June (ALL GRADE LEVELS WELCOME — ALL DATES)

Monday 26th: Small-Sided Games @ CH West [3-5PM]

Tuesday 27th — Wednesday 28th: Training @ Scout Field [4-6PM]

July (ALL GRADE LEVELS WELCOME — ALL DATES)

Wednesday 5th — Friday 7th: Training @ Scout Field [4-6PM]

Monday 10th: Small-Sided Games @ CH West [3-5PM]

Tuesday 11th — Thursday 13th: Training @ Scout Field [3-5PM]

Monday 17th: Small-Sided Games @ CH West [3-5PM]

Tuesday 18th — Thursday 20th: HMHS Boys Soccer Booster Camp @ Scout Field [11AM-2PM]

Monday 24th: Small-Sided Games @ CH West [3-5PM]

Tuesday 25th — Thursday 27th: Training @ Scout Field [4-6PM]

Monday 31st — Thursday August 3rd: Washington Twp Team Camp @ WTHS [8-11AM]

August/September (ALL GRADE LEVELS BEGIN NJSIAA PRESEASON CAMP ON 21ST)

Friday August 4th — Sunday August 20th: OFF

Monday 21st — Saturday 26th: NJSIAA Preseason Camp (ALL GRADE LEVELS) [times/sites TBA]

Sunday 27th: OFF

Monday 28th — Friday September 1st: NJSIAA Preseason Camp (ALL GRADE LEVELS) [times/sites TBA]

Saturday 2nd — Sunday 3rd: OFF

Monday 4th: NJSIAA Preseason Camp (ALL GRADE LEVELS) [5-8PM/site TBA]

***Please note dates and times subject to change based on weather or other unforeseen circumstances***

Haddonfield Bulldawgs
 

Players to watch: Haddonfield suffered big losses to graduation, including leading scorer Christian Ball, No. 1 goalie Joe Lamb and three of the four starters on defense. But the returning roster is still loaded with talent and it will be interesting to see how it develops. Offensively, the Bulldawgs will be paced by junior forwards Jack Walters (five goals, three assists), Andrew Guveiyian (four goals, seven assists) and Andrew O’Donnell (four goals, three game-winners). All three bring different skills to the attacking third and are capable of sparking the attack on any given day. Junior Darragh Roddy has been a starter since his freshman year and is the lone returning all-conference first-team selection. He is expected to quarterback the defense but can also contribute in the midfield and will surely add some goals on set pieces. Senior John Sheehan will contribute on the back line or as a defensive midfielder, while senior Matt Murschell is a dangerous player on the wing and sophomore Michael McCool could settle in at center midfield after earning a varsity letter as a freshman. Juniors Brady Norton and Alex Goldman will contend for the starting goalie job and newcomers to watch are junior forward Daniel Goetter, junior midfielder Sam Carlson and sophomore midfielder/back Liam Grega.

Outlook: The Bulldawgs got off to an 0-3 start in 2021, all against Colonial Conference Liberty Division opponents, but rebounded to win nine in a row in the conference and finished second in the division. They had impressive wins over West Deptford, Sterling and Schalick, a scoreless tie against Clearview and earned a playoff victory before falling in the sectional quarterfinals. There are certainly important spots to fill but Haddonfield expects to be a contender in the division.

John A. Lewis

Burlington County Times

The preseason Mean 15 comes with the usual caveats (some would say excuses). It's just hard to get a read, based on who's back and who graduated. Every team starts with high hopes and it has a way of shaking out properly in the end. There are some teams here on prove-it deals, and some teams just outside – Delsea, Hammonton, Middle Township, Millville, Vineland, West Deptford: same goes.

Here's where we stand at the jumping-off point:

1. Delran (21-2-2 last year, BCSL Liberty Division and Group 2 state champion)

First five: hosts Northern Burlington Thursday, at St. Augustine Saturday, hosts Kingsway (9/13), at Christian Brothers (9/16), hosts Burlington Township (9/21).

2. Cinnaminson (19-2-2 last year, BCSL Patriot Division and South Jersey Coaches Tournament champion)

First five: at Holy Cross Thursday, hosts Haddonfield Saturday, at Burlington Township (9/12), at Bordentown (9/14), hosts Northern Burlington (9/16).

3. Kingsway (16-3-1 last year, Tri-County Royal Division co-champion)

First five: at Williamstown Friday, at Delran (9/13), hosts Triton (9/15), at Washington Township (9/19), hosts Gloucester Tech (9/21).

