Here are the scores and highlights from Saturday’s Salem County sports calendar
BOYS SOCCER Northern Burlington 6, Woodstown 0: Elijah Font scored three goals and recorded his school-record 29th career assist as the Greyhounds handed Woodstown its first loss of the season. Bryce Ayars had a few good chances to score for the Wolverines in the first half, but was turned away by a defensive swarm.
FIELD HOCKEY Schalick swamped Audubon 7-0 in the first round of the South Jersey Coaches Tournament of Champions at Camden Catholic. The Cougars play Clearview in Round 2 3:15 p.m. Sunday at Clearview.
In the other games, Camden Catholic blanked Delsea, 4-0; West Deptford swamped Gloucester 9-1; and Clearview blanked Delran 4-0.
CROSS COUNTRY HOLMDEL – Jacob Marino finished 11th overall and two other runners placed in the top 25 to lead Woodstown to a third-place finish in the Shore Coaches Invitational Boys Varsity E race at Holmdel Park.
Marino ran a 17:01, while David Farrell (17:40) and Karson Chew (17:44) both finished in the top 25.
Salem Tech also was in the field and finished 21st. Jean-Pierre Pozo was the Chargers’ fastest runner (20:02)
Schalick finished 18th in the Girls Varsity F race. Helen Lillia was the Cougars fastest runner (23:10.08).
NJSIAA TENNIS TOURNAMENT WEST WINDSOR – Schalick’s doubles team of Sebrina Bradford and Olivia Lunemann defeated Lejla Kaba and Kylie LaCroix of Pompton Lakes 6-1, 7-5 in the opening round of the NJSIAA Tournament doubles draw. They will play 5-8 seed Charlotte Hao and Nicole Rubin of Pingry in Sunday’s second round.
The Cougars’ Miya Watkins fell in the opening round of the singles draw to Julia Kravchenko of Gov. Livingston, 6-0, 6-1.
Woodstown tennis wins a pair of tiebreakers to clinch match with Pennsville; includes scores and highlights from Friday’s Salem County sports calendar
FIELD HOCKEY OLMA 2, Salem 0 Schalick 1, Williamstown 0 Woodstown 3, Gateway 0 Salem Tech at Winslow BOYS SOCCER Buena 4, Salem Tech 2 GIRLS TENNIS Woodstown 3, Pennsville 2
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE — No. 2 singles Alyssa Berry and the doubles team of Emma West and Angelina Lindenmuth pulled out exciting tiebreakers in deciding sets to lift Woodstown over Pennsville 3-2 in girls tennis Friday.
West and Lindenmuth edged Graillyn Weber and Yerlian Charon 7-5 in the second-set tiebreaker at No. 2 doubles to clinch the overall match moments after Berry outlasted Isabell Schrenker 11-9 in their third-set tiebreaker to even the score.
The doubles team was down 3-0 and 4-2 in their tiebreaker before rallying to win the clinching match.
“I told them both the same thing,” Wolverines coach Jesse Stemberger said. “If I’m not panicking, you’re not panicking. So, play under control and play with confidence. If you do that, you’ll be OK.”
The match could potentially be the final one between Stemberger and his Pennsville counterpart Dan LaMont in girls tennis. Unless their teams play in the South Jersey Group I finals, LaMont could be leaving with an 11-10 all-time lead in the matchup.
FIELD HOCKEY OLMA 2, Salem 0: Lindsey Graham and Marlee McGrath scored second-half goals. Ava Rodgers was credited with 23 saves in the Salem goal. Schalick 1, Williamstown 0: Alexa Shimp scored the game’s only goal in the second quarter and Lydia Gilligan posted the shutout. The Cougars play Audubon Saturday in the South Jersey TOC at Camden Catholic. Woodstown 3, Gateway 0: Freshman Brooke Dillion scored two goals, Talia Guardascione scored one and Kendall Higgins posted the shutout.
BOYS SOCCER Buena 4, Salem Tech 2: The Chiefs scored four goals in the second half to erase a 2-0 halftime deficit and earn their first win of the season. Kameron Brown and Josh Woroniak gave the Chargers their halftime lead.
Here are scores and highlights from Thursday’s Salem County sports schedule BOYS SOCCER Pennsville 4, Salem Tech 0: Sam Hassler scored the first of his two goals in the second minute of the match and Coen Rinnier made 10 more saves in another shutout. Schalick 4, Overbrook 0: Jaxon Weber scored two goals in the Cougars’ fourth straight win. Pitman 2, Penns Grove 0: Jake Bowen-Ashwin and Micah Frost scored goals in the second half. Clayton 6, Salem 0: Jonathan Rehm had a hat trick.
