S. Jersey Girls: Moorestown tennis advances

Moorestown, a runner-up in the NJSIAA state girls' tennis tournament the last two seasons, kept its championship hopes alive yesterday by sweeping Cumberland, 5-0, in a South Jersey Group 3 semifinal.

The top-seeded Quakers (16-4) were buoyed by the play of several underclassmen, with sophomore Paulina Malts, freshman Emma Allen and junior Lexi Gertie winning at singles.

Moorestown's opponent in tomorrow's sectional final will be No. 2 seed Ocean City - a 4-1 winner over third-seeded Shawnee.

The key match came at first doubles, where the Red Raiders' tandem of Tamera Lalovic-Cox and Kelsey Boylan survived, 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 6-2.

South Jersey Group 2.

Spencer Ng set the tone for top-seeded Haddonfield with a 6-1, 6-0 victory at first singles, as the Bulldogs (24-2) went on to eliminate fourth-seeded Buena, 4-1.

Haddonfield will face seventh-seeded Haddon Heights in an all-Colonial Conference sectional championship tomorrow at Haddon Township. The Garnets advanced with a 3-2 victory over sixth-seeded Middle Township, getting the clincher in Danielle DelBuono's 7-6 (7-1), 6-0 decision at third singles.

South Jersey Group 4.

After dropping the first singles match, third-seeded Washington Township stormed back to oust No. 7 seed Egg Harbor Township, 4-1.

The tandem of Erica Venuti and Janel Eldridge finished things off with a 6-2, 6-3 victory at second doubles for the Minutemaids, who will meet top-seeded Cherry Hill East in tomorrow's sectional title match.

The Cougars outlasted fourth-seeded Millville, 3-2, with Dyuti Das and Jamie Silverberg winning at singles, and Christina Belliz and Allison Burkhardt prevailing at first doubles.

South Jersey Group 1.

Third-seeded Schalick (11-1) swept all three singles matches - behind Katie Gheysens, Victoria Bagden and Dana Carty - to take a 3-2 semifinal victory at second-seeded Pitman.

The Cougars next will take on top-seeded Pennsville, which rolled over Burlington City, 5-0, on Monday.

South Jersey Non-Public B.

Sarah Durham's 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 triumph at first singles helped third-seeded Sacred Heart upend No. 2 seed Bishop Eustace, 31/2-11/2, sending the Lions to the sectional final tomorrow.

Colleen Convery and Dominique Gnatowski pulled out a 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 win at first doubles to provide a highlight for No. 4 seed Moorestown Friends, which was eliminated, 4-1, at top-seeded Ranney School.

South Jersey Non-Public A.

Kelsey Frost and Nicole Rosenau pulled out a 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 win at first doubles to help third-seeded Holy Spirit (13-1) upset second-seeded St. John Vianney, 4-1.

The Spartans' next challenge comes in tomorrow's title match against top-seeded Red Bank Catholic.

One week after being elevated from the junior varsity, sophomore striker Taylor Lumpkin scored twice to help Rancocas Valley hand host Cinnaminson its first loss of the season, 2-0.

Sarah Ginn came through with 15 saves for the Red Devils, who improved to 9-2 overall and 7-1 in the Burlington County League's Liberty Division. Cinnaminson (9-1-1, 6-1) had its eight-game winning streak snapped.

In other Burlington County League matches:

Host Riverside knocked off Willingboro, 3-2, behind goals by Christina Martins, Marisa Palino and Courtney Monaco.

Megan Harvest had a hat trick to lead Delran to a 5-1 victory at Burlington City.

Kristen Bradley's goal early in the second half proved to be the difference for host Medford Tech in a 1-0 win over Florence. Kaitlyn Schatz made 13 saves to earn the shutout.

Tri-County.

Senior Brittni Bernardini had a hat trick, boosting her team-leading season total to 15 goals, as Schalick clinched at least a tie for the Classic Division title with a 5-0 win at Gloucester.

Cape-Atlantic.

Middle Township remained in command in the National Conference Division I standings, thanks to a 3-0 victory at Bridgeton. The Panthers (6-0) mounted a 17-shot assault, led by Marina Mangano's two goals.

Liz Ker picked up her fourth consecutive game-winning goal, putting in her own rebound with 6 minutes left in regulation to make Ocean City a 1-0 winner at Mainland. Julie Burnell made five saves to earn the shutout for the Red Raiders (4-0), who clinched at least a share of the American Conference Division II crown.

Friends Schools.

Brianna Howarth's penalty kick in the first overtime period put host Moorestown Friends ahead to stay, as the host Foxes outscored Shipley, 6-4.

Kingsway turned up its attack in the second half to pull away to a 4-1 victory at Highland, giving the Dragons their sixth consecutive Tri-County Conference Royal Division crown.

Caitlin Jenkins, Jillian Minix, Aubrey Coleman and Christina Wallace supplied the scoring for Kingsway, which improved to 9-0 in the division.

Netminder Alexis Merlino turned aside 20 shots to keep the Tartans (1-6-2) close for a half.

In other Tri-County action:

Ashlee Willis set up Alexis Mazzeo's goal early in the second half, and Lauren DiBona made five saves to send host Glassboro past Schalick, 1-0.

Delsea's (4-1-2) bid to take the Diamond Division title was hurt by a scoreless draw at Pennsville, as Woodstown (4-0-3) leaped over the Crusaders into first place with a 2-0 triumph at Penns Grove. Ryann Dyer and Kate Hill scored for the Wolverines.

Clearview blanked host Deptford, 6-0, with Allison Kearsley stopping nine shots while Courtney Branco and Krysta Aliberti scored two goals apiece.

Cape-Atlantic.

Ocean City is assured of at least a share of the American Conference Division II title after the host Red Raiders dispatched Mainland, 4-1.

Lauren Price had a hat trick for Ocean City (5-0).

The American Conference Division I championship is still up for grabs, after host Millville (3-1-1) and Absegami (2-1-2) failed to score in their match.

Colonial.

Liberty Division bragging rights remain up for grabs, as Haddonfield (10-0-3) and host West Deptford (10-1-1) played to a 2-2 tie.

Liz Rexon's goal with 50 seconds remaining in regulation pulled the visiting Bulldogs even.

Gateway closed the gap on first-place Audubon (9-4), as the Gators (7-5-1) pulled out a 1-0 road win on Liz Hiddeman's goal with nine minutes left in the second half.

Olympic.

Held scoreless on four shots in the first half, Eastern mounted a brutal attack after intermission to put away host Camden Catholic, 3-0. Kelsey Mitchell scored the first of her two goals less than two minutes into the second half, and Gabby Kozlowski added an insurance goal against Stephany Colombo, who took over the Irish cage at halftime and came through with 15 saves.

Friends Schools.

Kelly Barna had a goal and two assists for visiting Moorestown Friends in a 6-0 win at Westtown (Pa.).