4. Cherokee (13-5-1 last year)

First five: at Cherry Hill West Thursday, hosts Moorestown (9/13), at Eastern (9/15), hosts Delsea (9/17), at Cherry Hill East (9/20).

5. Shawnee (14-2-2 last year, Olympic Conference American Division champion)

First five: hosts Paul VI Thursday, at Seneca (9/13), at Cherry Hill East (9/17), hosts Cherry Hill West (9/20), at Moorestown (9/22)

6. Clearview (14-5-4 last year, Tri-County Royal Division co-champion)

First five: at Eastern Friday, at Gloucester Tech (9/13), hosts Deptford (9/15), at St. Augustine (9/17), hosts Cumberland (9/19).

7. Egg Harbor (13-7 last year, Cape-Atlantic American Division co-champion)

First five: at Bridgeton Thursday, hosts St. Augustine (9/13), at Vineland (9/15), hosts Millville (9/19).

8. Sterling (18-3-1 last year, Colonial Liberty Division champion)

First five: Collingswood (9/12), at Haddonfield (9/16), at West Deptford (9/20), hosts Gloucester (9/28), hosts Audubon (10/4).

9. Haddonfield (11-6-2 last year)

First five: at Haddon Township Thursday, at Cinnaminson Saturday, hosts West Deptford (9/12), at Collingswood (9/14), hosts Sterling (9/16).

10. St. Augustine (14-5-1 last year, Cape-Atlantic National Division champion)

First five: hosts Atlantic Tech Thursday, hosts Delran Saturday, at Egg Harbor (9/13), hosts Hammonton (9/15), hosts Clearview (9/17).

11. Washington Township (14-4-1 last year)

First five: hosts Gloucester Tech Friday, hosts Williamstown (9/13), hosts Schalick (9/16), hosts Kingsway (9/19), at Clearview (9/21).

12. Cherry Hill West (13-8-2 last year, Olympic Conference National Division champion, Group 3 state finalist)

First five: hosts Cherokee Thursday, at Camden Catholic (9/13), hosts Rancocas Valley (9/15), at Williamstown (9/17), at Shawnee (9/20).

13. Paul VI (12-7-1 last year)

First five: at Shawnee Thursday, hosts Camden Tech (9/13), at Bishop Eustace (9/15), at Winslow (9/20), hosts Seneca (9/22).

14. Haddon Township (16-7-1 last year, Group 1 state runner-up)

First five: hosts Haddonfield Thursday, at West Deptford (9/16), at Collingswood (9/20), hosts Gloucester (9/22), at Cedar Creek (9/23).

15. Ocean City (13-5) last year

First five: hosts Pleasantville Thursday, at Cedar Creek 9/13, hosts Pitman (9/16), at Mainland (9/19), hosts Absegami (9/23).

Which teams made the boys' soccer Mean 15 for Sept. 27?

John A. Lewis

Burlington County Times

So what do you do if the top 15 teams in South Jersey combine to lose 12 games in a week?

You turn the list over, of course. Rancocas Valley, Ocean City and Middle Township -- all undefeated squads -- were big climbers this week, which is as it should be; they're all undefeated. The Red Devils, who jumped all the way from 11th to third in the poll, have conceded just one goal in seven games this season, and are still going to be hard-pressed to keep that lofty position. Second-ranked Cherokee, No. 6 Shawnee and No. 9 Haddonfield are all lurking on their schedule in the next two weeks.

Cherokee climbed to No. 2 with a pair of one-goal wins and has taken five in a row since a 1-1 draw with Cherry Hill West on opening day.

Sterling, Clearview and Cherry Hill West fell out this week. Clearview rode the coal chute all the way down from No. 3, with losses to a pair of unranked teams. West had a loss to Shawnee and a scoreless draw with crosstown rival Cherry Hill East on the docket this week. The Lions have some business to take care of in the Olympic National this week, but they'll get a chance to play themselves back into the rankings when they host Cinnaminson on Oct. 17.

1. Cinnaminson (5-0-1, No. 1 last week) Idle this week.

NEXT: hosts Shawnee Tuesday, at Pennsauken Wednesday, hosts Delran Friday and Palmyra Monday.

Pereira's overtime strike lifts Cinnaminson to 4-0

2. Cherokee (5-0-1, No. 7 last week) beat Cherry Hill East, 2-1 and Washington Township, 2-1. Senior forward Miguel Graterol has five goals in as many games.

3. Rancocas Valley (7-0, No. 11 last week) beat Moorestown, 6-0, Eastern, 2-1 and West Deptford, 1-0. Senior forward Eddy Rivera has six goals in six games.

NEXT: hosts Cherry Hill East, Thursday, at Cherokee Saturday.