GIRLS SOCCER Schalick 8, Overbrook 0: Cali Fisler had her first career hat trick under the stadium lights on Senior Night, Quinn Berger scored twice and Kyleigh Cutler had a goal and two assists for the Cougars. Pennsville 6, Penns Grove 0: Taylor Bass scored a career-high four goals and assisted on another to lead the Eagles. She scored the first three goals of the match and the final goal. Woodstown 1, Glassboro 0: Gina Murray scored the game’s only goal in the second half with an assist from Emma Perry. Clayton 9, Salem 0: Deondria Simon and Alivia Howrey each scored twice. Pitman 6, Salem Tech 0: Emery Sharpnack and Carly Razze each scored two goals. Sharpnack had the assists on the Panthers’ first two goals 49 seconds apart in the third minute of the match.
GIRLS TENNIS Schalick 4, Wildwood 1
Schalick’s Miya Watkins and the doubles team of Sebrina Bradford and Olivia Lunemann are in the field for the state singles and doubles championship this weekend at Mercer County and Veterans Park near Trenton.
Watkins will face Gov. Livingston’s Julia Kravchenko in a Saturday opening-round match at Mercer County Park. The winner will face 3/4 seed Sofia Basto-Cabrera of Shawnee.
Bradford-Lunemann will face a team from Pompton Lakes Saturday with the winner facing a 5/8 seed from Pingry.
Not a lot went right for Woodstown in midweek shutout loss at Pleasantville; includes WJFL Diamond, Patriot standings
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PLEASANTVILLE – Frank Trautz just wanted to get to the bus. It was that kind of night.
It wasn’t a good Thursday night from a Woodstown perspective and the sooner the Wolverines and their coach could put it in their rear view mirror the better.
The Wolverines already were down nine starters to injury and had to make a long mid-week bus ride down the AC Expressway to play an aggressive Group 3 opponent designated by the West Jersey Football League. The results were predictable.
The Wolverines lost to Pleasantville 40-0.
“I’ve been doing it long enough now where I’ve been on this end of this before,” Trautz said. “It was just one of those nights where nothing seemed to work.”
Some things did. Max Casszar, in his first game back from injury, forced Pleasantville running back Nazir Griffin to fumble twice on the second play of the game and Noah Chiu recovered it.
Mark Levick intercepted Pleasantville quarterback Semaj Dozier in the final minute of the first half to keep the Greyhounds (4-2) from adding to their 28-0 halftime lead..
The Wolverines (2-4) didn’t have a turnover, either. Other than that, there wasn’t much else.
Pleasantville held them to minus-11 yards net rushing and 13 yards total. The two first downs they got came on an 11-yard catch by Sincere Cook-Reese and penalty in the second quarter and an 11-yard run by Tyrell West in the third quarter. They ran one play on Pleasantville’s side of the field and it lost a yard to the 50.
“We knew it was going to be a tough battle,” Trautz said. “They’re a very talented, physical football team.
“I was proud of the way our guys fought. We fought until the end. We got some guys some playing time, some younger guys in. Our guys, there’s no quit in them, and that’s what I love about this group. They’re going to fight to the very last whistle.
“We’re getting better. I know some of these scores don’t look that way, but we can take positives away from all these games and, honestly, just every varsity game experience for these guys is a positive. We’re gonna keep working and get ready for next week.”
While nothing seemed to go right for the Wolverines, most everything did for their hosts.
Jamil Hudson caught a touchdown pass and threw for two other scores. Dozier ran for the game’s first touchdown and threw 46 yards to Hudson for another on the first play of the second quarter. The defense sacked Woodstown freshman quarterback Frankie Hoerst four times in the first half.
It was the first time the Wolverines had been shut out in a regular-season game since losing to St. Thomas Aquinas 6-0 in the 2021 season opener. Glassboro shut them out in last year’s Group I state semifinals.
