Quick strike

Penns Grove scores in first 20 seconds of the match, goes on to beat Pennsville in boys soccer, includes Wednesday’s Salem County results

WEDNESDAY BOYS SOCCER
Penns Grove 2, Pennsville 0
Pitman 6, Salem 0
Woodstown 4, Salem Tech 0

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – If you missed the start of Wednesday’s Penns Grove-Pennsville soccer game, even by a minute, you missed half of the goals in the game.

Junior midfielder Joey Schultz packed a pass from Sebastian Hernandez into the upper right corner 21 seconds into the match to send Penns Grove on its way to a 2-0 victory that garnered the Red Devils some valuable power points.

“I can’t remember one happening that fast, to be honest with you,” Penns Grove coach Mano Massari said. “I’ve been here about nine years coaching, started four years here as a player, I’ve never seen one that fast.”

The goal wasn’t a case of the Red Devils simply kicking the ball into the Pennsville end, chasing it down and putting it away before anyone knew what hit them.

Pennsville went long with the opening kick as it’s been known to do when it gets the first ball. The Red Devils gained possession and Hernandez made a long run up the right wing with Schultz trailing right behind.

Hernandez drew in a couple defenders, saw an open space and pushed a Bangu ball to Schultz who had peeled off towards the six in the box and beat Eagles keeper Coen Rinnier.

“We’ve been working on that a lot, transitioning from defense to offense,” Massari said. “We feel like we’ve lacked doing that early in the season. We’ve been practicing transitioning up together as one and what we’ve been practicing’s been working, and it showed there in the first 20 seconds of the game. That’s why we practice these things.”

Schultz remembers getting an assist that early in a game with his club team before, but he’s never scored that quickly before. He was looking forward to seeing the replay on the game film.

“That spark came through,” he said. “It really made me feel good. It brought a lot out of me. It makes me want to take this a little more serious, I guess.”

It certainly got the Eagles’ attention. No one ever expects to be in catch-up mode that quickly into a match.

“I had barely turned around and the ball was in the back of our net,” Pennsville coach Derek Foglein said. “We talked about the fact that this season when we’ve been on the front foot and we’ve jumped on teams it made the difference and when good teams come out and jump on us it makes a difference. Ultimately, that was a huge difference there.

“That first goal, when you blink and now you’re chasing the game … We knew they were a really strong defensive team so trying to find one goal was going to be hard enough and now we need to find at least one to send it to overtime.”

The early goal gave the Red Devils confidence and calmed them. They made it 2-0 with 17:42 left in the half on an own goal credited to Edward Swank. The Eagles settled into the second half, but had a two-goal deficit to overcome.

Schultz wasn’t in at the finish. He hurt his right ankle playing a 50-50 ball early in the game and eventually was lifted for precautionary reasons. The Red Devils have another big game Thursday night at Pitman, a match that could keep their dream of landing a first-round home playoff game alive.

The Red Devils started the season 1-3 and lost their leading scorer to a broken leg, but they’ve won three of their last five and are now tenth in the South Jersey Group I power points standings. They’re about a half-point out of the final first-round home game in the bracket.

“We want to make it to the dance, we want to make it to the playoffs,” Massari said. “Ideally I’d like a home playoff game. I want these guys to experience that; they deserve it. We put ourselves in a hole in the beginning of the year, starting to get hot at the right time.

“I don’t want to look too far ahead. I’d like us to just focus on tomorrow. I feel good about where we’re at, I feel good about the way we’re playing, but I’m trying to get them to understand we’re not looking past our next opponent.”

WOODSTOWN 4, SALEM TECH 0: Adrian Ibarra scored twice, Bryce Ayars scored for the second game in a row and Blake Bialecki netted a goal. The win takes Wolverines coach Darren Huck to within three of 300 career coaching wins.

PITMAN 6, SALEM 0: Brayden Carr scored two goals and assisted on both of Lucas Razze’s goals to lead the Panthers (7-5-1).

Cover photo: Penns Grove’s Sebastian Hernandez pushes the ball upfield against Pennsville Wednesday.

GIRLS SOCCER
Gloucester at Schalick
Penns Grove at Paulsboro
Pennsville 6, Salem 0
Woodstown 7, Salem Tech 0: The Wolverines (9-4-1) got goals from seven players, including Talia Battavio’s 57th career goal. Their last six wins have all been by shutout.

GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick 4, Haddon Heights 1
Pennsville 5, Millville 0: Eagles coach Dan LaMont gets his 300th career win with the Pennsville girls program. (Related story posting soon)

Tuesday sports report

Here are the results of Tuesday’s high school action involving Salem County teams

GIRLS TENNIS
Group I Sectional Finals
Pitman 4, Pennsville 1 (see related story)
Regular Season
Schalick 3, Wildwood 2
SALEM 5, PENNS GROVE 1
Cassidy Werkheiser (S) def. Amaris Butler, 6-3, 6-3
Tytiana Miller (S) won by forfeit
Tahirah Davenport-White (S) def. Janiyah Cummings, 6-3, 6-4
Destiny Carr-Heaven Jones-McCullough (S) def. Emma Griffin-Makala Washington, 6-1, 6-0
JaNye Hubbard-Bianca Gibson (S) def. Elif Sagir-Gabriela Roman, 6-0, 6-1
Records: Salem 1-8, Penns Grove 0-10.

FIELD HOCKEY
Pennsville 2, Deptford 0: Kylie Harris and Makenzie Widener scored first-half goals for the Eagles (5-7-1)
Glassboro 2, Salem 1: Jocelyn O’Brien scored her second goal of the game with 6:03 left in the third quarter to snap a 1-1 tie. Kashira Patterson gave Salem (5-4-1) a 1-0 lead with a first-quarter goal.
Schalick 2, St. Joe (Hamm.) 2: Ava Scurry (28th) and Phoebe Alward (15th) scored goals as the Cougars remained unbeaten (13-0-1).

CROSS COUNTRY
Calhoun County boys champion Karson Chew of Woodstown finished second in the boys race at the TCC Batch Meet at Kingsway. He ran 18:16.07. Teammate Jacob Marino was sixth (18:31.61).

Woodstown’s Abby Marino, the county runner-up, was the fastest Salem County finisher in the girls race, coming in fourth at 21:04.09. Salem Tech’s Sarah Seiden was eighth (22:45.31).

Pitman ends Pennsville’s run

Pitman hands Pennsville first loss of season, snapping its 22-match winning streak, in South Jersey Group I title match; Panthers win first sectional title in 18 years

NJSIAA SECTIONALS
South: Pitman 4, Pennsville 1
Central: New Providence 4, Highland Park 1
North Jersey I: Glen Rock 4, Pascack Hills 1
North Jersey II: Hanover Park 4, Glen Ridge 1
STATE FINAL FOUR
Mercer County Park, Thursday
Pairings TBA

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITMAN – The Pennsville girls tennis team loaded the bus when it was over and quickly put Shertel Park in their rearview mirror. No sense sticking around to watch someone else’s celebration at their expense.

“There was just way too much orange,” one was heard to say.

Top-seeded Pitman did something Tuesday no team has been able to do this season – find a way to put the Eagles away. It handed the Eagles their first loss of the season, snapping their 22-match winning streak, in a 4-1 victory for the South Jersey Group I championship.

The Panthers now travel up the turnpike to the State Final Four at Mercer County Park Thursday. Their semifinal opponent won’t be determined until Wednesday when the Final Four is reseeded. All four finalists won their sectional finals 4-1.

“I told the girls that wasn’t the best version of Pennsville, Pitman did not see the best version of Pennsville today,” Eagles coach Dan LaMont said. “I just felt we could have competed.

“We’re disappointed, we’re really disappointed. I told them I hope it hurts, I hope it stings, but you know what, you wake up tomorrow, the sun rises and we’ve got a match to play. We’re going to come back tomorrow, go out to Millville and we’re going to see what we can do.”

The Eagles knew the sectional final was going to be a tight match. Pitman was solid, athletic and driven and certain matches had to go their way to get the outcome they desired.

Pitman won matches at the critical No. 2 doubles and No. 2 singles spots to move into position to clinch their first sectional title in 18 years. That came when No. 1 singles Anna Fisicaro closed out Megan Morris, 6-2, 6-0.

“I really thought we were up 2-0 from the beginning, no disrespect to the Pennsville girls, and we needed to find one more,” Pitman coach Gene Reid said. “That was the joke on the sideline, we need Anna to win one more game. That was a great position to be in.”

The No. 2 doubles team of Abby Heil and Jess Bretz that got things started rallied from a 3-2 deficit to win the first set, then dominated the second set, losing only a handful of points. The win was especially personal for Bretz, who was a teammate of Pennsville’s Lily Edwards and Gabi Farino on the 2023 Pennsville LL Senior Softball World Series team.