4. St. Augustine (6-1-1, No. 2 last week) beat Vineland, 5-3, lost to Millville, 1-0. The Hermits allowed three total goals in wins against three ranked teams, and three against the Fighting Clan.

5. Delran (3-2-2, No. 4 last week) beat Burlington Township, 2-1 and Moorestown, 3-0. The Bears have won 11 straight from Burlington Township, whose last goal in the series came from Hunter Klosinski in 2019.

NEXT: at Paul VI Tuesday, at Cinnaminson Friday, at Kearny Saturday, at Clearview Monday.

6. Shawnee (3-1-2, No. 8 last week) beat Cherry Hill West, 1-0; lost to Moorestown, 1-0. Shawnee hadn't played Moorestown in 20 years and hadn't lost to them since 2000 -- David Carvahlo scored the lone goal in a 1-0 Quakers' win in a Coaches Tournament semifinal on Nov. 5 of that year. Shawnee coach Ryan Franks played in that game.

NEXT: at Cinnaminson Tuesday; hosts Eastern Thursday.

7. Ocean City (6-0-1, No. 15 last week) beat Absegami, 4-0; tied Oakcrest, 1-1. Ocean City has won its first six games in each of the last three seasons, but gone 0-2-1 in the seventh.

NEXT: at Pleasantville Wednesday; hosts Cedar Creek Friday; at Lower Cape May Monday.

8. Middle Township (8-0, No. 14 last week) beat Wildwood Catholic, 7-1, Atlantic City, 5-2 and Buena, 1-0. Township's last 8-0 start came in 2016, when the Panthers won their first 10 games.

NEXT: hosts Lower Cape May Wednesday, at St. Joseph's Hammonton Thursday.

9. Haddonfield (4-3, No. 10 last week) beat Haddon Heights, 3-0 and Lindenwold, 7-0. Andrew Guveiyian had three goals in those two games and has five for the season.

Haddonfield holds off West Deptford

10. Hammonton (5-2-2, not ranked last week) beat Millville, 2-1, Seneca, 2-1 and Egg Harbor, 3-1. John Waddell scored in all three of those games and has five goals in his last four.

NEXT: at Bridgeton Friday; hosts St. Augustine Monday.

Quick-starting Hammonton gets by Egg Harbor Township

11. Egg Harbor Township (6-2, No. 6 last week) beat Atlantic Tech, 6-1 and Lenape, 4-1; lost to Hammonton, 3-1. The Eagles had won five in a row and conceded just three goals in the process before Monday's loss.

NEXT: hosts Bridgeton Wednesday; at St. Augustine Friday; hosts Kingsway Saturday and Vineland Monday.

12. Millville (3-2, not ranked last week) lost to Hammonton, 2-1, beat Bridgeton, 2-0 and St. Augustine, 1-0. Shaun McCarthy's goal against St. Augustine was Millville's first against the Hermits in nine games, going back to 2016. St. Augustine had won 12 straight from the Thunderbolts by a combined 35-3 score.

NEXT: hosts Vineland Wednesday, at Williamstown Friday, hosts Atlantic Tech Monday.

Vineland's DeLeon gets a leg up with different approach to goalkeeping

13. Florence (7-0-1, not ranked last week) beat Holy Cross, 5-1 and Northern Burlington, 3-2. Florence has scored 30 goals in its first eight games. Chris Krall has eight of them.

NEXT: at Bordentown Thursday.

14. Paul VI (2-2-1, No. 13 last week) beat Winslow, 11-2, lost to Seneca, 2-1 and Holy Ghost Prep, 2-1. Nine different players scored in the win over Winslow. The last time that happened was in a playoff win over Wildwood Catholic in 2020. Two Eagles -- Landon Sentak and Jared Hollis, both juniors -- scored in both of those games.

15. Kingsway (3-2, No. 5 last week) lost to Gloucester Tech, 3-2. Dean Martin's four goals lead the Dragons.

NEXT: hosts Clearview Tuesday, at Salesianum (Delaware) Thursday, at Egg Harbor Township Saturday, hosts Williamstown Monday.

Kingsway's Hidric favors Highway 1 as he launches counterattacks from his own end

The next three: Clearview (3-2-2, No. 3 last week) Haddon Township (6-1, not ranked last week) and Washington Township (3-3, not ranked last week)

John A. Lewis is a sports writer for the Burlington County Times, the Courier Post and the Vineland Daily Journal. E-mail him at jlewis@thebct.com. Please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription.

Shawnee is the new top team, in the South Jersey Mean 15, and earned that perch the old fashioned way: the Renegades beat top-ranked Cinnaminson and then second-ranked Cherokee.