Pleasantville 40, Woodstown 0
WOOD
PLEA
2
1st Downs
11
20-(-11)
Rushing
21-141
4-6-0
Passing
8-11-1
24
Passing yds
225
0-0
Fumbles-lost
2-1
6-31.3
Punts-avg
0-0
5-22
Penalties
8-75
Woodstown
0
0
0
0-
0
Pleasantville
8
20
6
6-
40
SCORING SUMMARY P-Semaj Dozier 1 run (Takiesse Barnes run), 5:06 1Q P-Jamil Hudson 46 pass from Semaj Dozier (Takiesse Barnes run), 11:49 2Q P-Jamaad Washngton-White 18 run (pass failed), 8:23 2Q P-Qwasim Jackson 21 pass from Jamil Hudson (kick failed), 4:10 2Q P-Takiesse Barnes 30 run (kick failed), 7:52 3Q P-Ralil Wiggins 56 pass from Jamil Hudson (kick failed), 10:10 4Q
WJFL Standings
DIAMOND
ALL
DIV
Glassboro
5-0
3-0
Salem
2-3
2-1
Schalick
2-3
2-1
Woodbury
1-4
1-2
Woodstown
2-4
1-2
Penns Grove
0-5
0-3
PATRIOT
ALL
DIV
West Deptford
5-0
4-0
Paulsboro
5-0
4-0
Pennsville
2-3
2-2
Overbrook
3-2
1-2
Collingswood
3-2
1-2
Camden Catholic
0-5
0-3
Audubon
0-4
0-3
THURSDAY’S GAMES Pleasantville 40, Woodstown 0 Other WJFL Games Absegami 16, Atlantic Tech 0 Atlantic City 55, Vineland 10 Pitman 27, Lindenwold 22
FRIDAY’S GAMES Glassboro at Deptford, 6 Paulsboro at Schalick, 6 Pennsville at Penns Grove, 6:30 Collingswood at Sterling, 7 Haddonfield at West Deptford, 7 Overbrook at Clayton, 7
SATURDAY’S GAMES Gateway at Woodbury, 10 a.m. Audubon at Gloucester Catholic. 11 Camden Catholic at Haddon Heights, noon Salem at Middle Township, noon
Woodstown soccer shakes up approach, offense comes to life in 3-0 win over Glassboro; also includes Wednesday’s Salem County field hockey, tennis, volleyball, cross country results
BOYS SOCCER Woodstown 3, Glassboro 0 FIELD HOCKEY Schalick 9, Pennsville 2 Woodstown 4, Salem 3 GIRLS TENNIS Clearview 4, Pennsville 1 Mainland 5, Schalick 0 Woodstown 4, Triton 1 Overbrook at Penns Grove GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Atlantic Tech 2, Salem Tech 0
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – Darren Huck has never been afraid to shake things up. If you’re standing still, he figures, you’re falling behind.
Frustrated with the state of his team’s offense over the past couple weeks, the Woodstown soccer coach shook up the lineup’s look Wednesday and it produced a 3-0 win over Glassboro.
It was only the second time the Wolverines scored more than two goals in a match since their season-high eight-goal outburst against Salem Tech in the third game of the year. They’ve scored just 10 goals in the five games since, including 1-1 tie with Penns Grove and a 1-0 golden goal win over Pennsville, games they figured to have handled a lot easier than they were.
The new alignment basically puts two men up top and five in the midfield. No personnel was changed, just the responsibilities they hold on the field. It produced almost instantaneous results as Bryce Ayars scored on a breakaway three minutes into the match.
“We made a few changes,” Huck said. “Ask any of my players, especially any of my ex-players, I’m never afraid to shake it up, to change things. Obviously, my ultimate goal is what’s best for the team.
“We have three, possibly four, formations we can play depending on situations that occur. We really felt today’s was something we could use to our advantage. It’s just a different look, different responsibilities and some boundaries and borders we needed to stay within so we stay balanced.”
Ayars scored the first two goals against the Bulldogs and assisted on the third by Nick DiTeodoro, a goal created directly by the angle of attack the new formation created.
“It’s definitely a change of scenery,” Ayars said. “It definitely helped our middle out, which we needed to do. Teams are trying to force us middle, so having that extra guy in the middle helps us out in the long run. It did what we expected it to do today.”
The look they went with Wednesday was specifically for the Bulldogs. Whether they stay with it going forward or change remains to be seen.
“My formation comes down to where our strength and weakness is,” Huck said.
Despite the limited goal production, the Wolverines’ 7-0-1 record, which currently leads the South Jersey Group I power points standings by more than two points, is their best start after eight games in more than 15 years. The 2013 team that went 20-1-1 and 2023 team that went 15-4-1 both started 7-1.
They are only unbeaten team in all of Group 1 and one of only five across South Jersey’s six classifications.
“It’s a good feeling,” Huck said.
FIELD HOCKEY PITTSGROVE – Ava Scurry scored the ninth hat trick of her career, and second against Pennsville, to lead Schalick past the Eagles 9-2.
Scurry scored her first goal less than two minutes into the game, notched her second two minutes later and got her third in the third quarter. She now has 76 career goals. Caylen Taylor had two goals and two assists.
Luci and Lena Virga both scored goals. It’s the sixth time in the last two seasons the sisters have scored in the same game; the Cougars are 6-0 in those games. Bailey Wents and Alexis Smith also found the back of the cage.
Kendall Hoyt and Abigail Bohn scored Pennsville’s goals, with Izzy Saulin assisting on both. For Bohn, a senior, it was her first career goal.
WOODSTOWN 4, SALEM 3: Julliana Love scored all three goals for Salem.
