Previewing the NJSIAA girls' soccer tournament
The NJSIAA girls' soccer tournament begins tomorrow with most first-round games taking place Tuesday. Here is a preview of the single-elimination tournament.
The NJSIAA girls' soccer tournament begins tomorrow with most first-round games taking place Tuesday. Here is a preview of the single-elimination tournament.
South Jersey Group 4
Defending champion:
Lenape.
Favorite:
No. 1-seeded Lenape.
Key contenders:
No. 2 Williamstown, No. 3 Rancocas Valley, No. 5 Cherokee.
Dark horse:
No. 11 Washington Township. The Minutemaids lost twice to Lenape, the last time by a 1-0 score.
Outlook:
Lenape takes a 19-0 record into today's 2 p.m. South Jersey Coaches Tournament final against Moorestown at Eastern and is the prohibitive favorite. The Indians have been nicked up, and only injuries could likely stop them from repeating.
South Jersey Group 3
Defending champion:
Moorestown.
Favorite:
No. 1-seeded Moorestown.
Key contenders:
No. 2 West Deptford, No. 3 Clearview, No. 4 Ocean City, No. 5 Seneca.
Dark horse:
No. 12 Shawnee has played a difficult schedule and if the Renegades could find a finisher, they could be dangerous.
Outlook:
Moorestown will be difficult to beat. The Quakers enter today's Coaches Tournament final against Lenape having won 10 in a row. The only question is whether reaching the final has taken a little out of Moorestown or if the Quakers will benefit from the competition in the state tournament.
South Jersey Group 2
Defending champion:
Haddonfield.
Favorite:
No. 4-seeded Cinnaminson. The Pirates haven't lost to a Group 2 school this year and will benefit from having played the likes of Moorestown, Rancocas Valley, Eastern and Holy Cross in the regular season.
Key contenders:
No. 1 Middle Township, No. 2 Haddon Township, No. 3 Haddonfield, No. 5 Haddon Heights.
Dark horse:
No. 6 Woodstown lost to Haddonfield, 3-2, in last year's sectional final, and the Wolverines have an explosive scorer in Tori Malpezzi (35 goals).
Outlook:
This one is wide open. It's always difficult to go against Haddonfield in the postseason, but Cinnaminson has played a stronger schedule (including a win over Moorestown), so the Pirates are the team to beat in this group.
South Jersey Group 1
Defending champion:
Pennsville.
Favorite:
No. 1-seeded Gateway.
Key contenders:
No. 2 Schalick, No. 3 Palmyra, No. 4 Riverside.
Dark horse:
No. 6 Glassboro. Playing the likes of Gloucester Catholic and Woodstown is good preparation for Glassboro.
Outlook:
Gateway hasn't lost to a Group 1 school this year and has wins over Group 3 West Deptford and Group 2 Haddon Township and Haddon Heights. Any other team emerging as champion would be a surprise.
South Jersey Non-Public A
Defending champion:
Gloucester Catholic.
Favorite:
No. 2-seeded Gloucester Catholic.
Key contenders:
No. 1 Monsignor Donovan, No. 3 Red Bank Catholic.
Dark horse:
No. 8 Paul VI. Don't be surprised if the Eagles upset top-seeded Monsignor Donovan. After playing the likes of Lenape, Cherokee and Bishop Eustace, the Eagles will be prepared for the postseason. Also, No. 7 Holy Spirit was a preseason top-10 team, and the Spartans could provide stiffer-than-expected first-round competition for Gloucester Catholic.
Outlook:
Gloucester Catholic suffered its first loss, 4-3, last Sunday to Moorestown in a Coaches Tournament semifinal. The Rams must tighten up defensively. But led by junior attacking midfielder Chelsea Duffy, Gloucester Catholic is poised to defend its title despite fielding a relatively young team.
South Jersey Non-Public B
Defending champion:
Bishop Eustace.
Favorite:
No. 1-seeded Bishop Eustace.
Key contenders:
No. 2 Holy Cross, No. 3 Our Lady of Mercy.
Dark horse:
None.
Outlook:
Anything but a Eustace-Holy Cross final would be a major surprise. Eustace gets the slight edge due to having one of the state's top goalies, senior Sara Keene.
Note.
Delran is the No. 7 seed in Central Jersey Group 2 and is considered a long shot. Still, playing in the Burlington County Liberty Division should prepare the Bears well.