Middle Township – not ranked in the initial poll – has climbed all the way to No. 2, by virtue of a 10-0 start that includes wins over West Deptford and Hammonton.

Cherokee slipped one place, to No. 3, followed by Rancocas Valley, Delran, and the former No. 1 squad, Cinnaminson.

Florence fell out this week after its loss to Bordentown and hey – why hasn't Bordentown been in this discussion?

Here is a look at this week's Mean 15:

1. Shawnee (6-1-2, No. 6 last week)

beat Cinnaminson, 6-1, Eastern, 1-0 and Cherokee, 2-1. Sean McFadden's hat trick against Cinnaminson was the first in three years by a Shawnee player – since Aidan Lewis put in three against Timber Creek on Oct. 14, 2019

NEXT: hosts Cherokee Tuesday; at Washington Township Saturday, hosts Rancocas Valley Tuesday.

Conger a game changer at the very least, as Shawnee grabs lead in Olympic American

2. Middle Township (10-0, No. 8 last week)

beat Lower Cape May, 4-0 and St. Joseph (Hammonton), 7-0, and has now shut out five opponents this season. Township's 10-0 start is its best since the 2016 team won its first 10.

NEXT: at Cape May Tech Wednesday; hosts Wildwood Catholic Friday.

3. Cherokee (7-1-1, No. 2 last week)

Beat Camden Catholic, 6-0 and Rancocas Valley, 1-0; lost to Shawnee, 2-1. Miguel Graterol scored twice against the Irish and has eight goals this season.

NEXT: at Shawnee Tuesday, at Cinnaminson Thursday at Bishop Eustace Monday.

4. Rancocas Valley (8-1-1, No. 3 last week)

Tied Cherry Hill East, 0-0, lost to Cherokee, 1-0, beat Camden Catholic, 5-1.

NEXT: hosts Haddonfield Friday; at Shawnee Tuesday.

Rancocas Valley battles to draw with Cherry Hill East

5. Delran (4-3-3, No. 5 last week)

beat Paul VI, 2-0, tied Cinnaminson, 1-1, lost to Kearny, 2-1.

NEXT: hosts Hun Thursday, at East Brunswick Saturday, at Northern Burlington Tuesday.

Delran blanks Paul VI for third straight win

6. Cinnaminson (6-1-2, No. 1 last week)

Lost to Shawnee, 6-1, beat Pennsauken, 8-1, tied Delran, 1-1.

NEXT: hosts Cherokee Thursday, at Northern Burlington Friday.

7. Ocean City (7-1-1, No. 7 last week)

lost to Pleasantville, 2-1; beat Cedar Creek, 3-0.

NEXT: hosts Mainland Wednesday, at Absegami Tuesday.

8. Haddonfield (6-3, No. 9 last week)

beat Gateway, 4-2 and Clearview, 2-1, and has won four straight.

NEXT: at Rancocas Valley Friday; hosts Haddon Township Monday.

Haddonfield holds off West Deptford

9. Hammonton (7-2-2, No. 10 last week)

beat Bridgeton, 4-0 and St. Augustine, 4-2.

NEXT: at Vineland Wednesday, hosts Millville Friday.

10. Kingsway (6-3, No. 15 last week)

beat Clearview, 2-1; lost to Salesiaunum (De), 2-1; beat Egg Harbor, 4-0; beat Williamstown, 3-0

NEXT: hosts Delsea Wednesday and Eastern Saturday; at Timber Creek Tuesday

Kingsway takes to the sky to defeat Washington Township

11. Egg Harbor Township (9-3, No. 11 last week)

beat Bridgeton, 4-0 and St. Augustine, 2-0; lost to Kingsway, 4-0; beat Vineland, 2-0.

NEXT: at Millville Wednesday; hosts Atlantic Tech Friday; at Cedar Creek Tuesday.

12. St. Augustine (7-3-1, No. 4 last week)

Beat Atlantic Tech, 1-0, lost to Egg Harbor, 2-0 and Hammonton, 4-2

NEXT: hosts Bridgeton Wednesday, at Vineland Tuesday.

13. Millville (5-2-1, No. 12 last week)

tied Vineland, 1-1; beat Williamstown, 1-0

NEXT: hosts Egg Harbor Wednesday; at Hammonton Friday; hosts Bridgeton Monday.

Clean sheet, clean living lift Millville past Vineland

14. Paul VI (4-3-1, No. 14 last week)

lost to Delran, 2-0; beat Lenape, 5-0 and Paul VI, 2-1

NEXT: at Eastern Thursday; hosts Pennington Saturday and Cherry Hill East Tuesday.

