Paul VI Led the Way in South Jersey H.S. Girls’ Soccer
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Paul VI was the class of South Jersey and one of the best in the country by finishing 24-0 and beating Immaculate Heart, 1-0 in the state Non-Public A championship game on a goal by Eleanor Lawyer, her 18th of the season.
Both Shawnee and Cherokee saw their season end with a loss in the state championship game.
It was Paul VI’s second straight state title, and the Eagles captured their third South Jersey championship in the past four years.
As we said last year when Shawnee finished 25-0, Paul VI, like the Renegades from last year, have to be considered among the top teams in South Jersey history.
Paul VI played an awfully difficult schedule, which made their unbeaten season that much more impressive. In winning the South Jersey Soccer Coaches Tournament, Paul VI had to beat two state finalists in the final two games. The Eagles earned a 2-1 semifinal win over Cherokee and then defeated Shawnee 3-2 in double overtime, overcoming a 2-0 deficit. Emma McCarthy’s header off a service from Hunter Kintzing.
Earlier in the season, the Eagles beat two high profile teams from Maryland, defeating McDonough, 5-3, and Notre Dame, 3-1.
The Immaculate Heart team that Paul VI defeated in the state final, ended up ranked No. 4 in the final NJ.com state Top 20. The other Top 20 wins were over Shawnee, which finished No. 8, Cherokee (No. 14).
Paul VI won the Olympic Conference National Division with a 6-0 mark. Moorestown was second at 5-1 and the difference was Paul VI’s 2-1 win over the Quakers.
Paul VI also defeated Trinity Hall, 3-0 to win the South Jersey Non-Public A title. Trinity Hall finished 18-4-2.
Coach Karen Anderson has not only turned Paul VI into a South Jersey and state power, but one that has gained national acclaim.
Paul VI is ranked No. 7 in the latest United Soccer Coaches National Rankings.
The Eagles placed second in the final NJ.com state Top 20. The only team ahead was 21-0 Rutgers Prep, which is No. 1 in the aforementioned high school national rankings.
Shawnee (21-3) won the South Jersey Group 3 championship, beating Moorestown, 2-1 in the championship. The Renegades defeated Northern Burlington, 3-0 in the state Group 3 semifinal before falling to Chatham, 3-2 in the state Group 3 final.
The Renegades also won the Olympic Conference American Division with a 5-0 record, edging Cherokee, which was 4-1. Shawnee earned a 1-0 victory over Cherokee on a goal by Sloan Ludwig.
Junior Madison Zaun led the Renegades in scoring with 13 goals and 13 assists, while sophomore Abby Sallade had 12 goals and 13 assists.
Cherokee (18-6-1) beat Central Regional, 1-0 on a goal by Caroline Neal, in the South Jersey Group 4 championship. The Chiefs then beat Freehold Township, 1-0 in the state semifinal.
The championship hopes ended when the Chiefs lost in penalty kicks to Livingston in the state Group 4 championship game. The teams played to a 1-1 draw through regulation and overtime before Livingston on 3-1 in the penalty kick segment.
This season Cherokee was paced by senior midfielder Abbie Zubrzycki, who had 20 goals and 19 assists.
Photo: Shawnee's No. 9 Sloan Ludweg (left) and Paul VI's Natalie Ceccanecchio go up for a head ball in the Coaches Tournament / Marc Narducci
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Author: Marc Narducci
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