Eastern and Cinnaminson are top girls’ and boys’ seeds in South Jersey Soccer Coaches Tournament

 Eastern’s girls’ soccer team will look to earn a fourth straight South Jersey Soccer Coaches Tournament title, while Cinnaminson’s boys’ team will seek its first title since 1979.

Both school are top seeds in their respective tournaments. 

The 16-team single-elimination field was determined by Sunday’s fourth and final South Jersey Soccer Coaches Association poll for both the boys’ and girls. 

For both girls’ and boys, the first two rounds will be played at the higher seed. The first round must be completed by Oct. 23 and the second round by Oct. 25.

The semifinals and finals are played at Cherry Hill’s DeCou Field. Semifinals are Oct. 27 with the finals on Oct. 30.

Here are the first round girls’ soccer matchups

(16) Middle Township at (1) Eastern

(9) Williamstown at (8) Sterling

(12) Mainland at (5) Shawnee

(13) Bishop Eustace at (4) Cherokee

(14) Cinnaminson at (3) Rancocas Valley

(11) Kingsway at (6) Millville

(10) Clearview at (7) Washington Township

(15) Delsea at (2) Ocean City

There was not a tournament last year due to the pandemic-shortened season. Eastern is not only the three-time champion, but coach Jamie McGroarty’s squad has won four of the past five championships.

Eastern was briefly No. 2 in the rankings after suffering a 2-1 loss to Cherokee.

The Vikings began this week 14-1 and they have already clinched the Olympic Conference American Division. Senior Cami Silvestro has led the balanced Eastern attack with 11 goals and eight assists to begin the week. 

Ocean City briefly moved to the top spot in the Coaches poll, but the Raiders dropped after suffering a 1-0 loss to Mainland, a team the Raiders beat earlier this season 3-1. 

 

Here are the boys’ Coaches Tournament matchups

(16) Rancocas Valley at (1) Cinnaminson

(9) Egg Harbor Township at (8) Clearview

(12) Hammonton at (5) Sterling

(13) Schalick at (4) St. Augustine

(14) Paul VI at (3) Washington Township

(11) Cherokee at (6) Kingsway

(10) Moorestown at (7) West Deptford

(15) Middle Township at (2) Shawnee

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Coached by Matt Digney, Cinnaminson began the week 13-0-1 with the tie coming against West Deptford. Senior Nathan Weick entered the week as Cinnaminson’s leading goal scorer with nine while classmate Colin Kenville has scored eight goals. 

In addition to winning the Coaches Tournament title in 1979, Cinnaminson was the tournament’s first champion in 1971.

Shawnee has also spent time this fall in the No. 1 spot and the Renegades are seeded No. 2. Coach Ryan Franks’ Shawnee team began the week 10-1-1, with the loss and tie both against Washington Township.

Moorestown is the defending champion, having won the 2019 boys’ tournament. 

 

 

Author: Marc Narducci