15. Haddon Township (8-1, not ranked last week)

beat Audubon, 6-1 and Eastern, 2-0, to extend its winning streak to five games.

NEXT: at Lindenwold Thursday; hosts Sterling Friday, at Haddonfield Monday

The next three: Bordentown (6-3), Florence (8-1-1) and Washington Township (5-3).

John A. Lewis is a sports writer for the Burlington County Times, the Courier Post and the Vineland Daily Journal. You can e-mail him at jlewis@thebct.com. Please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription.

Colonial Conference

Star No. 3: Hayden Wiltsey, Audubon: Notched a hat trick as the Green Wave bounced back after back-to-back losses to defeat Woodbury Monday. He has nine goals this season.

Star No. 2: Gavin Zuzulock, West Deptford: has 12 goals this season, including the lone score on a 1-0 win over Delsea on Saturday. He also has a pair of hat tricks under his belt in his senior year.

Star No. 1: Andrew O'Donnell, Haddonfield: The Bulldogs were just the second team this season to shut out Haddon Township as O'Donnell led their corps of defenders against a potent offense that includes Luke Chatten and Graham Looram.

Team of the Week: Lindenwold. The Lions bounced back after back-to-back losses to defeat Gloucester Monday and set up a big Friday meeting with Audubon, which Lindenwold will host. Both teams are 5-1 in Colonial Conference Patriot Division play.

Haddonfield ends Haddon Township's win streak

John A. Lewis is a sports writer for the Burlington County Times, the Courier Post and the Vineland Daily Journal. E-mail him at jlewis@thebct.com. Please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription.

Haddonfield’s boys soccer team was disappointed for sure, but the Bulldogs didn’t allow it to affect their play on the field. One of the goals for the Bulldogs was to earn a spot in the South Jersey Coaches Tournament. The top 16 ranked teams in the final South Jersey Soccer Coaches Poll earned the berths.

Haddonfield finished No. 19 in the final poll. Right before that final poll, Haddonfield lost a 1-0 decision to Rancocas Valley, the No. 1 seed in the Coaches Tournament.

So, what happened after that? Haddonfield arguably had its biggest win of the season, a 1-0 triumph over Haddon Township, avenging a 2-1 double overtime defeat to the Hawks on opening day. In fact, the Bulldogs won their first three games after that Rancocas Valley loss and began the week in a tie for first place with Haddon Township. Both were 6-2 in the Colonial Liberty Division, while West Deptford was 5-2. The other recent wins were 3-0 over West Deptford and 6-1 against Collingswood.

“Not making it in (the Coaches Tournament) was definitely motivation for us,” said Haddonfield junior center back Andrew O’Donnell, a true quarterback of the defense. “I think we are a really good team and feel we can compete with many other teams.”

He said the loss to Rancocas Valley served as good motivation for the team. “I think we are all coming together for this last stretch of games,” he said.

Under coach Ryan Nixon, the Bulldogs play a highly competitive schedule. The competition in the Colonial Liberty is challenging enough, having to play the likes of Haddon Township, West Deptford, Haddon Heights and Sterling twice each.

Then there is the difficult non-league schedule. Besides facing Rancocas Valley, Haddonfield played a competitive game against the No. 2 seed in the Coaches Tournament, Cinnaminson, losing 3-2. Haddonfield also beat Group 4 Clearview, 2-1.

“Coach always tries to put the best teams on the schedule for us and while we didn’t make the Coaches Cup, it makes us a much better team and we’re ready to compete with anybody,” O’Donnell said.

In the win over Haddon Township (another team that earned a Coaches Tournament bid), Haddonfield’s goal by Daire Roddy in the 10th minute stood up for the W.

Roddy and O’Donnell are part of an extremely strong junior class. Entering the week, Roddy had three goals and seven assists.

“We have about 10-11 juniors who last year as sophomores gained a lot of experience,” Nixon said. “They probably took their lumps at certain times last year, but they showed signs that they were going to be a special class for this program.”

That has certainly been the case. Haddonfield’s leading scorer is yet another junior, Andrew Guveiyian, who began the week with 10 goals and two assists. He has more than doubled his goal output from his sophomore year when he scored four. Both keepers who have seen action, Alexander Goldman and Brady Norton, are also juniors.

The senior class has also had some key contributors, including Matt Murschell and Joseph Nugent, who both began the week with five goals and four assists. Classmate Reed Wixted has chipped in with four goals.