VOLLEYBALL ATLANTIC TECH 2, SALEM TECH 0: The set scores were 25-10, 25-19.
GIRLS TENNIS WOODSTOWN 4, TRITON 1 Mary Ahrens (T) def. Nathalie Neron, 6-0, 6-3 Alyssa Berry (WO) def. PetraReina Ponce-Leon, 6-3, 6-0 Noelle Neron (WO) def. Elizabeth Davis, 6-2, 6-1 Madison LaPalomento-Emilee Kehr (WO) def. Lily Brennan-Olivia Schreyer, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 Emma West-Angelina Lindenmuth (WO) won by forfeit Records: Woodstown 9-3, Triton 6-7.
CROSS COUNTRY WESTHAMPTON – The Salem Tech boys placed all five runners in the second 10 counters and edged Medford Tech for second place in the South Jersey Vo-Tech Championships.
Levi Seals led the Chargers across the line with a 10th-place 19:04.27. He was followed by Pierre Pozo (19:12.53), Anthony Morano (19:19.54), Chase Pompper (19:41.73) and Joseph MacNeil (20:06.69) for 73 team points.
Medford Tech had two in the top four, but only one other counter inside the Chargers’ top five for 75 points.
The Salem Tech girls placed third among four teams with two counters in the top 10 counters and three in the top 20. Paityn Harrington (25:03.56) and Abigail Vanaman (25:05.01) led the way.
GCIT won both team titles.
SOUTH JERSEY VO-TECH CHAMPIONSHIPS BOYS TEAM: GCIT 22, Salem Tech 73, Medford Tech 75, Atlantic Tech 100, West Tech 127, Cape May Tech 135, Pennsauken Tech 211. BOYS TOP 10 OVERALL: Wyatt Evans, GCIT 17:15.06; Duke Snyder-Shellito, GCIT 17:40.47; Marcos Paulino, Medford 17:54.17; Chris Davis, Medford 18:22.08; Ryan Ejjalili, GCIT 18:45.01; Logan Monaghan, GCIT 18:49.75; Evan Feliciano, Cape May 18:50.88; AJ Trampe, GCIT 19:00.09; Carlo Blackman, ACIT 19:03.53; Levi Seals, Salem Tech 19:04.27.
GIRLS TEAM: GCIT 17, Atlantic Tech 60, Salem Tech 82, Medford Tech 86. GIRLS TOP 10 OVERALL: Jordan Moczydlowski, GCIT 21:05.29; Kirstyn McHale, Cape May 22:58.49; Natalie Pandolfo, GCIT 23:02.00; Isabel Guerra, GCIT 23:07.51; Francesca Carnevale, GCIT 23:32.57; Rosa Cameron, Cape May 23:35.43; Addison Kris, Medford 23:51.81; Eunice States Clara, GCIT 24:58.50; Paityn Harrington, Salem Tech 25:03.56.
Woodstown, Pennsville, Schalick all survive girls tennis tournament openers; roundup also includes Tuesday’s cross country, girls soccer results
GIRLS TENNIS South Jersey Group 1 Playoffs Schalick 5, Buena 0 Woodstown 5, Palmyra 0 Pennsville 5, Salem 0
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN — Third-seeded Woodstown avoided a couple potential mental traps and easily got through its opening-round match in the South Jersey Group I girls tennis tournament Tuesday.
The Wolverines needed less than an hour to dispatch 14th-seeded Palmyra 5-0. County and TCC Diamond Division rivals Schalick and Pennsville also advanced with 5-0 sweeps.
The opening round had the potential to trip up the Wolverines in a number of ways if they weren’t focused. They hadn’t played in a week — two matches were rained out — and were facing an opponent that hadn’t won a match all season.
But they showed they meant business when they went 6-0 in the first set of four of their five matches and No. 2 singles Alyssa Berry put their first point on the board in about 35 minutes. Nathalie and Noelle Neron also won their singles matches, while the doubles teams of Madison LaPalomento-Emilee Kehr and Emma West-Angelina Lindenmuth swept the doubles.
“There’s been some slight apprehension, like we were out here saying we feel like we haven’t played in forever, it’s been so long since we had a match,” Berry said. “But warming up and hitting, it kind of comes back to you.
“You always start out a little more careful, but as you get the swing of things then you feel more confident.”
All five of the Wolverines’ wins came in straight sets. They dropped only four games all day. Palmyra had won only one (doubles) match in their six previous starts this season.
“When you play a team like that, you never know what you’re going to get,” Woodstown coach Jesse Stemberger said. “You see 0-6, but I’ve seen a team win a state championship that was 2-7 going into the playoffs … There are so some teams out there that you don’t know much about that aren’t what their records indicate, so you try not to look past anybody.
