Thursday roundup

Big soccer day: Woodstown, Penns Grove boys play to draw; Pennsville boys bounce back to beat Clayton in 2 OTs; Schalick’s Fisler sets Schalick assist record; also field hockey, tennis; stories will be updated

BOYS SOCCER
Pennsville 1, Clayton 0: Lucas Cooksey taps home a rebound in the first minute of the second overtime for the game’s only goal.
Penns Grove 1, Woodstown 1: Penns Grove’s Dwayne Guzman makes 20 saves to preserve the draw.
Schalick 6, Glassboro 0: Senior John Egan V, a fan and teammate favorite, scores his first career goal.
Wildwood 6, Salem Tech 0: Michael Blanda scored twice in the Warriors’ four-goal first half.
Salem at Gloucester Catholic

GIRLS SOCCER
Schalick 8, Glassboro 0: Senior Cali Fisler sets school all-time assist record (44), setting up two of Abby Willoughby’s three goals.
Woodstown 6, Penns Grove 0: The Wolverines broke open a close game with five goals in the second half. Bailey Arnold Peters scored twice.
Gloucester Catholic 7, Salem 0: Seven different players score to keep Gloucester Catholic undefeated, Salem winless.
Salem Tech at Wildwood

FIELD HOCKEY
Glassboro at Pennsville

GIRLS TENNIS
PITMAN 4, SCHALICK 1
Anna Fisicaro (P) def. Miya Watkins, 6-0, 6-0
Colette Rollins (P) def. Annmarie Podehl, 6-2, 6-1
Ava Mollenhauer (P) def. Macy Clow, 6-1, 6-0
Kendall Bennett-Amanda Bradley (P) def. Olivia Lunemann-Sebrina Bradford, 6-4, 6-3
Sammi Twigg-Jasmine Hunt (S) def. Ella Ralph-Abigail Heil, 6-3, 6-4
Records: Pitman 9-3, Schalick 3-3.

WOODSTOWN 5, PENNS GROVE 0
Nathalie Neron (WO) def. Andrea Restrepo, 6-0, 6-0
Alyssa Berry (WO) def. Ada Lopez, 6-0, 6-0
Noelle Neron (WO) def. Valaria Pedroza, 6-0, 6-0
Madison LaPalomento-Emilee Kehr (WO) def. Yanet Cruz-Elif Sagir, 6-0, 6-0
Elianna Norman-Emma West (WO) def. Emma Giffins-Gianco Tirado, 4-0, ret.
Records: Woodstown 6-2, Penns Grove 0-5.

Local flavor

Schalick, Woodstown among 8 teams in inaugural South Jersey field hockey tournament of champions

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

Two of Salem County’s finest field hockey programs will be in the field when the South Jersey Field Hockey Coaches Association’s inaugural in-season tournament gets underway next month.

Schalick and Woodstown are among the eight teams committed to play in the NJSIAA-sanctioned South Jersey Tournament of Champions. The tournament, first reported by Riverview Sports News earlier this month, will be played Oct. 4 at Camden Catholic and Oct. 5 at Clearview.

The other four teams are Bishop Eustace, West Deptford, Delran and Gloucester. The bracket, pairings and schedule are still to be determined.

“It’s a go,” said Clearview coach Britney Ewan, president of the SJFHCA. “We’ve been working on it for the past couple years because North Jersey has a tournament, Cape (Atlantic) has a tournament, and there’s been a lot of strong teams in our area that play in the MAX Tournament, and what was happening is because we’re choosing to play in that tournament, which are amazing strong teams and are good for the teams to play, it was hurting us power point wise when it came to rankings for our playoffs and our state tournaments. Not to mention it was great preparation (for the post season).

“So, (Camden Catholic coach and SJFHCA board member) Mark Vittese and I decided to put our heads together and get this thing going.”

Originally there were 16 teams considered for the tournament, largely based on last season’s rankings, but the others opted out for various reasons.

“We were excited to be invited, we’re excited to take part in the tournament,” Schalick coach Heather Cheesman said. “It’s the first one for field hockey down here so we’re super excited. The girls are super excited.

“I know on the original list we were the last to be invited, so we’re honored to be included and excited to see what it is when we get there and the competition we’re going to have.”

The Cougars have already played two of the teams in the field. They beat Woodstown 3-0 last Thursday and lost to Camden Catholic 9-1 Tuesday.

“(Vittese) was like, ‘I’ll see you in two weeks,’” Cheesman said.

Brian Tortella contributed to this report.

Not their day

Pennsville soccer falls 1-0 on a deflected goal; includes scores and details from Tuesday’s Salem County sports action

BOYS SOCCER
Glassboro 1, Pennsville 0
Schalick 7, Clayton 1
Penns Grove at Wildwood, canceled
Overbrook at Salem

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Derek Foglein knew from Pennsville’s experience in the Pitman summer league Tuesday’s match with Glassboro was going to be a tight battle. On another day it might have come out differently, but on this day it went the other way.

The teams battled tightly all game, but Glassboro cashed in on a flukey goal late in the first half and held off Foglein’s Eagles 1-0 for its first win of the season.

“We had seen these guys in the championship game of the summer league and it was a tight game, too, so we knew it was going to be tight and there was gonna be a lot of speed both ways,” the Pennsville coach said. “You could’ve played that game 100 times and 50 times it would’ve went our way and 50 times it would’ve went theirs.

“We talked about it at halftime, too, that sometimes soccer is not a game that cares about your feelings. It just doesn’t. I don’t think we deserved to lose that game, but I guess today we were supposed to lose that game.”

