South Jersey H.S. Girls’ Soccer Primer

The South Jersey girls’ soccer season is upon us. The first practice day was Aug. 17 and teams are able to play as early as Monday of this week (Aug. 24).

Here is a look at the key dates and topics for the season.

Oct. 24: Round one at the higher seed

Oct. 27: Round 2 at the higher seed

Oct. 29: Semifinals at DeCou (Cherry Hill) 6 and 8.

Nov. 1: Championship at DeCou, 4:30

Defending champion: Paul VI

Round 1: Nov. 3 at the higher seed

Round 2: Nov. 6 or Nov. 7 at the higher seed

Round 3: Nov. 10 at the higher seed

Sectional final: Nov. 13 or 14 at the higher seed

State semifinal: Nov. 17 (at the team with higher power points)

State finals: Nov. 21 at Franklin High School

Round 1: Nov. 2 at the higher seed

Round 2: Nov. 5 at the higher seed

Round 3: Nov. 9 at higher seed

Sectional finals Nov. 12 at higher seed

State finals: Nov. 15 at Franklin High School

SJ Group 1: Haddon Township

SJ Group 2: West Deptford

SJ Group 3: Shawnee

SJ Group 4: Cherokee

SJ Non-Public A: Paul VI

SJ Non-Public B: Rutgers Prep

CJ Group 3: Northern Burlington

Group 1: Shore Regionals

Group 2: Ramsey

Group 3: Chatham

Group 4: Livingston

Non-Public A: Paul VI

Non-Public B: Rutgers Prep

Non-Public A: Paul VI

Group 4: Cherokee

Group 3: Shawnee

Can Paul VI threepeat?

The Eagles were South Jersey’s consensus No. 1 team, going 24-0. Among the most impressive wins was a 3-2 double overtime victory over Shawnee in the championship game of the South Jersey Coaches Tournament. The Eagles lose some key players, including Emma McCarthy, an all-state performer, who is now at the University of North Carolina, where she will be playing lacrosse.

That said, coach Karen Anderson still has two players who were named to the South Jersey Soccer Coaches Association first-team All-South Jersey squad. The two are senior forward Hunter Kintzing, who had 22 goals and 14 assists, and senior midfielder Kylie Berk, a Virginia commit, who 14 goals and three assists. Senior Eleanor Lawyer, added 18 goals and 10 assists. She was a second-team All-South Jersey selection.

This is a team with high expectations and the ability to certainly make a run at another state title.

Last season Gianna Hanf helped lead Northern Burlington to its first ever sectional title. Hanf was a first-team All-South Jersey selection after totaling 36 goals and five assists.

According to NJ.com, Hanf has decided to bypass her senior season in order to concentrate on earning a berth on the U.S Women’s U-17 National Team, which will compete in the FIFA U-17 World Cup this fall. It’s another example of the quality talent produced in South Jersey.