“I think the biggest thing is the bragging rights,” Bretz said, “but it feels great because we’ve been working for this for three or four years now and to finally get that championship feels amazing.”

Edwards won Pennsville’s only point, taking a straight-set victory at No. 3 singles to remain undefeated on the season. The junior has won 27 matches in a row since losing to Pitman’s Colette Rollins (Tuesday’s No. 2) in last year’s tournament.

But she conceded it was a hollow victory given the results unfolding around her.

“It means a lot, but at the same time it doesn’t because I already knew what had happened on the other courts,” she said. “It’s a weird approach to it.”

Cover photo: Pennsville’s Lily Edwards returns a shot during her No. 3 singles match against Pitman Tuesday. (Photo by Brian Tortella)

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I FINALS
PITMAN 4, PENNSVILLE 1
Anna Fisicaro (Pi) def. Megan Morris, 6-2, 6-0
Colette Rollins (Pi) def. Regan Witt, 6-2, 6-2
Lily Edwards (Pe) def. Ava Mollehhauer, 6-1, 6-0
Kendall Bennett-Amanda Bradley (Pi) def. Emma Cornette-Izzy Schrenker, 6-2, 7-5
Jessica Bretz-Abigail Heil (Pi) def. Naomi Hess-Morgan Holt, 6-4, 6-1
Records: Pennsville 16-1, Pitman 19-2

This week’s schedule

Here is the high school sports schedule for Salem County teams for the week of Oct. 14-19

MONDAY, OCT. 14
BOYS SOCCER
Palmyra at Schalick
Woodstown at Clayton, 11 a.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Woodstown at Clayton, 1 p.m.

TUESDAY, OCT. 15
GIRLS TENNIS
Salem at Penns Grove
Wildwood at Schalick, 4:15 p.m.

Group I Sectional Finals
Pennsville at Pitman, Shertel Park, 3 p.m.
Glen Ridge at Hanover Park
New Providence at Highland Park
Pascack Hills at Glen Rock
CROSS COUNTRY
TCC Batch Meet at Kingsway, 3:30 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
Deptford at Pennsville
Glassboro at Salem
St. Joe’s at Schalick
BOYS SOCCER
Salem at Highland
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Cape May Tech

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 16
BOYS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Pennsville, 3:30 p.m.
Pitman at Salem
Woodstown at Salem Tech
GIRLS SOCCER
Gloucester at Schalick
Penns Grove at Paulsboro
Salem at Pennsville, 6 p.m.
Salem Tech at Woodstown
GIRLS TENNIS
Haddon Heights at Schalick
Pennsville at Millville, 3:45 p.m.

THURSDAY, OCT. 17
FIELD HOCKEY
Overbrook at Schalick
Pennsville at Bridgeton
Salem at Clayton
Woodstown at Clearview
GIRLS TENNIS
Overbrook at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Schalick
Salem at Glassboro

Group I Final Four
Mercer County Park
Semifinals, 11 a.m.
Championship Match, 1 p.m.

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

FRIDAY, OCT. 18
FOOTBALL
Pennsville at Lawrence, 6:30 p.m.
Collingswood at Camden Catholic
Glassboro at Schalick
Paulsboro at West Deptford
FIELD HOCKEY
Egg Harbor Twp. at Woodstown
BOYS SOCCER
Clayton at Salem Tech
Salem at Gloucester Catholic
Schalick at Glassboro
Woodstown at Overbrook
GIRLS SOCCER
Clayton at Salem Tech
Gloucester Catholic at Salem
Pennsville at Penns Grove
Overbrook at Woodstown
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Salem, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Pitman
Schalick at Glassboro
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Triton

SATURDAY, OCT. 19
FOOTBALL
Penns Grove at Woodbury, 10:30 a.m.
Audubon at Overbrook, 11 a.m.
Woodstown at Salem, noon
GIRLS SOCCER
Cherry Hill West at Schalick

Eagles have the look

Second doubles clinches another playoff win as Pennsville tennis (15-0) edges Haddon Twp. for spot in sectional final

GIRLS TENNIS
South Jersey Group I semifinals
Pennsville 3, Haddon Twp. 2
Pitman 4, Gateway 1
Championship match
Tuesday
Pennsville at Pitman, 3 p.m.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE — Dan LaMont gathered his Pennsville girls tennis team together before sending the players out for their biggest match of the year Thursday and he could tell there was something different about them.

The Eagles just had a certain look about them that somehow elevates the confidence their coach already had in them.