If not for an odd deflection, it might have gone the other way.

Mohammad Naib Khil scored the only goal of the match with 5:58 left in the first half on a shot that deflected off a Pennsville defender.

The Bulldogs’ sophomore midfielder got the ball in the middle of the box off a Lucas Kudless corner kick and fired straight on at the net. Stevie Fatcher, the Eagles’ strongest defender, stepped in to clear as he’s done hundreds of times in his career, but this time the ball glanced off “the wrong part” of his knee and instead of carrying away from the goal deflected just inside the left post.

“It felt like the heart and soul of the game just got ripped out,” Fatcher said. “We still battled (after that) but I felt like it just went down after that.”

The Eagles (2-2) had two good chances to score earlier in the half. They thought they had a goal 10 minutes into the match that was cleared off the line and a couple later Ugur Elmali had a shot hit the left post and carom into the keeper’s arms.

Glassboro (1-2-1) appeared to have the best of it in the second half, although the Eagles turned up the heat in the final five minutes without getting the equalizer. Pennsville is now 5-6 in 1-0 games and 9-16 in one-goal games since 2020. Glassboro came into the game with two one-goal losses and a tie.

“I don’t know if it was necessarily a lack of attacking (in the second half), I just think it was a lack of an execution,” Foglein said. “We shifted the bodies forward, we had the talent in the front of the field where we normally do, we couldn’t find that last little pass to get us into (the right) places.”

SCHALICK 7, CLAYTON 1: The Clippers scored five minutes into the battle of unbeaten cross-division co-leaders, then it was all Schalick. Seven players scored goals for the Cougars (3-0-1): Ryan Loper, Luke Price, Connor Jackson, Steve Chomo, Jake Sepers, Marco Spinnato and Tyler Vanlier. The goals by freshmen Loper, Sepers and Manlier were the first of their careers.

“It’s great that we are trusting each other and playing unselfish soccer,” Cougars coach Joe Mannella said.

GIRLS SOCCER
Gloucester Catholic 3, Pennsville 2
Overbrook 7, Salem 1
Wildwood 7, Penns Grove 0
Woodstown 6, Salem Tech 0

WOODSTOWN 6, SALEM TECH 0: Six different players scored goals in the Wolverines’ third straight victory: Emma Perry, Gina Murray, Hailey Kucharczuk, Kyia Leyman, Genevieve Flynn and Krysten Dussault. For Leyman, Flynn and Dussault, it was their first career goals. The Wolverines (3-1) have outscored their opponents 20-2 since dropping their season opener.

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 3, PENNSVILLE 2: Alexa Battaglia scored two goals for the winners. Reagan Wariwanchik and Sloan Marquette scored Pennsville’s goals.

WILDWOOD 7, PENNS GROVE 0: Aubrey Bradway scored three goals and had two assists. Nyara Alves had two goals. The Red Devils (0-3) are still looking for their first goal of the season.

OVERBROOK 7, SALEM 1: Gianna Simon had a hat trick and Leiani Knight had two for Overbrook. Isla Bohn scored Salem’s goal in the second half.

FIELD HOCKEY
CAMDEN CATHOLIC 9, SCHALICK 1: The Irish (3-0), who’ve scored 29 goals in three games, jumped on the Cougars (3-2) with five in the first quarter; they took 39 shots in the game. Sophia Stazi had four goals in the game and Savannah Freeland scored three. Phoebe Alward scored Schalick’s goal in the first quarter on an assist from Luci Virga. The nine goals were the most Schalick has allowed since an 8-0 loss at Shore in the 2011 Group I final.

GIRLS TENNIS
WOODSTOWN 3, AUDUBON 2
Nathalie Neron (WO) def. Helena Kuchmek, 6-1, 6-1
Alyssa Berry (WO) def. Sophia Tessitore, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4
Isabella Lamancusa (A) def. Noelle Neron, 6-3, 6-1
Bridget Mattson-Finola Witherington (A) def. Emilee Kehr-Madison LaPalomento, 6-2, 6-2
Emma West-Angelina Lindenmuth (WO) def. Bea Herman-Yesica Palillero, 6-4, 6-2
Records: Woodstown 5-2, Audubon 4-1.

HADDON HEIGHTS 4, SCHALICK 1
Miya Watkins (S) def. Ellie Mazzucco, 6-4, 3-6, 11-9
Sophia Acute (H) def. Annmarie Podehl, 6-3, 7-6 (7-1)
Nora Miller (H) def. Macy Clow, 6-4, 6-0
Ellie Clapper-Molly Walker (H) def. Olivia Lunemann-Sebrina Bradford, 6-1, 6-3
Luca Durand-Erin Lewandowski (H) def. Sammi Twigg-Jasmine Hunt, 6-1, 6-3
Records: Haddon Heights 7-1, Schalick 3-2.

CROSS COUNTRY
SALEM TECH BATCH MEET
BOYS TOP 15:
Matthew Littlehales, Delsea 16:09.03; Zacchaeus Harrington, Glassboro 16:11.44; Joseph Saicic, Glassboro 16:24.73; Jaeden Wesley, Glassboro 16:29.27; Jacob Marino, Woodstown 16:39.00; Michael Beaver, Kingsway 16:42.21; Karson Chew, Woodstown 16:54.35; David Farrell, Woodstown 16:57.10; Wyatt Evans, GCIT 17:04.54; Trevor Szilier, Washington Twp. 17:10.09; Dominic Burgio, Williamstown 17:17.70; Logan Pavelik, Williamstown 17:19.83; Gavin Rakitis, Glassboro 17:21.15; Payton Veilleux, Kingsway 17:21.33; Oluwanifemi Fadulu, Highland 17:22.80.
Schalick: 20. Chase Riley 17:32.53; Salem Tech: 50. Levi Seals 18:47.74; Salem: 62. Gavin Cronrath 19:16.25; Pennsville: 125. Logan Cowperthwait 22:00.22.

