra also recorded three assists.

“We’re not a team that scores a lot of goals traditionally,” Woodstown coach Darren Huck said, “but today things were clicking and we got on them early.”

Freshman Ayden Ellis, sophomore assist machine Blake Bialecki and senior Dalton Berry all scored their first varsity goals, while Ben Lippincott (on the first goal), Dante Mistichelli, Nick DiTeodoro and senior Eddie Whelan all recorded their first varsity assists.

The Wolverines’ final goal of the half was the play that brought Berry and Whelan their first varsity marks and the crowd to its feet.

“That was kind of a nice moment,” Huck said. “They’d been together for four years and been total team players; it’s always been the team first. They were with the JVs last year, but decided to come back and be part of everything and they were able to reap the rewards today, which I was happy about.

“The whole team was cheering for (Berry), the whole place got excited. He does work hard and always gives 100 percent and he was able to put one in today.”

PITMAN 2, PENNS GROVE 1: The Red Devils (1-6) have to be the hardest-luck team in South Jersey. All six of their losses this season have been of the one-loss variety. They fell behind 2-0 nine minutes into the second half, got a goal from Ashton Harris four minutes later and just couldn’t get the equalizer.

“We’re doing the best we can,” Penns Grove coach Mano Massari said. “The guys fought hard today; you can’t ask anymore than that. We’re fighting and taking punches with some really good teams. We just need to be more consistent.”

SCHALICK 3, WILDWOOD 0: Nolan O’Toole, Bradford Foster and Elijah Cummings scored goals and Evan Sepers was a rock in goal as the Cougars (7-2) won their third in a row.

**Pennsville’s Riley Bowman (5) and Reagan Wariwanchik celebrate another Eagles goal in their match with Salem Wednesday. (Photos by Lorraine Jenkins)**

Girls soccer

PENNSVILLE 8, SALEM 1: The Eagles found the scoring touch for the second straight game, this time scoring four goals in each half. They have scored 15 goals in their two games this week.

Riley Bowman scored her first hat trick, which included a penalty kick late in the first half. Karsen Cooksey had the first goal of the second half and assisted on the other three goals. Gabby Marandola scored her first career goal 90 seconds into the game, while Molly Gratz, Kallie Morrison and Marley Wood had the other goals. The Eagles had 27 shots and eight corner kicks in the game.

“The girls are distributing the ball well and looking for opportunities for each other to score,” Eagles coach Sam Trapp said. “They are gaining more confidence as a unit each game.”

Ryann Foote scored Salem’s goal on a free kick in the first half.

GLASSBORO 7, SALEM TECH 0: Marianna Dempster and Emma Mattox both scored twice for the Bulldogs (4-2-1).

PITMAN 5, PENNS GROVE 0: Emery Sharpnack had two goals and an assist and Riley Sharpnack had a goal and two assists for Pitman.

Girls tennis

PITTMAN 4, PENNSVILLE 1: Megan Morris won 6-4, 6-1 at No. 2 singles to pick up Pennsville’s only point. Morris is 9-0 this season and has not lost a set.

WOODSTOWN 5, PENNS GROVE 0: The Wolverines went to 5-0, losing only two games the entire match. Noelle Neron and Aubrie Rennie at No. 2 doubles scored their first career win.

Pittsgrove votes for progress

School District’s $14-million Promise of Progress referendum passes convincingly, bringing necessary upgrades to facilities

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – Schalick High School football coach Mike Wilson is a big-picture kind of guy. He always has an eye towards the future, a vision of what the sports facilities at his school could be like if it had the means to upgrade. But it was always a wish list.

Now that list can become a reality.

Voters in Pittsgrove Twp. Tuesday night voted convincingly to support a $14 million bond referendum that will shape the future of facilities, athletics and otherwise, throughout the township.

In a special election, The Promise of Progress Referendum passed 551-336. It not only will benefit the athletics facilities at the high school, but also fund essential upgrades throughout the district. All seven of the township’s precincts voted in favor of the referendum.

“This referendum will drastically upgrade our sports programs and facilities,” Pittsgrove Twp. school superintendent Dr. Courtney McNeely said. “…This was our opportunity to elevate our athletes’ experience and strengthen our community spirit.

“Our community made this possible. We are so proud to promise our student athletes the progress and facilities they deserve.”

Specifically for the high school athletics facilities, plans call for building a field house, concession stand, community restrooms and bleachers for the football field, upgrading sound and lighting, and updating the boys and girls locker rooms. The playing surface on the football field will not be affected.

“First thing, it’s great for the district because it’s necessary repairs and upgrades,” Wilson said. “The high school is turning 50 years soon, the district’s buildings are on the older side, so it’s great for the Township of Pittsgrove and it’s a great way where the taxpayer is going to see minimal increase if any at all for repairs that have to be done anyway.”

Wilson just read news reports where a community in football-mad Texas is about to build a $94 million football stadium. Another Texas program recently built a $35-million home. The Pittsgrove upgrades won’t be quite as extreme, but it will enhance what the Cougars have to offer.

“These are necessary facility upgrades for the athletics program,” Wilson said. “Right now our varsity athletes don’t have a varsity locker room. They’re going to have space to call their own – for all sports, not just football. Just necessary stuff to bring us to the 21st Century. I just think it’s nice that these kids work so hard in all our sports that they’re going to have facilities they can be proud of.

“I always think big picture, I always think grand, I want things now. Since we got here me and my staff have said we’d love to have X, Y and Z, and with this referendum we’re going to get X, Y, Z. Again, it’s not extravagant, it’s not unnecessary, these are the necessary things that these student-athletes deserve. We have good athletics at Schalick and it’s nice to see our facilities are going to reflect the success we’ve bene having on the field for so many years before I was there.”

The New Jersey Dept. of Education has pledged nearly $6.5 million for eligible projects under the State Share program, while the school district is responsible for the remaining $8,217,744. The bond issue will increase the tax bill for the average assessed home in Pittsgrove by less than $1 per month (approximately $11 per month in Elmer) over the next 20 years compared to existing debt service payment for the 2023-24 school year.

It was not immediately known what the athletics portion of the upgrades would cost or when construction would begin.