Pennsville boys soccer scores first win over Pitman since 2017, and other sports results from around Salem County
WESTAMPTON – Every bit of conventional wisdom would tell you the Salem Tech cross country runners should have been spent. Like sending a relief pitcher out to the mound for a third day in a row, there shouldn’t have been anything left. But the Chargers saw a unique opportunity and literally found another gear.
Levi Seals and Anthony Morano went 3-4, respectively and the Chargers placed all five counters in the top 10, to win their first ever South Jersey Vo-Tech Championship at Westampton Tech Wednesday – one day after clinching its fifth straight TCC Classic Division title.
The Chargers finished with 29 points. GCIT and Camden Vo-Tech both scored 66 points. Medford Tech was fourth with 67 points.
“I was impressed with the guys,” Chargers coach Matt DiTizio said. “(Defending race champion) GCIT on a normal day, they would’ve had us for sure, but they were in a tough race yesterday, too.
“We saw an opportunity we don’t normally have, so we went for it. I figured it might be tight with some of the teams there, but there was just too much of an opportunity there and the guys really wanted to go for it. I gave them the green light and they took advantage of it.”
Seals hit the finish in 17:57.21; he’s run faster before, but his time here was six seconds faster than he ran in Tuesday’s TCC Batch Meet. Morano finished in 18:45.16. Jean-Pierre Pozo (19:02.69), Joseph MacNeil (19:11.23) and Chase Pompper (19:32.05) all finished in the top 10, with Pozo and MacNeil both posting faster times than the day before. Medford Tech’s Chris Davis won the race in 17:42.00.
“It’s a lot on a runner to have them push like that two days in a row,” DiTizio said. “I felt this group had what it took to win it and push through a back-to-back race. They showed how tough they are and I am super proud of how they performed. They all ran a solid race”
The Salem Tech girls finished third in their race, behind winner GCIT and Medford Tech. Sophomore Paityn Harrington (26:21.34) and Abigail Vanaman (26:41.51) finished fourth and fifth, respectively, for the Chargers. Medford Tech’s Hailey Fedezko won the race in 24:48.15.
Boys soccer
PENNSVILLE — Sam Hassler scored off an indirect free kick from Lucas Cooksey in the 35th minute to give his team a two-goal lead and Pennsville “held on like crazy” in the second half to end a long losing streak against Pitman, 2-1.
It was the Eagles’ first win over the Panthers since 2017, ending a 12-game winless streak. The Eagles last win over Pitman came in the first meeting of the 2017 season, 4-3 at Alcyon Park. The teams played to a scoreless tie last year.
Justin Michaca scored Pennsville’s first goal on a penalty kick in the 20th minute. Pitman’s goal also came on a PK, by Jonas Drum, with 20 minutes left in regulation. Lochlann Hooks kept the out the rest of the game, making 15 saves total.
“I respect coach (Matt) Newcomb and the Pitman program a lot, so to get a first win against them feels like a big accomplishment,” Pennsville coach Derek Foglein said. “We’ve had a lot of firsts for our program recently. Just goes to show how far we’ve come.”
Girls soccer
SCHALICK 7, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 0: Karlie Bakley, Nicolette Bloomer and Olivia Vanacker all scored twice and Izzy Desantis tallied once as the Cougars (7-1) erupted for seven goals in the first half. The shutout was the Cougars’ sixth of the season and second in as many days
WOODSTOWN 2, PITMAN 0: Korynn Hernandez and Mariah Hyman scored goals in the first half as the Wolverines bounced back from a tough loss to arch-rival Schalick a day before. Hernandez now has 13 goals in her freshman season.
Field hockey
SCHALICK 10, SALEM 0: Luci Virga scored two goals and eight other players scored once as the Cougars won their seventh straight and second in a row by a 10-0 score. After being shutout in their first two games of the season, the Cougars have outscored their opponents 41-4.
“After adjusting our formation a few times, we finally found what works for us,” Cougars coach Heather Cheesman said.
HAMMONTON 2, WOODSTOWN 0: Lucia Donio scored two goals in the fourth quarter to help the Blue Devils extend their unbeaten streak to six games and snap Woodstown’s six-game winning streak.
OVERBROOK 2, PENNSVILLE 0: The Rams applied relentless pressure on Pennsville goalie Kelsey Cook, but only Lucylaine Bannan and Cadence Burr could get it past the junior keeper.
Girls tennis
PENNSVILLE 4, DAYTON 1: The recently paired tandem of Mariangela Rangel and Yasary Clemente Brito won a straight set victory at second doubles to clinch the Eagles’ victory in the play-in round of the South Jersey Group 1 Tournament.
The 10th-seeded Eagles (9-3) now travel to seventh-seeded Woodbridge Magnet Thursday for a first-round match.
The Eagles swept the three singles matches for their other points. Naomi Hess and Jaisley Weber won in straight sets, while No. 1 singles Graillyn Weber won a 10-5 third-set tiebreaker.