“For an 0-6 team, (Palmyra) battled. They worked hard. They pushed us in some positions. They made us earn it. This was not a walkover. They made us earn it.
“One of the things we try to instill in them is to beat the teams you’re supposed to beat. So, if you see an 0-6 team, don’t underestimate them, but when you get out there and you start playing, if you see that you’re better than them don’t let them think they have a chance. Just go out there and do your job, and I think we did that. I was a little concerned about rust, but they went out there and did some nice things.”
Next up for the Wolverines is sixth-seeded Schalick in the Oct. 7 quarterfinals – one day after they play each other ifor the outright Classic Division lead. The next day the Cougars play Pennsville after the Eagles host fifth-seeded Audubon in the quarterfinals.
Top photo: Woodstown coach Jesse Stemberger (R) talks with Alyssa Berry after her victory put the Wolverines’ first point on the board Tuesday.
Woodstown’s Noelle Neron sends a shot back to Palmyra’s Jane Ancker during her straight-set tournament win at No. 3 singles Tuesday.
SJ GROUP ! QUARTERFINALS Oct. 7 No. 9 Lower Cape May at No. 1 Pitman No. 5 Audubon at No. 4 Pennsville No. 6 Schalick at No. 3 Woodstown No. 10 Wildwood at No. 2 Haddon Twp. Oct. 9 Semifinals Oct. 14 Finals
GIRLS SOCCER Pennsville 9, Salem Tech 0 Woodstown 4, Pitman 0 Glassboro 8, Salem 1 Gloucester Catholic 6, Penns Grove 0
PENNSVILLE 9, SALEM TECH 0: First-time scorers Isabella Marandola, Anastasia Moore and Maura Widener were among nine goal-scorers for the Eagles. It was the most goals they’ve scored in a game since a 9-2 win over Salem in October 2021. WOODSTOWN 4, PITMAN 0: Delia Hahn scored her first career goal and Ellie Wygand was in goal for the shutout. GLASSBORO 8, SALEM 1: Amina Brown scored 40 seconds into the match and the Bulldogs scored four times in the first six minutes. Carlysia Pierce scored Salem’s goal. GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 6, PENNS GROVE 0: Bella Laumer scored twice as the Rams won their seventh straight and recorded their fourth straight shutout.
CROSS COUNTRY KINGSWAY TCC BATCH MEET BOYS TOP 20: Trevor Szilier, Washington Twp. 16:41.81; Matthew Littlehales, Delsea 16:49.78; Andrew Dopkin, Highland 16:54.83; Michael Beaver, Kingsway 17:05.80; Liam Murphy, Highland 17:13.52; Payton Veilleux, Kingsway 17:22.57; Gavin Rakitis, Glassboro 17:24.02; Zacchaeus Harrigan, Glassboro 17:24.22; Jaeden Wesley, Glassboro 17:24.42; Joseph Saicic, Glassboro 17:42.62; Rhys Blackman, Pitman 17:30.52; Leandro Santiago, Timber Creek 17:31.84; Ryan Pancoast, Timber Creek, 17:32.79; Blair Duckrey-Furbert, Timber Creek 17:34.84; Karson Chew, Woodstown 17:55.00; Logan Pavelik, Williamstown 17:56.56; Aaron Johnson, Glassboro 17:58.26; Jacob Marino, Woodstown 18:00.05; Oluwanifemi Fadulu, Highland 18:01.30. OTHER SALEM COUNTY TEAM LEADERS: 31. Chase Riley, Schalick 18:15:22; 58. Anthony Morano, Salem Tech 19:32.57; 67. John Johnson, Penns Grove 19:45.31; 77. Gradin Buzby, Salem 20:00.63; 109: Logan Cowperthwait, Pennsville 22:00.99.
GIRLS TOP 20: Sophia Aldridge, Williamstown 19:25.62; Aubrey Bishop, Kingsway 20:01.41; Abby Marino, Woodstown 20:57.30; Yazmire Bonhomme, Williamstown 21:32.15; Julianne Roes, Clearview 21:39.12; Julia Burgio, Williamstown 21:40.79; Ava Buchanan, Kingsway 21:41.51; Olivia Mashburn, Delsea 21:50.97; Julia Blanchard, Washington Twp. 21:54.53; Anabel Schaal, Woodstown 22:00.10; Brooke Mashburn, Delsea 22:00.57; Isabella Moran, Delsea 22:00.81; Rhea Remaly, Clearview 22:31.11; Sofia Moran, Delsea 22:34.99; Rachael Williams, Clearview 22:39.69; Lillian Pedersen, Clearview 22:39.86; Layla Chain, Washington Twp. 22:47.40; Helen Lillia, Schalick 23:13.24; Leah Hagerman, Clearview 23:14.39; Kate Yanek, Clearview 23:15.54. OTHER SALEM COUNTY TEAM LEADERS: 28. Sawyer Slad, Pennsville 23:52.78; 61. Abigail Vanaman, Salem Tech, 27:08.65;
Senior’s golden goal only score in Woodstown win over Pennsville, third game-winner in as many games, Pennsville keeper Rinnier notches 500th save
BOYS SOCCER Woodstown 1, Pennsville 0 (OT) Schalick 6, Wildwood 0 Penns Grove 6, Gloucester Catholic 4 Pitman 6, Salem Tech 0 Salem at Glassboro
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN — Pennsville goalie Coen Rinnier knows Bryce Ayars really well and the one thing he’d tell you about the Woodstown senior is whatever team he’s playing for he’s always in the right place at the right time.