In addition to battling for a division title, Haddonfield appears to be a serious contender in an always deep South Jersey Group 2 field. To show how deep it is, Delran, a perennial contender, began the week as the No. 5 seed, according to the power points published by NJ.com. West Deptford, a team Haddonfield has beaten twice, was the top seed followed by No. 2 Cinnaminson and the Bulldogs at No. 3. Middle Township was one ahead of Delran at No. 4.

Of Retrospect- area teams, Haddon Heights was 12th, with Collingswood 15th. The top 16 teams will qualify. This is certainly a battle- tested Haddonfield team, which should help in the state tournament. Put simply, Haddonfield has the ability to beat any team in Group 2, but there are several other teams that can make the same claim. What’s important is that Haddonfield will enter the tournament, which begins Oct. 27, playing some of its best soccer of the season.

 Matt Cosentino | For NJ Advance Media

A week that started with heartbreaking news has quicky taken a turn for the better for the Haddonfield boys soccer team.

Two wins in three days over the division leaders — and fierce rivals to boot — will have that kind of effect.

Reed Wixted scored a pair of goals and the back line was sensational as Haddonfield blanked West Deptford 3-0 on Wednesday night in Colonial Conference Liberty Division action under the lights at West Deptford Park.

The victory followed a 1-0 win over Haddon Township on Monday and helped the Bulldawgs improve to 8-4 overall and 5-2 in the Liberty. They have suddenly tightened the division standings, and the race now seems to be a three-team battle between Haddon Township (6-2), West Deptford (5-2) and Haddonfield.

On Sunday night, the Bulldawgs learned they were one of the first teams left out of the South Jersey Coaches Tournament, also known as the Coaches Cup, but they have quicky put that speed bump behind them.

“We really wanted to be in the Coaches Cup and we were disappointed we didn’t get in,” Wixted said. “But we knew we had to come out and show everybody that we deserved to be in it, and I think we did that these past two games against Haddon Township and West Deptford. We’re definitely contenders for the division now. … The division is always the first goal for us.”

Haddonfield coach Ryan Nixon likes to schedule challenging non-conference games year after year, and even though the Bulldawgs’ 6-4 overall record coming into this week might have kept them out of the Coaches Cup, the tough competition also prepared them for huge games against division foes.

He also thought his kids were motivated by talk that they just play kick and run or rely on restarts to generate chances.

“Tonight was evidence of a team that plays together, plays smart and plays hard, and is organized defensively,” he said. “A lot of people talk about ‘playing the right way.’ For me, and I said this on Monday too, the right way is doing your homework and finding out what the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses are. West Deptford certainly has both, the same way that we have both. We try to put into practice and put into the tactical game plan ways that we can exploit those weaknesses and ways that hopefully we can build on our strengths. The kids buy into the game plan and I thought they did a great job tonight.”

Haddonfield struck first in the opening minutes of the first half when Sam Carlson beat two defenders and made a terrific cross to Wixted, who converted the pass for a quick 1-0 lead. The Eagles recovered and controlled the pace for the rest of the half, but the Bulldawgs took command again about eight minutes after the break.

Andrew Guveiyian flicked a long throw-in from Daire Roddy toward Wixted, and the senior buried his shot for a 2-0 advantage and his fourth goal of the season.

“Reed is not a big goal scorer but he’s a great kid, he’s worked so hard in his career to get to this point, and he scored two massive goals,” Nixon said. “It’s fun because he deserves it and kids like Reed always work hard at practice. This is his first year on varsity and he scores two goals at West Deptford Park, which is really cool.

“His second was a really important goal, because I felt like West Deptford really started to put us on our heels for a large stretch of the first half. In the second half I said to my assistant, ‘I think we’re starting to compete again.’ He said, ‘It might be a little early to say that.’ Pretty much right after that we started to put our foot on the gas, and that’s when we got that second goal.”

The performance was especially satisfying for Wixted because he had to sit out about two and a half weeks earlier in the season.

“I was out for a while with a concussion, and when I came back everyone was healthy and we came together,” he said. “We beat West Deptford last time and we know they’re a good team, so we had to come out and do what we were supposed to do. We worked well as a team.”

Guveiyian made it 3-0 later in the second half on a goal was that all hustle. His pressure on a West Deptford defender led to a soft pass back to the Eagle keeper, and Guveiyian was able to get to the ball first and knock it into the empty net for his team-high seventh goal of the season.

The three-goal cushion was more than enough for the Haddonfield defense and keeper Brady Norton, who recorded six saves for the shutout. Nixon singled out juniors Andrew O’Donnell and Jack Walters for their play and was especially proud of sophomore outside back Mikey McCool.