GIRLS TOP 15: Sophia Aldridge, Williamstown 18:55.49; Aubrey Bishop, Kingsway 19:15.01; Lyana Gutierrez, Highland 20:24.27; Yazmire Bonhomme, Williamstown 20:33.39; Abby Marino, Woodstown 20:36.86; Toni-Loren Powell, Highland 20:40.90; Brooke Mashburn, Delsea 20:51.53; Julia Burgio, Williamstown 21:00.65; Jordan Moczydlowski, GCIT 21:01.61; Julia Blanchard, Washington Twp. 21:28.63; Anabel Schaal, Woodstown 21:33.64; Isabella Moran, Delsea 21:38.72; Ava Buchanan, Kingsway 21:44.53; Allison Reinierz, Washington Twp. 21:51.82; Katelyn Gallinaro, Kingsway 21:56.76.
Schalick: 18. Helen Lillia 22:11.39; Pennsville: 23. Sawyer Slad 22:56.05; Salem Tech: 77. Paityn Harrington 27:24.53

Winning combo

Mease, Saulin lead Pennsville field hockey past Salem; includes all of Monday’s Salem County sports results, will be updated

FIELD HOCKEY

Pennsville 6, Salem 1
Cumberland 5, Salem Tech 1

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM – Gracie Mease and Izzy Saulin are inseparable when it comes to the field hockey field. They sit together on the team bus on the way to games. They do pre-game warmups together. They’re as close to a Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid combination a team can have.

So it just goes to figure they connected together on all three of Mease goals in the first half and played some role in all six of Pennsville’s goals in total in a 6-1 victory over Salem Monday afternoon.

Mease, a senior left forward, figured in all four Pennsville goals in the first half with her first career hat trick and an assist. Saulin, a senior center mid, had a goal in the fourth quarter and a career-high four assists.

“We do try to partner up in as much as we can and then we just find each other,” Saulin said. “We don’t, like, plan it necessarily, but it happens. It’s funny because we don’t really talk (about it), we’ll just be partners.”

“For all four years we’ve been partners for everything,” Mease said. “I just think we work very well together.”

The Eagles have had 1-2 combinations like them in the past, but none coach Lisa Doran could recall in recent years.

“They just work together well, they talk to each other and they’re just a good combination, so that’s why they’re where they are, because they play well together,” Doran said. “They’re really starting to connect.”

Pennsville’s Gracie Mease (2) crosses the ball against Salem.

Before Monday’s game, Mease had scored only four goals in her three previous seasons with the Eagles (3-1). Saulin had only five career assists. But they were on target against the Rams (0-3).

Mease opened the scoring less than three minutes into the match. Julliana Love answered for the Rams 30 seconds later to tie it, then it was all Pennsville. Kendall Hoyt (on an assist from Mease) and Gina Haubrich (on an assist from Saulin) scored the other two goals. The Eagles outshot their hosts 17-5 and had a 14-2 edge in corners.

“I think we just really came together as a team and just focused on playing all as one instead of 11 different players on the field,” Saulin said. “I think that’s really what was the difference between this game and the last one (Thursday’s 1-0 loss to Gloucester Catholic).

“We made a point this year that we want everybody to be involved in everything. It’s not just I have to go in this game and I have to score and I have to get this many goals; we just want to help each other. It showed a lot this game with so many different people scoring. This game, when we have all these different people scoring is more fun than just one or two people.”

CUMBERLAND 5, SALEM TECH 1: Alaina Miletta scored three goals assisted on two others, and the Colts pulled away from a 1-0 game with four goals in the second half. Jessilyn Chambers scored the Chargers’ goal in the fourth quarter.

Pennsville 6, Salem 1

Pennsville (3-1)2211-6
Salem (0-3)1000-1

SCORING SUMMARY
First quarter

P-Gracie Mease (Izzy Saulin), 12:18; S-Julliana Love (unassisted), 11:48; P-Gracie Mease (Izzy Saulin), 4:09
Second quarter
P-Kendall Hoyt (Gracie Mease), 10:26; P-Gracie Mease (Izzy Saulin), 9:09
Third quarter
P-Gina Haubrich (Izzy Saulin), 1:13
Fourth quarter
P-Izzy Saulin (Abby Bohn), 4:10

BOYS SOCCER
PAULSBORO 4, SALEM TECH 0:
Matt Hill had a hat trick for the Red Raiders (2-2).

GIRLS SOCCER
CLAYTON 7, SALEM 0:
Madi Traister had two goals and three assists for the Clippers (2-2). Deondria Simon also scored two goals.
TIMBER CREEK 2, SCHALICK 0: The Cougars outshot their visitors 20-5, but just couldn’t find the back of the goal.