Ayars was right where he needed to be again Tuesday, perfectly positioned to get one past his club teammate 3:29 into the first overtime for a 1-0 win in a dogfight between Tri-County Conference division leaders that for the longest time seemed destined for a scoreless finish.
Ben Lippincott got the winning play started with a strong corner kick into the box. Blake Bialecki got a left-foot touch on it in heavy traffic and moved it to Ayars, who found enough room to go from left foot to right and shoot it past a stonewalled Rinnier for the winner.
“Every time they put the ball in the box you know that Ayars is dangerous,” Pennsville coach Derek Foglein said. “Today, he got the ball to bounce around seven times and beat us with his feet, which is not what I would’ve had on my bingo card.”
“Obviously, right place, right time and he took advantage of it,” Woodstown coach Darren Huck said.
“He’s always in the right spot,” Rinnier said.
Blake Bialecki (5) celebrates after Bryce Ayars scored the game-winning goal in Woodstown’s 1-0 win over Pennsville Tuesday.
It was Ayars’ third game-winning goal in as many games, ever since being held goalless for the first time this season by Penns Grove. He broke a 1-1 tie with a late winner against Schalick and gave the Wolverines a lead they’d never lose against Pitman.
But this one was his first walk-off, golden goal in the run. He also had the only goal in their season-opening win over Glassboro, but that came in the first half.
“Going up against Coen is always challenging because he’s a well-rounded goalie who makes plays through the air, on the ground, comes out when he needs to,” Ayars said. “We knew it was going to be hard coming in today playing against him, but we got the job done in overtime.”
The Wolverines (6-0-1), No. 1 in the South Jersey Group I power point standings by a healthy margin, enjoyed the majority of possessions in the match, but Pennsville’s defense turned back their advances every time. Still, Huck was confident if they kept plugging away an opportunity was going to come for them to capitalize, and it eventually did in overtime.
Woodstown’s back line was just as stout, never giving the Eagles (6-4) a chance to really challenge Wolverines keeper Trey Markward.
At halftime, Foglein considered dropping back a fifth defender and playing for the tie,. But he reconsidered believing his team was “good enough that we don’t need to hold on for dear life for another 40 minutes” and actually thought they might have been the better team in the second half.
“Every time we come here, play on this field, we’re always our most intense,” Rinnier said. “It’s something about this field. Whenever we come here, we play our hardest. It’s the best I’ve seen us play all year, the hardest intensity I’ve seen all year.”
With all the pressure Woodstown applied throughout the match, Rinnier was credited with 17 saves in regulation. His first save of the game was the 500th of his career, making him only the second Pennsville goalie in the last 15 years to reach that milestone.
“I didn’t even know,” he said. “I just like being in the back here and helping our team, just trying to help us as much as I can.”
Top photo: Woodstown’s Bryce Ayars (20) settles the ball before scoring the game-winning goal in overtime against Pennsville Tuesday.
SCHALICK 6, WILDWOOD 0: Nolan O’Toole scored the first goal of the match and assisted on two other goals before halftime. Connor Jackson scored for the third straight game and Nathan Couch scored his first varsity goal.
PENNS GROVE 6, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 4: The Red Devils opened a 6-1 lead under the lights. Zack Payne scored three goals for the Rams in the second half.
PITMAN 6, SALEM TECH 0: Nate Newcomb covered a pass from Trevor Leach four minutes into the match and five others followed for the Panthers.
Pennsville keeper Coen Rinnier is poised to make a save in the first half against Woodstown. He recorded his 500th career save earlier in the half.
Here are scores and details from Monday’s Salem County high school action; will be updated FIELD HOCKEY Oakcrest 3, Pennsville 2: Gracie Mease scored both Pennsville goals. Clearview 9, Schalick 1: Celeste Conklin, Maddie Reeves and Addison McConnell all scored a pair of goals. Schalick goalie Lydia Gilligan made 27 saves and is now six shy of 500 for her career. The milestone could come Wednesday against Pennsville. Luci Virga scored the Cougars’ goal. Woodstown 1, Timber Creek 1: The Wolverines (4-3-1) got the tying goal in the third quarter.