Then they took that look to the court and took down Haddon Twp. 3-2 in the South Jersey Group I semifinals.

The win sends them to play top-seeded Pitman Tuesday at Shertel Park in their first non-COVID sectional final since 2015, which also was the last time they won a sectional title.

“They had a certain look in their eye today,” LaMont said. “It was just a little bit more focused. They were just a little bit more understanding of what we were here for. I could just tell in our huddle it was a little bit different … so I’ve got to get that same look on Tuesday.”

For the second round in a row, the second-seeded Eagles (15-0) got the clinching point from the newly minted second doubles team of Morgan Holt and Naomi Hess. They won in straight sets, 7-6 (9-7), 6-3. They clinched the Eagles’ quarterfinal win over Schalick on Tuesday and are now 3-0 since being paired together.

The Eagles also got a point at No. 3 singles (Lily Edwards, 6-2, 6-2) and No. 1 doubles (Emma Cornette and Izzy Schrenker, 6-3. 6-2).

There were only two matches on the court at the end. Holt and Hess were up a set in their second doubles match. Regan Witt was down a set in her second singles match, but rallying in the second set to force a super tiebreaker. The race was on to see which match was going to decide it.

If Witt’s opponent held on, the match would be tied and it definitely would have come down to the new doubles team. If the doubles team won, the match would be clinched and the singles match was a pride point for the final margin.

Holt and Hess had a 5-2 lead in the first set of their match but Haddon Twp.’s Lily Steele and Olivia Fleming rallied to force a tiebreaker. The Eagles’ pair fell behind in the tiebreaker 6-4, then fought back to win five of the next six points to win the set.

“It was definitely scary,” said Holt, using her favorite word to describe the intensity. “It’s always scary. We just knew if we worked hard we had it. The first set was stressful because it didn’t need to happen – we should have had that – but winning it was really nice.”

And it put them in the best possible frame of mind for the second set, which they won easily, serving out the match at 5-3.

“Their composure is impressive,” LaMont said. “They’re handling it well. I think that’s going to serve them well as we go through.”

And while the outcome of the match was decided, Witt didn’t go out without a fight. She won the second set to force a super tiebreaker and had that tied early 3-3. Witt has been in either set or match tiebreakers in four of her last six matches and won three of them.

“Regan played tough out there,” LaMont said. “She’s grindy.”

Pennsville’s 15-0 start — it’s actually a 21-match winning streak going back to last year — matches the mid-season streak by the 2011 team that beat Pitman in the sectional final and went on to win the Group I state title. Their last loss was to Haddon Twp. 3-2 in last year’s sectional quarterfinals.

Just as LaMont saw something different in his team Thursday, he recognized something special about this team a few years back.

“I saw this team a couple years ago when I had the seniors as freshmen and I actually thought we could make a run,” LaMont said. “I’m not surprised (where they are). We put a lot of time in.

“We’re not the best tennis players. We’re not the most athletic team. But they just do some really good things.”

PENNSVILLE 3, HADDON TWP. 2
Ellie Smith (HT) def. Megan Morris, 6-1, 6-1
Kiersten Callahan (HT) def. Regan Witt, 6-3, 4-6, 10-4
Lily Edwards (P) def. Tessa Dybus, 6-2, 6-3
Emma Cornette-Izzy Schrenker (P) def. Sydney Troncone-Ani Pierwola, 6-3, 6-2
Naomi Hess-Morgan Holt (P) def. Lily Steele-Olivia Fleming, 7-6 (9-7), 6-3
Records: Pennsville 15-0, Haddon Twp. 13-7.

Here are Thursday’s other sectional semifinals
Central Jersey Group I
Highland Park 3, Hoboken 2
New Providence 5, Metuchen 0
North Jersey Group 1 Section 1
Glen Rock 4, Cresskill 1
Pascack Hills 5, Pequannock 0
North Jersey Group 1 Section 2
Hanover Park 4, Verona 1
Glen Ridge 3, Madison 2

Sectional Finals
Tuesday
Pennsville (15-0) at Pitman (17-2), 3 p.m.
Glen Ridge (8-11) at Hanover Park (12-0)
New Providence (5-7) at Highland Park (8-4)
Pascack Hills (10-5) at Glen Rock (16-1)
State Finals
Mercer County Park, Oct. 17
Semifinals, 11 a.m.
Finals, 1 p.m.