GIRLS TENNIS
WOODSTOWN 5, OVERBROOK 0

Nathalie Neron (WO) def. Sophia Burgos, 6-0, 6-0
Alyssa Berry (WO) def. Natasha Hreiz, 6-0, 6-0
Noelle Neron (WO) def. Isabella Sepulveda, 6-0, 6-0
Madison LaPalomento-Emilee Kehr (WO) def. Anna Mason-Leah Wilde, 6-1, 6-0
Angelina Lindenmuth-Elianna Norman (WO) def. Charlotte Gall-Liana Grant-Williams, 6-2, 6-0
Records: Woodstown 4-2, Overbrook 1-6.

SCHALICK 5, PENNS GROVE 0
Miya Watkins (S) def. Andrea Restrepo, 6-0, 6-0
Annmarie Podehl (S) def. Alease Stewart, 6-0, 6-0
Macy Slow (S) def. Ada Lopez, 6-0, 6-0
Olivia Lunemann-Sebrina Bradford (S) def. Yanet Cruz-Nathalie Dominquez, 6-1, 6-0
Sammi Tigg-Jasmine Hunt (S) def. Valaria Pedroza-Andrea Chapone, 6-0, 6-0
Records: Schalick 3-1, Penns Grove 0-4.

Pitman at Pennsville
Salem at Glassboro

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
GCIT 2, SALEM TECH 1: GCIT took the third set 25-7 to score its first win of the season. The games were 25-10, 19-25, 25-7.

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Sept. 15-20; all 5 football teams play on Saturday

MONDAY, SEPT. 15
FIELD HOCKEY

Pennsville at Salem, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Cumberland, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Paulsboro at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Clayton at Salem, 4 p.m.
Timber Creek at Schalick, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Overbrook at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Pitman at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
GCIT at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 16
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick at Camden Catholic, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER

Glassboro at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Salem, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Clayton, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Salem at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick at Haddon Heights, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Audubon, 4 p.m.
CROSS COUNTRY
TCC Batch Meet at Salem Tech, 3:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 17
FIELD HOCKEY

Glassboro at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Haddonfield at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Pennsville at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Salem, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Triton, 4 p.m.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 18
BOYS SOCCER

Clayton at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Salem at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Gloucester Catholic at Salem, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Glassboro at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Pitman at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 19
WJFL FOOTBALL
Camden Catholic at West Deptford, 7 p.m.
Florence at Overbrook
FIELD HOCKEY

Overbrook at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Cherry Hill West at Schalick, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Glassboro at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Salem at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
CROSS COUNTRY
TCC Batch Meet at Delsea
Woodstown at Stockton Univ. Showcase
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Buena, 4 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 20
WJFL FOOTBALL

Collingswood at Paulsboro, 11 a.m.
Pennsville at Audubon, 11 a.m.
Woodstown at Woodbury, 11 a.m.
Glassboro at Salem, noon
Schalick at Penns Grove, noon
BOYS SOCCER
Bordentown at Schalick, 10 a.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Perth Amboy Tech at Salem Tech, 1 p.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC in RCSJ-Cumberland Showcase, 9 a.m.

Photo by Heather Papiano



Friday WJFL scoreboard

FRIDAY’S WJFL GAMES
Schalick 33, Woodstown 27 (3 OT)
Overbrook 22, Pennsville 21
Atlantic Tech 21, Deptford 0
Bergen Catholic 41, Winslow 14
Bishop Eustace 44, Lindenwold 0
Bridgeton 48, Egg Harbor Township 7
Burlington Twp. 41, Haddon Heights 14
Cherry Hill East 28, Triton 14
Cherry Hill West 42, Clearview 6
Clayton 48, Haddon Twp. 0
Cumberland 41, Oakcrest 34
Delran 35, Cinnaminson 0
Haddonfield 39, Willingboro 8
Holy Cross 28, Palmyra 6
Holy Spirit 32, Hammonton 7
Hopewell Valley 34, Notre Dame 14
Kingsway 36, Timber Creek 21
Lawrence 17, Florence 0
Lower Cape May 42, Middle Twp. 0
Millville 22, Mainland 21
Northern Burlington 35, Moorestown 7
Ocean City 22, Lenape 0
Paulsboro 38, Camden Catholic 20
Paul IV 30, Gloucester 14
Pitman 45, Gloucester Catholic 7
Robbinsville 56, WW-Plainsboro South 7
St. Augustine 35, Cherokee 0
Seneca 32, Pleasantville 6
Shawnee 21, Camden 20
Washington Township 40, Delsea 0
Williamstown 28, Chichester (Pa.) 13

Saturday’s Games
Bordentown at Audubon, 11 a.m.
Hightstown at Steinert, 11
Rancocas Valley at Eastside, 11
Allentown at Nottingham, noon
Burlington City at Pemberton, noon
Woodbury at Salem, noon
Atlantic City at Cedar Creek, 1:30 p.m.
Ewing at Princeton, 2 p.m.
Trenton at Hamilton, 2 p.m.

On Top in OT

Schalick outlasts Woodstown in 3 OTs to get first win of season, first win in series since 2010

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – When the fourth down pass fell incomplete in the end zone, Schalick’s players poured off the bench in celebration like they had just won the Super Bowl.

In a rivalry like this that goes beyond football when you haven’t won in such a long time it really felt like that.

The Cougars had a lot of reasons to celebrate Friday night. They outlasted Woodstown 33-27 in a triple overtime classic that will be memorable for a multitude of reasons.

It was their first win of the season. It was coach Kevin Leamy’s first win as a head coach. Above all, it was the Cougars’ first win over the Wolverines since 2010.

They had lost 12 in a row in the series.

