South Jersey Girls' Soccer Tournament Preview
The South Jersey girls' soccer tournament begins this week. Like the boys, teams will only play for a sectional title. There will be no state championships.
Here is a preview:
Southwest Group A (Group 1 Schools)
First round: Nov. 16
Championship: Nov. 22
Teams: (1) Pitman, (16) Willingboro, (9) Clayton, (8) Gateway, (5) Woodstown, (12) Florence, (13) Riverside, (4) Haddon Township, (3) Schalick, (14) Gloucester, (6) Woodbury, (7) Palmyra, (10) Penns Grove, (15) Overbrook, (2) Pennsville.
Outlook: Watch out for No. 4 seed Haddon Township which benefited from playing in the difficult Colonial Liberty and has one of the top players in South Jersey, midfielder Sydney Farnham. No. 3 Schalick just beat Pitman, so the Cougars will be a real threat.
Southwest Group B (Mainly Group 2)
First round: Nov. 16
Championship: Nov. 22
Teams: (1) Haddonfield, (9) Audubon, (8) Haddon Heights, (5) Bordentown, (12) Cinnaminson, (4) Delsea, (3) Collingswood, (11) Sterling, (6) Pemberton, (7) Delran, (10) West Deptford, (2) Maple Shade.
Outlook: Maple Shade and Audubon are the two Group 1 schools in this section. Haddonfield, the defending SJ Group 2 champ, is the favorite. Coach Lori Quintavalle has 15 seniors, some quality young players and the Bulldogs are ready to defend their crown. West Deptford has split two games with Haddonfield and bears watching. Audubon, the state Group 1 champ in 2018, has one of the top keepers in Aysiah Maldonado, so the Green Wave can't be overlooked, but if they beat dangerous Haddon Heights in the first round, they would have to face Haddonfield in the quarterfinals.
Southwest Group C (Group 3)
First round: Nov. 16
Championship: Nov. 22
Teams: (1) GCIT, (9) Seneca, (8) Northern Burlington, (5) Cherry Hill West, (4) Moorestown, (3) Deptford, (6) Highland, (7) Triton, (10) Timber Creek, (2) Burlington Township.
Outlook: Burlington Township, with an earlier win over Moorestown is a major contender. Moorestown is as well. GCIT will be a formidable top seed, having begun the week 10-1 with the only loss to Group 4 Williamstown.
Southwest Group D (Group 4)
First round: Nov. 16
Championship: Nov. 22
Teams; (1) Eastern, (9) Cherry Hill East, (8) Kingsway, (5) Cherokee, (4) Williamstown, (3) Shawnee, (6) Rancocas Valley, (7) Clearview, (10) Lenape, (2) Washington Township.
Outlook: Eastern is the clear favorite. The Vikings are the defending SJ Group 4 champs and began the week 12-0, led by 12-goal scorer Riley Tiernan. If any team defeats Eastern, it will be considered a big upset.
Southwest Group E (Non-Public)
First round: Nov. 16
Championship: Nov. 22
Teams: (1) Holy Cross, (5) Paul VI, (4) Bishop Eustace, (3) Camden Catholic, (6) Gloucester Catholic, (2) Our Lady of Mercy.
Outlook: The three rivals from the Olympic Conference, Paul VI, Bishop Eustace and Camden Catholic are teams to watch. Eustace beat Camden Catholic and tied Paul VI. The Crusaders also are the only team to get within a goal of Eastern, losing 1-0. Holy Cross could be a team to watch, but hasn’t played the schedule of the Olympic Conference schools.
Southeast Group A (Group 1, 2, Non-Public)
First round: Nov. 16
Championship: Nov. 22
Teams: (1) Middle Township, (9) Wildwood, (8) Lower Cape May, (5) Wildwood Catholic, (4) Cedar Creek, (3) Holy Spirit, (6) Buena, (7) Cumberland, (2) Oakcrest.
Outlook: This is a section for teams located at or near the Jersey Shore. Middle Township is a worth No. 1 seed, having lost to just Group 4 Millville and Group 3 Ocean City. Oakcrest entered the week 7-1-1 and the only loss was to rival Absegami. Wildwood Catholic only lost by a goal to Middle Township. This is a very balanced section, where a number of teams could contend.
Southeast Group B (Group 3 and 4)
First round: Nov. 16
Championship: Nov. 22
Teams: (1) Millville, (9) Atlantic City Institute of Technology, (8) Bridgeton, (5) Egg Harbor Township, (4) Absegami, (3) Mainland, (6) Hammonton, (7) Vineland, (2) Ocean City.
Outlook: Top seeded Millville began the week 8-1 with the only loss to powerhouse Eastern. The Thunderbolts are the favorites, but Ocean City should also make a run at this section which is for teams at or near the Jersey Shore.
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