Staying unbeaten

Wednesday’s sports report: Schalick field hockey (12-0) blanks Woodstown; Pennsville tennis (14-0) tunes up for semifinals with sweep

By Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN — Caylan Taylor capped a strong field goal with a third-quarter goal, Ava Scurry had a goal and an assist and Lydia Gilligan came up with another shutout as Schalick’s best-ever start hit 12 in a row Wednesday in a 2-0 victory over Woodstown.

The Cougars are now 12-0, besting their previous best start of 11-0 in 2020. They are one of only two remaining undefeated teams in Group I, one of four in the state and the only one in South Jersey.

The other remaining undefeateds are Madison (NJ G1), Northern Highlands (NJ G3) and East Brunswick (NJ G4).

“I’m not surprised, but I am surprised,” Schalick coach Heather Cheesman said. “I don’t want the girls to get too comfortable. They know they have to work hard every single game. We try not to focus on records. We just want them to work hard every game because when you relax, that’s when the other team swoops in and takes a win.”

Woodstown actually had the best of it early in the game, but Scurry broke the scoreless tie with her 26th goal of the season in the second quarter. Taylor gave the Cougars a 2-0 lead in the third quarter off an assist from Scurry.

“Caylan killed it,” Cheesman said. “She was getting back, everywhere the ball was when it was around here she seemed to pick it up. The field was tough to adjust to. She did such an amazing job.”

Gilligan again was steady in the cage. She made 10 saves in recording her third straight shutout and fifth of the year. She has allowed only three goals in her last seven games.

PENNSVILLE 2, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 1: Laura Tamberella and Sophia Marandola scored goals for the Eagles (4-6-1).

Girls tennis

Pennsville coach Dan LaMont was really glad his team had a match between its two South Jersey Group I playoff matches Wednesday to give his new doubles teams some work and they both came through with straight set victories in the Eagles’ 5-0 win over Haddon Heights. They host Haddon Twp. in the semifinals Thursday, 3 p.m.

PENNSVILLE 5, HADDON HEIGHTS 0
Megan Morris (P) def. Mariah Stacker, 6-1, 6-1
Regan Witt (P) def. Ellie Mazzuco, 6-2, 4-6, 10-7
Lily Edwards (P) def. Sophia Aceto, 6-1, 6-0
Emma Cornette-Izzy Schrenker (P) def. Ellie Clapper-Molly Walker, 6-1, 6-3
Morgan Holt-Naomi Hess (P) Nora Miller-Lucy Durand, 6-3, 6-4
Records: Pennsville 14-0, Haddon Heights 8-11

WOODSTOWN 4, MILLVILLE 1
Julissa Mateo (M) def. Gabby Kurpis, 6-2, 6-2
Camille Osborn (Wo) def. Rebecca Lore, 6-1, 6-2
Aubrie Rennie (Wo) def. Jasmine Negron, 6-1, 6-4
Julianna Lindenmuth-Alyssa Berry (Wo) def. Sydney Ambrose-Ryleigh Sharretts, 6-3, 6-1
Nathalie Neron-Noelle Neron )Wo) def. Bridig Humphreys-Isabel Keer, 7-5, 6-1
Records: Woodstown 10-4, Millville 7-11

OLMA 5, SALEM 0
Sara Wojtkowiak (O) def. Cassidy Werkheiser, 7-5, 6-4
Evangeline Catanese (O) def. Tytiana Miller, 6-1, 6-0
Summer Baylock (O) def. Angelina Fothergill, 6-4, 6-1
Sara Weiss-Reese Hetzer (O) def. Heaven Jones McCullough-Tahirah Davenport White, 6-3, 6-2
Sarina Tortella-Leah Calderon (O) def. Bianca Gibson-Destiny Carr, 6-1, 6-2
Records: OLMA 4-9, Salem 0-8.

Doubles delivery

Pennsville’s reworked doubles teams sweep to clinch undefeated Eagles SJ Group I quarterfinals win over Schalick; Woodstown eliminated by Haddon Twp.

South Jersey Group I Tournament
Tuesday’s quarterfinals
No. 3 Haddon Twp. 3, No. 6 Woodstown 2
No. 2 Pennsville 3, No. 7 Schalick 2
No. 4 Gateway 3.5, No. 5 Lower Cape May 1.5
No. 1 Pitman 4, No. 9 Audubon 1
Thursday semifinals
Haddon Twp. at Pennsville, 3 p.m.
Gateway at Pitman, 3 p.m.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – When a team is on the kind of roll Pennsville’s girls tennis team is enjoying the absolute last thing it needs is any kind of disruption. Especially in the doubles department in its sport where chemistry is everything.