“For me, especially the Class of 2027 and a few of our seniors, the last time Schalick beat Woodstown we were all in diapers; we were young,” junior safety Gary Simonini said. “These seniors, their first-ever playoff game they got their teeth kicked in (by Woodstown) 45-8. All those kids who built this program up and grinded with us for the past years, this was for them. This is for all of Schalick. This is for everyone who came out and supported us. It was a great team win.”

Quarterback Kenny Bartee was a workhorse for the Cougars (1-2) after halftime. He rushed for 205 yards and four touchdowns on 23 carries in the game, but had 137 yards and four scores in the fourth quarter and overtime. He scored all three of the Cougars’ OT touchdowns on runs of 12, 16 and 2 yards.

Speedster David Stewart set a tone by bringing back the opening kickoff 94 yards for his first career return touchdown and blocked two potential game-winning kicks late in the game — a 23-yard field goal attempt with 26 seconds left in regulation and an extra point in the first overtime.

“This is one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever felt – ever,” Stewart said. “Going into three overtimes against our rival that we hadn’t beat in like 20 years, it just really felt special.”

David Stewart (0) had a big night for the Cougars. He returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and blocked two potential game-winning kicks late in the game. (Photo by Heather Papiano)

Bartee gave the Cougars a 33-27 lead with a 2-yard run in the third overtime. His two-point conversion pass fell incomplete.

The Wolverines (1-2) could have won it with a touchdown and conversion. Had they answered and and didn’t get the conversion the game would have ended in a tie.

The Cougars never gave them a chance. They sacked freshman quarterback Frankie Hoerst on the first two snaps for 14 yards in losses. The Wolverines picked up only 2 yards on third down and their fourth-down Hail Mary to the end zone got knocked away by Stewart to end the game and start Schalick’s celebration.

“This has been a crutch on Schalick’s back for a very long time,” assistant coach Henry Papiano said, speaking on behalf of Leamy who was too overwhelmed with emotion to speak after tearfully addressing the team in the end zone. “This is something we could not get over the hurdle.

“Some of the things Coach Leamy talked about in the offseason, in the spring meetings, was Woodstown. How do we get over that hurdle finally? And today’s our first step.”

Later, when reached by phone, Leamy said, “it was a whirlwind. It was a hell of a way to get your first win, that’s for sure.”

Woodstown coach Frank Trautz was tending to a seriously injured player immediately after the game and unavailable on the field. He later said, “it was an incredibly hard fought high school football game. Both teams battled all night. This is good for our young team to be in games like this and we will continue to learn and grow.”

Schalick’s Eric Sulik (51) was in on the first down sack that made Woodstown’s third overtime possession more difficult. (Photo by Heather Papiano)

The Wolverines seemed unfazed by Stewart’s opening burst. The Wolverines answered it with a 70-yard touchdown drive capped by Hoerst’s 7-yard run to tie the game. It stayed that way until the final minute of the half when Hoerst found Bryceton Rooney in the back of the end zone from 21 yards out to make it 14-7.

The Cougars lost a game-tying touchdown pass to Jase Volovar in the third quarter to a penalty, but eventually got the equalizer midway through the fourth at the end of a 14-play, 82-yard drive. Bartee covered the final yard. The sophomore had 42 yards rushing and threw a 21-yard pass in the drive and was just getting started. He had 17 carries in the fourth quarter and overtime.

“I realized I had to step up for my team,” Bartee said. “I had a ter-r-r-r-ible first half. I was in my head. I wasn’t playing with my team. I really had to put my team first. I had to put my body on the line for them. I love them and everything I do is for them.”

“You’ve got to feed the horse,” Papiano said. “He wants to make plays. He’s come to the sideline and he wants to carry the team. We believe in Kenny and we’re going to stand behind him. He doesn’t do anything to tell us not to put him back there.”

The Wolverines came back after Bartee’s tying touchdown and got in position to kick the potential game-winning field goal. Hoerst set up for a 23-yarder, but Stewart scuttled those plans and kept the Cougars alive with his first blocked kick.

He got them again on their first overtime touchdown after Rooney blocked the Cougars’ PAT after their first overtime score.

“Gary runs to the guy and pulls him down kind of to give me enough space to jump through,” Stewart said. “I think my speed and length just helps me really get out there to mess up the kicker.”

“I found a little technique,” Simonini said. “I picked up in our practices that our coaches always tell people block down so I use that to our advantage. I try to make that guy block down and David uses his speed to block the kicks.”

Both quarterbacks scored touchdowns in the second overtime and their teams both hit the extra point to send the game a final, third overtime.

Schalick 33, Woodstown 27

WOOD (27) SCH (33)
151st Downs15
47-189Rushing44-248
6-13-0Passing (C-A-I)2-7-2
64Passing yds34
0-0Fumbles-lost1-1
2-33.5Punts-avg1-34.0
1-10Penalties-yds6-45
Woodstown (1-2)7700670-27
Schalick (1-2)7007676-33

SCORING SUMMARY
S-David Stewart 94 kickoff return (Hunter Dragotta kick), 11:46 1Q
WO-Frankie Hoerst 7 run (Frankie Hoerst kick), 6:51 1Q
WO-Bryceton Rooney 21 pass from Frankie Hoerst (Frankie Hoerst kick), 0:59 2Q
S-Kenny Bartee 1 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 6:46 4Q
S-Kenny Bartee 1 run (kick blocked), OT1
WO-Brayden Hall 1 run (kick blocked), OT1
WO-Frankie Hoerst 1 run (Frankie Hoerst kick), OT2
S-Kenny Bartee 16 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), OT2
S-Kenny Bartee 2 run (pass failed), OT3