“He punches well above his welterweight division,” Nixon said. “He’s just a sophomore but Mikey is as good as a senior, not just the technical side to his game but he’s so tough for a guy his size. He’s one of the most consistent players on the team.”

McCool credited the success of the defense to chemistry, as they are close friends off the field and even carpool to practice. He added they were all prepared for the pressure of a key division game and the physical style of West Deptford.

The Bulldawgs showed the same kind of poise against Haddon Township as well.

“It was huge to win these games,” McCool said. “They were tough games but we got through it. We’re now the front-runners to win the division and hopefully we can go do it.

“We just focused on one game at a time, trying to get through the first one before moving on to the next. But you’re always looking ahead a little bit to see what you can accomplish for the week. It’s been a good week so far.”

West Deptford had its five-game winning streak snapped and fell to 10-4 overall. The Eagles will look to bounce back on Friday against Haddon Heights before taking on Kingsway in the first round of the Coaches Cup on Saturday.

As for the Bulldawgs, they might not have the Coaches Tournament to prepare for, but they are as confident as any team in South Jersey and ready for the stretch run.

“It’s a credit to this team,” Nixon said. “These guys deserve the success they’re having now because they’ve tested themselves. They’ve played some of the best competition that we could find for them, and we expect to win games like this. That’s part of our culture, that’s part of our tradition. More often than not, we’ve found ways to be successful in these games and it all has to do with the team. They put their full effort into what we try to do on a daily basis and I think they’re rewarded for their hard work.”

Who were this week's top performers in South Jersey's five boys soccer leagues?

JOHN A. LEWIS   Burlington County Times

Tri-County Conference

Star No. 3: Gavin Reissek, Delsea: The sophomore scored his third and fourth goals of the season – one each against Timber Creek and Deptford – as the Crusaders rebounded from a rough week with back-to-back wins.

Star No. 2: Adrian Ibarra, Woodstown: The Wolverines' sophomore scored twice in a 3-1 win against Overbrook, as Woodstown ended a 10-game winless streak Monday.

Star No. 1: Vicente Bonola, Penns Grove: The senior notched his fourth multi-goal game of the season – and his first hat trick – in a 4-1 win over Overbrook, then assisted on both goals in a 2-0 win over Schalick.

Team of the Week: Glassboro. The Bulldogs extended their unbeaten streak to 12 games with three straight wins and collected their first Mean 15 pelt of the season with a 1-0 win over Hammonton on Monday. Junior Atakan Ozdemir leads the team in scoring, with 13 goals and six assists.

Burlington County Scholastic League

Star No. 3: Patrick Redwood, Bordentown: The senior scored twice as the Scotties avenged an early-season loss to Palmyra with a 3-0 win on Thursday.

Star No. 2: Nik Grello, Delran: The junior had a goal and an assist in a 4-0 win over Cinnaminson Thursday. He's scored three goals this season.

Star No. 1: Nick Bonilla, Pennsauken: Scored the first two goals of his senior season Thursday in a 3-0 win over Holy Cross, as the Indians ended a nine-game losing streak.

Team of the Week: Willingboro improved to 13-1 with its eighth straight win. The Chimeras' win over Northern Burlington Friday was their first against the Greyhounds since David Vah put in two in a 2-1 win on Oct. 23, 1995. They were 0-21 against Northern since then and had been outscored, 102-15.

Cape Atlantic League

Star No. 3: Ethan Spinnato, Vineland: The senior scored three times in a win at Cape May Tech on Friday. He has eight goals this season and Vineland is unbeaten in its last five games.

Star No. 2: Kervening Thelistin, Atlantic City: Reached double digits with his 10^th goal of the season in a 7-1 win over St. Joe Hammonton. The senior also has five assists this season.

Star No. 1: Deron Azille, Lower Cape May: The junior has put three straight multi-goal games together to raise his season total to 10. The Tigers have won back-to-back games after a seven-game losing streak.

Team of the Week: Egg Harbor Township was on a four-game win streak before its loss to Washington Township in the South Jersey Coaches Tournament. The Eagles won a return game against Hammonton – a 3-1 winner in their first meeting of the year on Sep. 26 – in the course of that run.

Colonial Conference

Star No. 3: Landon Moroney, Haddon Township: Four of the senior's five goals this season have come in the Hawks' last three games – all wins.

Star No. 2: Robby Toomey, Sterling: The junior scored three times as the Silver Knights posted back-to-back wins. He has six goals this season.

Star No. 1: Jacob Garrett, Gateway: Scored twice in a 3-1 win over Woodbury Friday and raised his goal total to 20 for his junior season.