BOYS SOCCER Schalick 7, Moorestown Friends 1: Tyler Vanlier, the freshman who moved to striker following an injury to Luke Price, scored three goals, and Josh Stecher scored the first two goals of his career. Pennsville 1, Buena 0: John Sassi scored the Eagles’ goal in the 27th minute and the usually stout Pennsville defense made it stand. All six Pennsville wins have been by shutout. Cape May Tech at Salem: Both teams are looking for their first wins of the season.
GIRLS SOCCER Pennsville 6, Buena 0: Molly Gratz and Sloan Marquette each scored two goals and Taylor Bass had a goal and two assists. Kallie Morrison had the Eagles’ other goal. Medford Tech 5, Salem Tech 2: NJTAC Group 1/2 Tournament quarterfinal game. Cape May Tech 7, Salem 3: The Hawks pulled away from a one-goal game with four goals in the second half for their first win of the season. Mainland 2, Schalick 0: The Mustangs scored a goal in each half. GCIT 3, Woodstown 0: The Cheetahs scored three goals in the second half, ending Woodstown’s six-game unbeaten streak.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Salem Tech 2, Cape May Tech 0 (25-19, 25-22): Alan’s James had four kills and an ace, and Casey Zaluske recorded seven digs. The Chargers (4-2) have won three of their last four matches.
GIRLS TENNIS WEST DEPTFORD 5, SALEM 0 Gianna Concordia (WD) def. JaNye Hubbard, 6-1, 6-2 Alyssa Taylor (WD) def. Tahirah Davenport-White, 6-0, 6-1 Judy Wu (WD) def. Heaven Jones-McCullough, 6-0, 6-1 Anastasia Besar-Harper Short (WD) def. Erica Brewer-Evangelyn Jimenez Barreto, 6-0, 6-0 Summer Fallon-Laura Monticolo (WD) def. Phoenix Holland-Aleena Allen, 6-0, 6-0 Records: West Deptford 5-11, Salem 2-6.
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Sept. 28-Oct. 4
SUNDAY, SEPT. 28 COLLEGE SOFTBALL Salem CC at RCSJ-Gloucester, 10 a.m.
MONDAY, SEPT. 29 FIELD HOCKEY Pennsville at Oakcrest, 4 p.m. Schalick at Clearview, 4 p.m. Woodstown at Timber Creek, 4 p.m. BOYS SOCCER Cape May Tech at Salem, 4 p.m. Moorestown Friends at Schalick, 4 p.m. Pennsville at Buena, 4 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Salem Tech at Medford Tech, 3:45 p.m. Buena at Pennsville, 4 p.m. Salem at Cape May Tech, 4 p.m. Schalick at Mainland, 4 p.m. Woodstown vs. GCIT at Rowan, 6 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS Salem at West Deptford, 4 p.m. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Cape May Tech at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 30 BOYS SOCCER Pennsville at Woodstown, 4 p.m. Pitman at Salem Tech, 4 p.m. Salem at Glassboro, 4 p.m. Wildwood at Schalick, 4 p.m. Gloucester Catholic at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Glassboro at Salem, 4 p.m. Gloucester Catholic at Penns Grove, 4 p.m. Salem Tech at Pennsville, 4 p.m. Schalick at Wildwood, 4 p.m. Woodstown at Pitman, 4 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS South Jersey Group 1 Playoffs No. 11 Buena at No. 6 Schalick, 3 p.m. No. 14 Palmyra at No. 3 Woodstown, 3 p.m. No. 13 Salem at No. 4 Pennsville, 3:30 p.m. CROSS COUNTRY Batch Meet at Kingsway, 4 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1 FIELD HOCKEY Salem at Woodstown, 4 p.m. Pennsville at Schalick, 4 p.m. BOYS SOCCER Glassboro at Woodstown, 4 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Woodbury at Penns Grove, 4 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS Pennsville at Clearview, 3:45 p.m. Triton at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. Schalick at Mainland, 4 p.m. Overbrook at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Salem Tech at Atlantic Tech, 4 p.m.