WJFL Standings

DIAMOND DIVISIONALLDIV
Glassboro3-01-0
Schalick1-21-0
Salem0-20-0
Woodbury0-20-0
Woodstown1-20-1
Penns Grove0-30-1
PATRIOT DIVISIONALLDIV
West Deptford3-02-0
Paulsboro3-02-0
Collingswood2-11-1
Overbrook2-11-1
Audubon0-10-1
Camden Catholic0-30-1
Pennsville0-30-2

Thursday’s Games
Glassboro 63, Penns Grove 0
West Deptford 48, Collingswood 0
Friday’s Games
Overbrook 22, Pennsville 21
Schalick 33, Woodstown 37
Paulsboro 38, Camden Catholic 20
Saturday’s Games
Woodbury at Salem
Bordentown at Audubon

Top photo: Quarterback Kenny Bartee (1) leaps with joy as the Schalick celebrate their 3-OT victory over rival Woodstown Friday night. (Photo by Heather Papiano)

Rallying around

Thursday roundup: Schalick field hockey rallies behind injured coach, blanks rival Woodstown; Salem Tech makes it two in a row; Woodstown tennis edges Pennsville

FIELD HOCKEY
Gloucester Catholic 1, Pennsville 0
Deptford 7, Salem 2
Salem Tech 1, Clayton 0
Schalick 3, Woodstown 0
GIRLS TENNIS
Woodstown 3, Pennsville 2

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – The day didn’t start out great for the Schalick field hockey team, but it sure ended that way.

Cougars coach Heather Cheesman slipped exiting the team bus upon its arrival for Thursday’s game at rival Woodstown and chipped a bone in her right ankle. While she coached her team from a seated position using a field hockey stick as a cane, her players rallied around her to claim a 3-0 win.

“The girls made it easy,” Cheesman said. “Every time we needed to talk they would come in, they’d get around me, we would come in tight and talk low because we couldn’t go to the goal cage like we usually do. When the quarters ended we couldn’t go out in the field like we normally do, so we were kind of closer to the other team than we would have liked, but they made it pretty easy.”

The Cougars (3-1) were charged up to play for their coach. They came out fast and dominated the action. Goalie Lydia Gilligan only had to touch the ball once.

Lena Virga slipped a pass from Ava Scurry into the back of the cage in the first quarter to open the scoring. Scurry scored two goals in the second half on passes from Phoebe Alward and Ella Cheesman.

“The last couple games the girls have been coming out slow,” Cheesman said. “They’re flat, they’re not talking, they don’t look like they’re jelling on the field. It never happened in this game. They came out strong to begin with. Their passes were so good. Everything we’ve been working on just kind of came together.”

And to think it took an injury to their coach to bring it out of them.

She went to the emergency room to have her ankle checked during the JV game and returned home wearing a temporary cast. She’ll follow up with the orthopedist in 3-5 days, but has no plans to stop coaching while she’s on the mend.

“Maybe it’s not as bad as they think and they can put me in a boot or something,” she said. “It’s OK, I’ll survive. It could always be worse.”

SALEM TECH 1, CLAYTON 0: The Chargers followed up the first win in their program’s history with another one-goal win. The Chargers scored the only goal of the match in the second quarter.

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 1, PENNSVILLE 0: Alana Belian scored the game’s only goal less than three minutes into the match and teams battled it out the rest of the way.

DEPTFORD 7, SALEM 2: The Spartans scored four goals in the first quarter and maintained control the rest of the match. Julliana Love and Jared Weathers scored goals for the Rams.

GIRLS TENNIS

WOODSTOWN — Senior Noelle Neron took an intense three-set victory over Morgan Holt at No. 3 singles to clinch the Wolverines’ 3-2 victory over Pennsville.

Neron dropped the first set 7-5, but won the second 6-4 to even the match and then took it with a 10-7 win in the tiebreaker. It was her second three-set win of the season.

“The two girls really battled it out,” Woodstown coach Jesse Stemberger said. “In the end, three points playing out differently and there could have been a different result. Both girls gave it everything and we were fortunate to pull it out.

“It’s always competitive when we play them … Noelle dug deep when she needed to. She’s dedicated to the sport and it was great to see her hard work pay off.”

WOODSTOWN 3, PENNSVILLE 2
Lily Edwards (P) def. Nathalie Neron, 6-3, 6-1
Alyssa Berry (WO) def. Izzy Schrenker, 6-1, 6-2
Noelle Neron (WO) def. Morgan Holt, 5-7, 6-4, 10-7
Emma Hankin-Naomi Hess (P) def. Madison LaPalomento-Emilee Kehr, 6-3, 6-0
Emma West-Angelina Lindenmuth (WO) def. Lila Angelo-Graillyn Weber, 6-2, 6-2
Records: Woodstown 3-1, Pennsville 4-3.

Unforgettable first win

Salem Tech field hockey beats the clock in regulation and overtime, turns back Paulsboro for program’s first win in first official home game; includes Wednesday’s Salem County roundup, Thursday’s schedule

FIELD HOCKEY
Salem Tech 4, Paulsboro 3 (OT)

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN — When superintendent Jack Swain started sports at Salem Tech in a time that wasn’t really that long ago, it was with the vision of giving its students the chance to make lifelong memories beyond the classroom. Chances are no one connected with the school will forget what took place Wednesday.