The Eagles faced a potentially big disruption last week when they lost one of their steadiest doubles player to an injury. But coach Dan LaMont pulled out the depth chart, shuffled the deck and the Eagles haven’t missed a beat.

And it was one of those shuffled doubles teams that came through for them in a big way Tuesday, winning a super tiebreaker at No. 2 doubles to clinch their 3-2 win over Schalick in the South Jersey Group I quarterfinals.

The second-seeded Eagles, now 13-0 and one of two remaining undefeated teams statewide in Group 1, will host third-seeded Haddon Twp. in the sectional semifinals Thursday.

“It wasn’t the prettiest,” LaMont said. “There were times we were good. There were times we were not so good. And there were times we were able to pull it out.

“We’ve been finding ways all year and that’s what I keep on telling them. Who’s going to be the next hero? Who’s the one who’s going to pull out (the match)?”

That would be the No. 2 double teams of Naomi Hess and Morgan Holt, first-time partners who regrouped after losing the second set and won the clinching point 6-0, 2-6, 10-5 over Kayleigh Veach and Annie Podehl.

The Eagles’ lineup had been steady all season until Gabi Forino turned her right knee crashing into the fence before the Overbrook match. It forced LaMont to reshuffle his deck, but luckily he had cards to play.

He initially moved Holt into Forino’s spot at first doubles with Emma Cornette and they played together for two matches. He put Izzy Schrenker in that spot Tuesday and placed Holt with Hess, who had been paired with Schrenker for six matches.

“We really consider our top eight, nine our varsity,” LaMont said. “We always get them ready. I made a little decision, almost like a rotation with Morgan and Naomi, but they each always got matches in.

“A couple weeks ago (Forino) also had a little nagging injury, so we had a feeling; I don’t know why. But we got a challenge match in, so we have it all legal. I know they can play together. Even though they haven’t done much we have to make it work. We don’t have any other choice in the matter.”

Holt and Hess breezed through the first set like they were long-time partners, but Veach and Podehl evened the match with a big second set.

In the super tiebreaker, the first team to 10 was going to win it. The Schalick side went up 3-1 and 5-3, but Holt and Hess figured it out on their own – the changeover was still four points away – and won the next seven points to secure the win.

“We knew we had to win the tiebreaker,” Hess said. “We did everything we could to win the tiebreaker.”

“It was definitely scary,” said Holt, “because you really don’t want to lose. You don’t want to let your coach down and you don’t want to let your team down because everybody tries so hard. You just want to win. You want to win for everybody. I just didn’t want to lose.”

The match was just more of the same nailbiters the teams had been playing during the season. Pennsville won the first meeting 3-2 with Edwards clinching the match at No. 3 singles. The second meeting was suspended by weather with Schalick leading 2-1, but Pennsville leading in both doubles matches; that match is scheduled to resume Oct. 24.

There were still two points up for grabs as No. 2 doubles battled it out Tuesday. Pennsville won at No. 1 doubles (Cornette-Schrenker) and No. 3 singles (Edwards). Schalick won at No. 1 singles (Emma Adams) and Ally Green was leading at No. 2 singles making the doubles match the swing point.

The Cougars were the seventh seed, but a win would keep alive their hope of returning to the State Final Four. They lost in the state semifinals last year, but were looking to write their own history this year.

“I wanted to talk to them before we came out on the court and I told them I felt like all year long we hadn’t really put a full match together,” Cougars coach John Romano said. “We had spots here and there and, sure, we were beating people, but I told them you’re not riding the coat tails of last year’s team. You have your own legacy to set and today is going to be that day.

“We did really well. We were up 5-3 and had a shot to win it in the tiebreak and it just didn’t fall our way; kudos to them. I went over after and asked (Veach and Podehl) if they were OK and they said yes. I said I thought they played really well. I thought they both played a great tiebreak early on and then they both said they don’t know what happened.”

