S.J. Roundup: Field hockey teams clinch titles

Tuesday was a banner day, as three South Jersey field hockey teams clinched division titles.

There were two celebrations in the Cape-Atlantic League, where ninth-ranked Ocean City (12-1 overall, 5-0 division) claimed the American Conference Division II crown with a 7-0 romp at Mainland, and Holy Spirit (11-1, 5-0) sewed up the National II championship by cruising to an 8-0 victory at Wildwood Catholic.

A little further inland, Delsea (11-1, 7-0) seized the Tri-County Conference Diamond Division by pounding visiting Pennsville, 5-0.

Tri-County. Courtney Branco and Jessica Loizeaux combined for five goals and two assists to power sixth-ranked Clearview's 8-0 rout of visiting Deptford.

Tenth-ranked Gloucester (12-0-1, 9-0), which had already wrapped up the Classic Division, continued its quest for perfection by turning back visiting Clayton, 3-0, thanks to an Angela Harris hat trick.

Cape-Atlantic. Allison Salvati's goal with under five minutes to go made host Hammonton a 2-1 winner over Oakcrest.

Maxie New and Morgan Durham each had a goal as Clayton clinched the Tri-County Conference Classic Division crown with a 2-0 home win over Pitman.

Sisters Amanda and Felicia Ricelli picked up assists, and goalie Valarie Perretti made seven saves for the Clippers (12-3, 8-0).

Burlington County. Host Palmyra nipped Pemberton, 2-1, on the strength of freshman Lauren Smith's first two varsity goals - including the game-winner midway through the second overtime.

Olympic. Madison Tiernan set up Kelsey Long's goal with 10 minutes to go, giving sixth-ranked Eastern (10-3, 4-1) a 1-0 victory at fourth-ranked Washington Township (8-5, 2-4).

Timber Creek coach Frank Torcasio celebrated his 100th career victory in the Chargers' 4-0 triumph over visiting Winslow Township.

Cape-Atlantic. Sophomore Kelly Williamson scored her first varsity goal with 3 seconds left in regulation, sending host Ocean City past Mainland, 1-0, and lifting the Red Raiders into the American Conference Division II lead.

Second-seeded Pitman relied on clutch performances at singles to oust No. 3 seed Gateway, 5-0, in a South Jersey Group 1 semifinal.

Melissa Hudock prevailed at first singles, 6-4, 5-7, 6-0, Avery Forte pulled out a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6) win at second singles, and Kelly Bates captured the third singles, 6-1, 2-6, 6-3.

South Jersey Group 4. The tandem of Kaila Gaughan and Danielle Sergiacomi fashioned a 6-4, 6-3 victory at second doubles, enabling top-seeded Millville to edge fourth-seeded Cherry Hill East, 3-2.

South Jersey Group 2. Lexi Turcich rallied to defeat Jennifer Villgood, 5-7, 6-4, 6-1, to take third singles and send No. 2 seed Haddon Township past third-seeded Woodstown, 4-1.

South Jersey Group 3. Top-seeded Moorestown raised its record to 17-2 by dispatching No. 5 seed Lower Cape May, 5-0, in a sectional semifinal.

South Jersey Non-Public A. Bianca Lin outlasted Melanie Soltis, 6-1, 4-6, 7-5, at third singles to help third-seeded Holy Spirit upend No. 2 seed Monsignor Donovan, 5-0.

South Jersey Non-Public B. Sophomore Madison Taormina's 6-2, 6-2 win at second singles was the highlight of top-seeded Moorestown Friends' 5-0 semifinal sweep of No. 5 seed Our Lady of Mercy.

BOYS ROUNDUP

Trevor Sharpe left-footed a chip shot for an overtime goal that put Cherry Hill West in control of the Olympic Conference Patriot Division boys' soccer race with a 2-1 win over visiting Shawnee Tuesday.

Sharpe, South Jersey's leading scorer with 18 goals this fall, scored in the first half, and Shawnee (7-5-1 overall, 4-1 division) answered with Kenan Gelfond's tying goal with seven minutes to go in regulation.

David Perrotti assisted Sharpe's game-winner four minutes into overtime, putting West (10-2, 6-0), ranked No. 9 in South Jersey by The Inquirer, alone atop the Patriot with two division games left, including another against the Renegades.

Also in the Olympic, Cherry Hill East (6-3-1) handed host Lenape (9-2-1) its first American Division loss this fall, 2-1, when Brett Morris converted a penalty kick and Brian Thompson scored the other Cougars goal. Fourth-ranked Lenape got a late goal by Steve Kramitz.

Fifth-rated Eastern was held to a 2-2 draw by visiting Washington Township. The Vikings' Marc Forman and Rob Wiacek traded first-half goals with Township's Kyle Jordan and Cameron Scotese.

Colonial. Haddonfield (11-2) won the battle for sole possession of second place behind West Deptford in the Liberty Division, 3-0, at Haddon Heights (8-2-1). Vince DeLuca and Alex Reinicker combined for 12 saves and the shutout in the Bulldogs' goal, and Taylor Gulbins, Alex Ostloye, and Mike Rusie knocked in the goals.

Lyle Muckley headed in a throw-in from Jim O'Donnell midway through the first half for the only goal Audubon needed to beat visiting Woodbury, 1-0.

Single goals by Jay Casey, Nick DellaValle, Conor Englebert and Chris Murphy carried Haddon Township past visiting Lindenwold, 4-2.

Tri-County. Cumberland (5-6-1) avenged an earlier 3-2 loss to Williamstown (7-4) by handing the visiting Braves a 2-0 upset loss. Andrew Ale scored off an assist by Keith Karol, and Mike Casper's insurance goal was set up by Tom Morris.

Cape-Atlantic. Mainland gave up a tying goal to Ocean City's Mark Miedama with just 25 seconds left in the second half, but the host Mustangs rallied to win, 2-1, on Michael D'Arrigo's overtime goal. D'Arrigo scored off an assist by Jason Schwab five minutes into the extra period.

Top-ranked St. Augustine found itself trailing host Oakcrest, 2-1, at halftime before rallying to win, 2-1. Ryan McFadden scored the game-winner with 14 minutes left on a rebound of his own shot.

Dom Crowell had two goals and an assist, including a header off a 70-yard free kick by goalie Tyler Callahan, and Stevan Austino added a goal and an assist as Buena beat visiting Holy Spirit, 3-1.

Absegami (8-3-1) clinched a Group 4 playoff berth with a 7-1 win over visiting Egg Harbor Township in which Eucario Solano had a goal and two assists.

Mitch Grotti handled the Millville offense by scoring both goals in a 2-0 shutout of visiting Atlantic City. Alex Gauntt assisted the first goal and Thunderbolts goalie Mike Cirocco made seven saves.

Burlington County. Rancocas Valley subdued host Cinnaminson, 4-1, as Dan Dwyer, Alec Golini, Sean Green and Scott Miller provided a goal apiece. Kyle Teschko assisted the Red Devils' first two goals.

Two goals each by Mike Villano and Jason Zahlow highlighted Bordentown's 5-1 success at Maple Shade.