The Chargers’ fledgling field hockey team played its first official home game in program history and made it a memorable one. They rallied from two-goal deficits in the first and fourth quarters, beat the clock at the end of both regulation and overtime and dramatically turned back Paulsboro 4-3 for their first win in school history.

Sophomore forward Adessa Plum scored two goals on her 15th birthday, the first one in program history in the second quarter and the game-tying goal 10 seconds before the end of regulation on the officials’ watches. Freshman Hazel Eachus slipped the game-winner through right at the whistle to end overtime.

“I’m just so proud of the girls,” Chargers coach Maureen Lewis said. “I feel like they deserve this win because of how hard they have worked and they worked so hard on the field during this game.

“I think I’ll always remember it. I remember these kinds of moments from when I played, so I feel like I’ll remember it. To do it on our home turf for the first, it’s truly special.”

Salem Tech added field hockey to its varsity offerings this year and will have 14 sports when baseball and softball come on line in the spring. They will play as an independent this year because the Tri-County Conference is in the middle of a two-year scheduling cycle, but will be eligible for the Group 2 playoffs.

The field hockey team debuted last Thursday and lost to Sterling 4-0. All four goals came in the first six minutes of the season, then the teams played even the rest of the game.

The Chargers seemed destined for a similar fate Wednesday when the Red Raiders scored in the opening minute and grabbed a 2-0 lead after the first quarter. Lewis gathered the team after the second goal and before the quarter break and encouraged them to keep fighting.

“Our girls just didn’t give up,” she said. “That’s what’s so special about them, they don’t give up and don’t let it get to their head and they just keep working hard. Sometimes we just need to adjust and they need some talking to and that will usually get it done.”

Plum had the honor of scoring the first goal in school history when she knocked in a pass from Eachus on the right side of the cage with 8:50 left in the second quarter. It stayed 2-1 through halftime. 

“Adessa, sometimes she just comes out of nowhere,” Lewis said. “She surprises us often.”

Adessa Plum has the distinction of scoring the first goal in Salem Tech field hockey history. She scored two in the game.

Paulsboro regained a two-goal lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Chargers scored twice in the final five minutes of regulation to force 7v7 overtime. Abigail Beals got them within one and then Plum tied it off a pass from Shelby Drummond.

The Red Raiders questioned whether time had expired prior to Plum’s goal, but the officials said there was a lag between the clock at the scoring table and their official watches and by their count there were enough seconds remaining to score the goal. Plum was unaware of how little time remained and just kept attacking the cage.

“I just kept going,” she said. “I didn’t hear a horn.”

The Chargers had several good chances in overtime but were turned away. Conversely, Salem Tech goalie Caroline Tighe kicked out a serious threat by Paulsboro early in the extra period.

On Tech’s winning rush, Jessilyn Chambers sent the ball across from the right wing and Beals got it to Eachus down by the left post. Paulsboro goalie Amelia Lyons came out to challenge, but Eachus pushed it past her and off the inside of the right post for the game-winner.

“I didn’t realize (how much time was left) at all,” Eachus said. “I was just trying to score a goal and win the game. We push ourselves to the limit no matter what.”

And on this day the Chargers pushed themselves to an historic win.

“It was really memorable,” Eachus said. “I’m glad to be a part of this.”

Paulsboro (0-2)20010-3
Salem Tech (1-1)01021-4
GOALS: 1. Paulsboro, Jayla Barnes (Dasoni Scott), 13:55 1Q; 2. Paulsboro, Dasoni Scott, 0:47 1Q; 3. Salem Tech, Adessa Plum (Hazel Eachus), 8:50 2Q; 4. Paulsboro, Talie Blue-Eli, 12:48 3Q; 5. Salem Tech, Abigail Beals, 5:08 4Q, 6. Salem Tech, Adessa Plum (Shelby Drummond), 0:10 4Q; 7. Hazel Eachus, 0:00 OT.
Salem Tech freshman Hazel Eachus (12) celebrates after scoring an overtime goal to give the Chargers their first-ever win in field hockey.

Wednesday roundup

BOYS SOCCER

PENNS GROVE – Penns Grove and Glassboro have staged some epic battles in recent years and Wednesday was another of them. In a series that seems to go back and forth, this edition went to the Red Devils.

Rooby Dorival was brought up from the midfield to give the Red Devils a little more punch in overtime and the moved worked as he converted Louby Guerrier’s pass about seven minutes into the extra session for the game-winner in a 3-2 victory.

“I made the decision to take him out from the back and put him up with another striker; they both have a lot of speed and it paid off big time,” Penns Grove coach Mano Massari said. “I talked to the guys in overtime and asked do we want to go for it and they all said yeah we want to go for it. We put them up top and it paid off big time.

“They’re from Haiti;. I call them the Haitian Sensations. They really do a nice job together.”

The game went back and forth. The Red Devils took a 1-0 lead on Mario Fuentes’ penalty kick, but Glassboro tied it. The Bulldogs went ahead 2-1, then senior captain Joey Schultz made a ”great shot” off a cross from Guerrier with about 10 minutes left to retie it.

Seven of the last eight games between the teams have been decided by one goal. The other was a tie.

“Every time we play them it’s a battle,” Massari said. “This was pretty big for us. We did not show up against Pitman on Tuesday. We moved some things around last minute and it just didn’t work; the guys were flat. Today was the polar opposite. They fought hard.

“It showed grit, character, things we want and things we need. Definitely taking us in the right direction. We’ve just got to keep it going.”