PENNSVILLE 3, SCHALICK 2
Emma Adams (S) def. Megan Morris, 6-2, 6-1
Ally Green (S) def. Regan Witt, 6-2, 6-4
Lily Edwards (P) def. Miya Watkins, 6-3, 6-1
Emma Cornette-Izzy Schrenker (P) def. Julie Langley-Helana Tyers, 6-1, 6-3
Naomi Hess-Morgan Holt (P) def. Kayleigh Veach-Annie Podehl, 6-0, 2-6, 10-5.
Records: Pennsville 13-0, Schalick 6-5

HADDON TWP. 3, WOODSTOWN 2
Ellie Smith (HT) def. Gabby Kurds, 6-0, 6-0
Kiersten Callahan (HT) def. Camille Osborn, 6-3, 6-4
Tessa Dybus (HT) def. Aubrie Rennie, 6-3, 6-1
Julianna Lindenmuth-Alyssa Berry (Wo( def. Sydney Troncone-Ani Piernola, 7-6 (10-8), 6-2
Nathalie Neron-Noelle Neron (Wo) def. Lily Steele-Olivia Fleming, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 10-8
Records: Haddon Twp. 12-6, Woodstown 9-4

**Pennsville tennis coach Dan LaMont visits with Naomi Hess (R) and Morgan Holt after the doubles team won the clinching point in Tuesday’s South Jersey quarterfinals match with Schalick.**

Monday’s sports report

Here are the results and details of Monday’s high school sports action involving Salem County teams

FIELD HOCKEY
Pennsville 0, Salem 0: Kelsey Cook made 12 saves to keep Salem out of the net and Ava Rogers made two saves in Salem’s goal. It was Pennsville’s first tie since 2022 and the Eagles’ first scoreless tie since before 2010. It was Salem’s first tie and scoreless tie since a match with Glassboro in October 2022.
Schalick 5, Glassboro 0: Ava Scurry had a hat trick and Phoebe Alward scored twice as the Cougars ran their record to 11-0. It’s their best start since 2020 when they also opened 11-0 before falling to Delsea. They were unbeaten in their first 11 matches in 2019 (10-0-1).

BOYS SOCCER
Pennsville 1, Gloucester 0: Maddox Efelis scored in the 27^th minute and Coen Rinnier stoned nine shots in the goal to make it stand.
Woodstown 2, Gateway 0: Landon Guglielmo and Bryce Ayars scored goals, and Ben Stengel made four saves for his fourth shutout of the season.

GIRLS SOCCER
Gloucester 6, Pennsville 0: Bailey Schoenfeldt scored two goals in the first half and Meghan Gorman scored two in the second half. Ava Rodgers had a goal and two assists.

GIRLS TENNIS
WOODSTOWN 3, KINGSWAY 2
Skylar Grabarski (K) def. Gabby Kurpis, 6-1, 6-3
Abby Malesich (K) def. Camille Osborn, 6-4, 6-4
Aubrie Rennie (Wo) def. Molly Baldino, 6-2, 6-2
Alyssa Berry-Julianna Lindenmuth (Wo) def. Krishani Parikh-Mishi Chaturvedi, 6-3, 6-7 (2-7)
Nathalie Neron-Noelle Neron (Wo) def. Sophia Campbell-Kelsey Dion, 6-1, 6-3
Records: Woodstown 9-3, Kingsway 5-8.

MAINLAND 4, SCHALICK 1
Christina Htay (M) def. Emma Adams, 6-1, 6-2
Marlee Campbell (M) def. Allyson Green, 6-0, 6-1
Miya Watkins (S) def. Lily Turner, 6-4, 6-2
Macenzi Campbell-Jessica Wise (M) def. Julia Langley-Helana Tyers, 6-1, 6-0
Daisy Turner-Dilana Erenier (M) def. Kayleigh Veach-Annie Podehl, 6-0, 6-2
Records: Mainland 9-5, Schalick 6-4.

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for Oct. 7-12, featuring Schalick’s rescheduled football game, SJ girls tennis tournament and County XC Championship; all events 4 p.m. unless noted

MONDAY
FOOTBALL
Schalick at Paulsboro, 4 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
Pennsville at Salem
Schalick at Glassboro
Woodstown at Deptford
BOYS SOCCER
Pennsville at Gloucester City
Woodstown at Gateway
GIRLS SOCCER
Paulsboro at Penns Grove
Pennsville at Gloucester City, 7 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick at Mainland
Woodstown at Kingsway

TUESDAY
GIRLS TENNIS
South Jersey Group I quarterfinals
Woodstown at Haddon Twp., 3 p.m.
Schalick at Pennsville, 3 p.m.
Lower Cape May at Gateway, 3 p.m.
Audubon at Pitman, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Overbrook at Schalick
Penns Grove at Woodstown
Pennsville at Salem Tech
Salem at Clayton, 6 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Clayton at Salem
Glassboro at Pennsville
Salem Tech at Pitman
Schalick at Overbrook
Woodstown at Penns Grove
VOLLEYBALL
Highland at Salem

WEDNESDAY
FIELD HOCKEY
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville
Schalick at Woodstown
GIRLS TENNIS
Haddon Heights at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Woodstown at Millville, 3:45 p.m.
OLMA at Salem
CROSS COUNTRY
Salem County Championship, Salem Tech, 3:30 p.m.