THURSDAY, OCT. 2 WJFL FOOTBALL Woodstown at Pleasantville, 7 p.m. FIELD HOCKEY Pennsville at Paulsboro, 4 p.m. BOYS SOCCER Clayton at Salem, 4 p.m. Pennsville at Salem Tech, 4 p.m. Pitman at Penns Grove, 4 p.m. Schalick at Overbrook, 4 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Salem at Clayton, 4 p.m. Salem Tech at Pitman, 4 p.m. Woodstown at Glassboro, 4 p.m. Overbrook at Schalick, 6 p.m. Pennsville at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS Schalick at Wildwood, 4:15 p.m. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Highland vs. Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
FRIDAY, OCT. 3 WJFL FOOTBALL Paulsboro at Schalick, 6 p.m. Pennsville at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m. Collingswood at Sterling, 7 p.m. Haddonfield at West Deptford, 7 p.m. Glassboro at Deptford Overbrook at Clayton FIELD HOCKEY Salem Tech at Winslow, 3:45 p.m. OLMA at Salem, 4 p.m. Schalick at Williamstown, 4 p.m. Woodstown at Gateway, 4 p.m. BOYS SOCCER Salem Tech at Buena, 4 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS Woodstown at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
SATURDAY, OCT. 4 WJFL FOOTBALL Salem at Middle Twp., noon Audubon at Gloucester Catholic, 11 a.m. Gateway at Woodbury BOYS SOCCER Woodstown at Northern Burlington, 10 a.m. COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Felician (2), noon
Schalick senior reaches 200-point plateau for her field hockey career; includes rest of Salem County Friday action, pairings for SJFHCA Tournament of Champions
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
VOORHEES – When Ava Scurry started playing field hockey in high school all she wanted was to be a good player and win. Now that she’s one of the most prolific scorers in school history, she wanted to share the occasion with all the teammates who helped get her there.
The Schalick senior reached another career milestone Friday, surpassing 200 points with two goals and an assist in the Cougars’ 6-3 loss at Eastern.
Scurry needed only one point going into the match to hit the mark and took it over the top when she tipped in a Lena Virga free hit for her first goal 3:12 into the second half. She notched her second goal about two minutes later and then assisted on Lucy Virga’s goal with 7:28 left in the third quarter after making a run from midfield to the baseline.
She now had 204 career points on 73 goals and 58 assists. She scored 40 goals last year, so 100 career markers is well within reach.
“I think it represents consistency and just how far, not just me, but how far I’ve come with my team because I couldn’t have reached that milestone without them,” Scurry said. “I think it just shows how far we’ve come since we were freshmen.
“The points really just shows how far the team’s come, because to me there’s no goal without an assist. Everything I’m doing is with my team. And the assists … someone is finishing with me, so even though I get 200 points it’s like the whole team hit 200 points. We’re all doing it together. It’s not just me.”
The Montclair State commitment had been a big assist maker early in the Cougars’ offense early in her career, or at least getting as many assists as she did goals, but she turned into a goal scorer when coach Heather Cheesman moved her to the strong right side last year. Scurry has scored 53 goals since the switch.
“She has been wonderful,” Cheesman said. “She has grown so much since her freshman year. She’s a player who can take the ball down the field or pass it. She’s definitely a team player. I have nothing but good things to say about her.”
All three Schalick goals came in a spirited third quarter in which both teams scored three times. Virga’s goal with 7:28 left in the quarter got the Cougars within one, 4-3, but they just couldn’t get the equalizer. The Vikings got some breathing room with 20 seconds left in the quarter, then extended their lead with four minutes to play.
TOC pairings set
Schalick has drawn Audubon in its opening game of the inaugural South Jersey Field Hockey Tournament of Champions.
The Cougars and Green Wave will play in the final game of the first day, 1:15 p.m. Oct. 4 at Camden Catholic. They will play either Delran or Clearview in their second game, Oct. 5 at Clearview.
Here is the first day schedule at Camden Catholic: Gloucester vs. West Deptford, 8 a.m.; Camden Catholic vs. Delsea, 9:45 a.m.; Delran vs. Clearview, 11:30 a.m. and Schalick-Audubon at 1:15 p.m.
Here is the schedule at Clearview: Gloucester-West Deptford loser vs. Camden Catholic-Delsea loser at 10 a.m.; Delran-Clearview loser vs. Schalick-Audubon loser, 11:45 a.m.: Gloucester-West Deptford winner vs. Camden Catholic-Delsea winner at 1:30 p.m.; Delran-Clearview winner vs. Schalick-Audubon winner, 3:15 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER Audubon 3, Pennsville 2: The Green Wave scored a golden goal in overtime to win. Justin Michaca and Sam Hassler scored second-half goals for the Eagles. Camden Academy Charter at Salem Salem Tech at Cape May Tech
GIRLS SOCCER Salem Tech 6, Cape May Tech 2: Ava Robinson scored three goals, Julia Hewitt Friebel two and Isabella Poli one for the Chargers. GCIT at Woodstown: Moved to Monday Hammonton 5, Schalick 3: Brooklynn DelGozzo and Alena DiGerolamo each scored two goals for the winners. Olivia Vanacker scored two goals and assisted on Quinn Berger’s goal for the Cougars. Cumberland 7, Salem 0