Big rematch for Moorestown, RV

Moments after Moorestown edged visiting Rancocas Valley, 1-0, on Sept. 24, losing goalkeeper Teresa Mathews already was thinking about the next meeting of the two Burlington County Liberty Division teams.

"Next time we see them, we will be completely different," the junior three-year starter said after turning away 12 of 13 shots.

That next time is tomorrow at RV, and players on both sides are on high alert. The winner will likely run the table and capture the division crown.

"Losing is not an option," Moorestown goalie Sydney Hyder said. "We want to win the division back."

Northern Burlington is the defending champion, and both Moorestown and Rancocas Valley have beaten the Greyhounds. But Moorestown is aching to get back the title it held the year before, when Hyder and fellow senior Karli Tobin became starters.

"We have been using practices and games to improve with this [game] in mind," Hyder said. "We had been winning by 1-0, and the offense got fed up. The offense has been pushing hard, and it has been showing."

After beating RV, the Quakers won their next four games by averaging 31/2 goals a game and allowing only one goal overall.

Meanwhile, Rancocas Valley, which had zero shots on Hyder last month, has increased its goal production, too. The Red Devils averaged three goals a game over the next five, during which Mathews allowed only two goals.

"The team is boosting its intensity," Rancocas Valley senior forward Shelby Aaronson said. "We were flat in bringing up the ball the last time. We weren't aggressive in the attacking circle.

"We've been trying to fix the mistakes in the Moorestown game and bring what we learned to other games we've been playing."

When Cherry Hill West travels to Pennsauken Saturday for an Olympic Conference Patriot Division game, memories of their last meeting, on Sept. 17, will fuel the action.

Visiting Pennsauken nipped the Lions, 1-0, in overtime, prompting both sides to promise more intensity this time.

Carrying the action into overtime was a morale booster for West, an inexperienced team whose only victory was against Winslow Township, 2-1, on Oct. 3.

"Knowing that we tied in regulation will make the girls want to work harder," said senior back Laura Flanagan, the only four-year starter for West. "We kept them at 0-0 in regular time so we should be able to beat them."

West coach Heidi Brunswick said only 16 players dress for West.

Pennsauken dresses 25 players, and the Indians' goal is to make the playoffs. So every victory is precious in a division dominated by Shawnee.

Freshman forward Alexis Ammons scored Pennsauken's winning goal the last time, so West's defense will be paying attention to her and senior forward Brianna Benjamin, the team's top scorer.

The cutoff date for the playoffs is Oct. 22. Teams must have a .500 record or better to qualify. . . . Williamstown's Justine Mattia has been leading South Jersey in scoring. The junior forward had 16 goals through Monday. . . . Pitman senior center forward Brittany Creighton was the most valuable player on offense at the third annual Madelyn Chiomento Tournament. Clearview's Allison Kearsley was the MVP for the defense.

Lisa Patrone's No. 13 has become an unlucky number for most opposing teams this season because the Washington Township junior midfielder is so difficult to stop. Patrone scored the winning goal as well as the one that tied No. 3 Shawnee in a dramatic, 3-2, come-from-behind victory Oct. 1 in an Olympic Conference interdivisional game.

"I want a goal right now," Kingsway coach Sara Lewis said with 9 minutes, 26 seconds remaining in the first half of a scoreless tie with visiting Williamstown on Saturday.

Frustrated by the Dragons' inability to finish, Lewis had to wait about eight minutes. That's when Caitlyn Jenkins scored the first of her two goals. Kingsway won, 3-1.

Lisa Santarpio has made good use of her softball catcher skills for the Pennsauken field hockey team.

The senior, who missed last season with an illness, returned to the cage this year and has been a steadying force. Indians coach Christine Wetzel, who convinced Santarpio to try goaltending, said a catcher's strength and confidence are just what's needed between the pipes.

Furthermore, catchers don't complain about wearing bulky protective equipment.

Haddonfield first-year coach and Collingswood alumna Lindsay Kocher said she felt weird getting off a school bus as a visitor to the field on which she played for three years.

Nevertheless, when the whistle blew on Sept. 15, old memories faded fast and new ones emerged as the Bulldogs won, 3-2, by scoring with 26 seconds remaining in the game. Haddonfield leads the pack in the Colonial Conference Liberty Division.

Team Record

Records through Tuesday. Last week's rank in parentheses.

1.

Washington Twp. (1) 9-1

2.

Eastern (2) 9-2

3.

Shawnee (3) 8-3

4.

Ocean City (4) 8-0-1

5.

Moorestown (5) 9-1

6.

Bishop Eustace (8) 9-0

7.

Glassboro (6) 10-1

8.

Haddonfield (9) 9-0-1

9.

Collingswood (NR) 8-1-1

10.

Camden Cath. (NR) 6-3-1

Under consideration (listed alphabetically):

Delran (7-0-1), Kingsway (7-3), Rancocas Valley (8-2-1), St. Joseph (7-2-1), West Deptford (8-1-1).

- Rick O'Brien