THURSDAY
FOOTBALL
Delran at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
South Jersey Group I semifinals
Woodstown-Haddon Twp. winner vs. Schalick-Pennsville winner
Lower Cape May-Gateway winner vs. Audubon-Pitman winner
BOYS SOCCER
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Pennsville at Salem
Salem Tech at Wildwood
Schalick at Woodstown
GIRLS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Glassboro
Overbrook at Pennsville
Salem at Pitman
Wildwood at Salem Tech
Woodstown at Schalick
FIELD HOCKEY
Gateway at Pennsville
Salem at Maple Shade
Schalick at Mainland, 4:15 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech

FRIDAY
FOOTBALL
Audubon at Collingswood, 6 p.m.
Glassboro at Cinnaminson, 6 p.m.
Schalick at Gloucester City, 6 p.m.
Salem at West Deptford, 7 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
Cumberland at Salem
Woodstown at Ocean City, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Audubon at Schalick
Salem at Gateway
BOYS SOCCER
Haddon Heights at Salem
Schalick at Audubon
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Bridgeton
Vineland at Woodstown

SATURDAY
FOOTBALL
Willingboro at Woodbury, 10:30 a.m.
Camden Catholic at Overbrook, 11 a.m.
Woodstown at Haddon Heights, 11 a.m.
Pennsville at Paulsboro, noon
CROSS COUNTRY
SJCTA Meet at Dream Park

Cover photo by Ellen Sickler

Thursday sports report

Here are the scores and highlights from Thursday’s high school action involving Salem County teams

FIELD HOCKEY
SCHALICK 6, PENNSVILLE 0: The Cougars scored five goals in the first quarter and cruised to their 10th straight victory to remain undefeated. Luci Virga and Alexis Smith both had a hat trick.

WOODSTOWN 4, SALEM 0: Brae DiGregorio, Shyann Higinbotham and Megan Donelson all had a goal and an assist as the Wolverines handed Salem its first loss of the season. Hannah Hitchner scored Woodstown’s other goal and Shelby Foote recorded the shutout.

BOYS SOCCER
COLLINGSWOOD 3, PENNSVILLE 2: John Lara scored the game-winner in the 63rd minute. Maddox Efelis and Shane Puckett scored Pennsville’s two goals, both of which tied the game.

GIRLS SOCCER
CUMBERLAND 7, PENNS GROVE 1: Alee Lorito had a hat trick and Ellie Bodine scored twice for the Colts.

SCHALICK 1, GLASSBORO 0: Abby Willoughby scored in the second half off a Quinn Berger corner kick and the Cougars won on Senior Night.

GIRLS TENNIS
WILDWOOD 3, SALEM 2
Charlie Cunningham-Hackney (Wi) def. Cassidy Werkheiser, 6-2, 6-1
Cydnee Kilian (Wi) def. Tytiana Miller, 6-4, 8-6
Angela Wilber (Wi) def. Angelina Fothergill, 6-0, 6-0
Heaven Jones-McCullough/Tahirah Davenport-White (S) def. Estella Robinson-Kiana D’Antuano, 6-3, 5-7, 10-6
Destiny Carr-Bianca Gibson (S) def. Selin Ogden-Antoinette Cooper, 6-0, 6-2
Records: Wildwood 5-6, Salem 0-7.

PENNSVILLE 5, GLASSBORO 0
Megan Morris (P) def. Ella Killelea, 6-0, 6-0
Regan Witt (P) def. Kaylee Johnson, 7-6 (12-10), 7-5
Lily Edwards (P) def. Halle Lazarus, 6-0, 6-0
Emma Cornette-Morgan Holt (P) def. Alana Killelea-Taylor Adcock, 6-0, 6-0
Cassandra Fortenberry-Devon Sebell (P) def. Anatasia Baratta-Amani George, 6-1, 6-2
Records: Pennsville 12-0, Glassboro 4-4.
Notes: Pennsville is now off to its best start in more than 15 years. The Eagles have won 18 regular season matches in a row going back to last season.