Woodstown 3, Overbrook 2: The Wolverines fell behind early, then scored three straight goals to take control. Bryce Ayars got the equalizer on a penalty kick, Jake Lewis gave them the lead and Landon Guglielmo added a necessary insurance goal on a left-foot shot from 20 yards.
Schalick 3, Pitman 1: Luke Price broke a 1-1 tie in the 71st minute with his second goal of the game off a rare goalie assist from Evan Sepers and Marco Spinnato put it away three minutes later.
Pennsville 3, Wildwood 0: Danny Bunny Coronel scored in the eighth minute and Lucas Cooksey and Justin Michaca scored two minutes apart in the second half. Coen Rinnier made 11 saves in posting his second straight shutout and had a goalie assist on Coronel’s goal.
Salem Tech 6, Salem 0: Kameron Brown had a hat trick, Logan Pace scored twice and James Welch had the goal of the game off a Daniel Marandola corner kick. Aiden Bobo earned the shutout.

GIRLS SOCCER
Schalick 6, Pennsville 0: Abby Willoughby scored four goals, one in the opening minute and three in the second half, to lead the Cougars. Olivia Vanacker and Karlie Bakley had the other two goals. Cali Fisler picked up the assist on Willoughby’s last two goals and is now two shy of the school’s all-time record.
Woodstown 7, Overbrook 1: Gina Murray scored twice, while Emma Perry, Sophie Wells, Hailey Kucharczuk, Aubree Covely and Evelyn Walker each scored once.
Glassboro 5, Penns Grove 0: Amina Brown had a hat trick for the Bulldogs.

GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick at Pennsville
Woodstown at Penns Grove
Salem at Overbrook

Thursday’s schedule

WJFL FOOTBALL
Penns Grove at Glassboro, 7 p.m.
Eastern at Vineland, 6 p.m.
Gateway at Wildwood, 6 p.m.
Highland at Pennsauken, 6 p.m.
KIPP Cooper Norcross at Buena, 6 p.m.
Riverside at Maple Shade, 6 p.m.
West Deptford at Collingswood, 6 p.m.
Haddon Township at Clayton, 7 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Salem at Deptford, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Clayton, 6 p.m.
Schalick at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Palmyra, 4 p.m.

Tuesday roundup

Here are the results of Tuesday’s high school sports action in Salem County; includes Wednesday’s schedule

TUESDAY’S SCORES
FIELD HOCKEY

Schalick 8, Glassboro 0: Ava Scurry scored two goals and assisted on four others. Luci Virga also scored two goals.
Woodstown 7, Deptford 0: Zoe Lipovsky scored twice as the Wolverines won the first game in Gloria Byard’s tenure as coach.
GIRLS TENNIS
WOODSTOWN 5, WEST DEPTFORD 0
Nathalie Neron (WO) def. Gianna Concordia, 6-1, 6-0
Alyssa Berry (WO) def. Alyssa Taylor, 7-5, 6-3
Noelle Neron (WO) def. Jody Wu, 6-3, 3-6, 10-8
Madison LaPalomento-Emilee Kehr (WO) def. Lily Avila-Hayley Dobbins, 6-3
Records: Woodstown 2-1, West Deptford 2-6.
CROSS COUNTRY
TCC Batch Meet at Cumberland
BOYS TOP 20

Dominic Burgio, Williamstown 16:12.59; Logan Pavelik, Williamstown 16:14.25; Trevor Szilier, Washington Twp. 16:15.72; Michael Beaver, Kingsway 16:35.04; Andrew Dopkin, Highland 16:36.39; Jacob Marino, Woodstown 17:00.72; Colin Roznowski, Highland 17:08.61; David Farrell, Woodstown 17:16.87; Wyatt Evans, GCIT 17:20.29; Rhys Blackman, Pitman 17:23.92; Ryan DeVecchis, Washington Twp. 17:27.28; Matthew Littlehales, Delsea 17:37.11; Duke Snyder-Shellito, GCIT 17:37.49; Daniel Gee, Highland 17:38.39; Karson Chew, Woodstown 17:38.66; Oluwanifemi Fadulu, Highland 17:51.16; Tyler Altman, Clearview 17:52.94; Chase Riley, Schalick 17:55.00; Jonathan Delicate, Williamstown 17:55.19; Jayden Denton, Washington Twp. 17:55.95.
GIRLS TOP 20
Sophia Aldridge, Williamstown 18:53.69; Aubrey Bishop, Kingsway 19:24.49; Abby Marino, Woodstown 20:29.48; Julia Burgio, Williamstown 20:59.32; Yazmire Bonhomme, Williamstown 21:18.99; Brooke Mashburn, Delsea 21:36.71; Olivia Mashburn, Delsea 21:37.01; Jordan Muczydlowski, GCIT 21:37.31; Isabella Moran, Delsea 21:40.50; Anabel Schaal, Woodstown 21:43.70; Julia Blanchard, Washington Twp. 21:51.95; Dakota Milou, Washington Twp. 22:08.80; Rhea Remaly, Clearview 22:11.01; Sofia Moran, Delsea 22:25.00; Lyana Gutierrez, Highland 22:31.55; Allison Reinherz, Washington Twp. 22:34.24; Ava Buchanan, Kingsway 22:36.59; Kate Yanek, Clearview 22:42.65; Layla Chain, Washington Twp. 22:48.94; Carli Sciotto, Washington Twp. 22:58.51.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech

WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE
FIELD HOCKEY
Paulsboro at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Glassboro at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Overbrook at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 3:45 p.m.
Salem at Overbrook, 4 p.m.