Team of the Week: Haddonfield. The Bulldawgs' four-game win streak includes a 3-0 triumph over West Deptford that completed a season sweep. A win at Haddon Heights on Thursday would guarantee Haddonfield at least a share of the Colonial Liberty title.

Here is a look at this week's Mean 15 teams:

1. Shawnee (9-2-2, No. 2 last week)

beat Hammonton, 5-1 and Cherry Hill West, 2-1.

NEXT: vs. Rancocas Valley Wednesday in a Coaches Tournament semifinal; at Camden Tech Thursday; hosts Bishop Eustace Monday.

2. Rancocas Valley (11-2-1, No. 3 last week)

beat Florence, 1-0 and Washington Township, 3-0.

NEXT: vs. Shawnee Wednesday in a Coaches Tournament semifinal; at Bishop Eustace Wednesday; hosts Paul VI Saturday and Camden Tech Monday.

3. Delran (6-3-5, No. 4 last week)

beat Cinnaminson, 4-0.

NEXT: at Burlington Township Friday; hosts Hunterdon Central Monday.

4. Haddonfield (10-4, No. 8 last week)

beat West Deptford, 3-0, Collingswood, 6-1 and Sterling, 2-0.

NEXT: at Haddon Heights Thursday and Eastern Saturday.

5. Cherry Hill West (9-3-2, not ranked last week)

beat Moorestown, 3-0 and Middle Township, 1-0; lost to Shawnee, 2-1, in the quarterfinal round of the Coaches Tournament.

NEXT: hosts Eastern Thursday

6. Middle Township (14-2, No. 1 last week)

beat Buena, 3-0; lost to Cherry Hill West, 1-0 in the first round of the Coaches Tournament; lost to Point Pleasant Boro, 3-2.

NEXT: hosts Mainland Thursday and Ocean City Monday

7. Cinnaminson (9-3-2, No. 5 last week)

lost to Delran, 4-0, and Gloucester Tech, 2-1, in a first-round game in the Coaches Tournament.

NEXT: hosts Burlington Township Wednesday; at Moorestown Friday.

8. Cherokee (9-2-2, No. 6 last week)

beat St. Augustine, 3-0, tied West Deptford, 1-1, but lost a shootout in the quarterfinal round of the Coaches Tournament.

NEXT: at Seneca Friday; hosts Lenape Tuesday.

9. Ocean City (9-3-1, No. 7 last week)

lost to Life Center Academy, 2-1; lost to St. Augustine, 2-1 in the Cape-Atlantic League Tournament quarterfinals.

NEXT: hosts Williamstown Friday; at Lower Cape May Monday and Middle Township Tuesday.

10. West Deptford (11-4-1, not ranked last week)

lost to Haddonfield, 3-0; beat Kingsway, 1-0, tied Cherokee, 1-1 and advanced in a shootout in the quarterfinal round of the Coaches Tournament.

NEXT: at Haddon Township Thursday for a Coaches Tournament semifinal; hosts and Cherry Hill East Saturday.

11. Washington Township (10-4, No. 11 last week)

beat Clearview, 2-1 and Egg Harbor, 2-1; lost to Rancocas Valley, 3-0, in a Coaches Tournament quarterfinal.

NEXT: hosts Hammonton Thursday; at Kingsway Saturday.

12. Kingsway (9-4-1, No. 10 last week)

tied Gloucester Tech, 1-1; lost to West Deptford, 1-0.

NEXT: hosts Cumberland Wednesday and Washington Township Saturday; at Clearview Monday.

13. Haddon Township (13-2, No. 15 last week)

beat Haddon Heights, 3-1, Cherry Hill East, 5-0 and Gloucester Tech, 6-0.

NEXT: hosts West Deptford Thursday in a Coaches Tournament semifinal; hosts Gateway Monday.

14. Egg Harbor Township (13-4, No. 12 last week)

beat Hammonton, 2-1; lost to Washington Township, 2-1 in the first round of the Coaches Tournament; beat Absegami, 4-0.

NEXT: at Washington Township Thursday.

15. St. Augustine (9-5-2, No. 13 last week)

beat Millville, 1-0; lost to Cherokee, 3-0, in the first round of the Coaches Tournament

NEXT: at Egg Harbor Township Thursday in a Cape-Atlantic League Tournament semifinal

The next three: Life Center Academy (13-3), Bordentown (11-3), Florence, 10-2-1.

John A. Lewis is a sports writer for the Burlington County Times, the Courier Post and the Vineland Daily Journal. E-mail him at jlewis@thebct.com. Please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription.