Balanced squad has Eastern back among South Jersey’s best

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eastern Regional High School has been one of the more consistent powerhouses in girls soccer in the region over the years and this year appears to be no exception. The Vikings are 10-1-1 to start the season after grinding out a 2-1 win over a very talented Bishop Eustace team in the rain at home on Tuesday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They sit atop the South Jersey Soccer Coaches Association poll after starting out No. 4. Their lone loss came to Cherokee - ranked second in the latest ranking - and they tied Rancocas Valley (ranked third). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Eastern has had big name stars over the recent years - players like Rutgers stars Riley Tiernan and Sara Brocious and La Salle standout Kelli McGroarty - their success has also been rooted in having a balanced and deep squad. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The balance and depth was on display in their win on Tuesday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":60185,"width":352,"height":235,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/10/6N4A1877-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60185" width="352" height="235"/><figcaption><em>Ava Clark (left) and Eva Sprewell</em></figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The match showed off the skill of their senior goalkeeper <strong>Ava Clark</strong> - who <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHooUF9Y4D0" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">made a highlight-real save</span></strong></a> to deny dazzling sophomore attacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='55948' first='Mia' last='Abbey']</strong> what would've been a highlight reel goal and some other tough interventions - and junior center backs <strong>Remi Cherkas</strong> and <strong>Eva Sprewell</strong>. Sprewell made some big 1v1 tackles, cleared her lines well and Cherkas was clutch throughout containing junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='23827' first='Allie' last='Serlenga']</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another junior, <strong>Izzy Benfield</strong>, showed her craftiness in midfield throughout and played a lovely ball forward that set up the <strong><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqFhsIIjVao" target="_blank">game-winning goal</a></strong> for senior <strong>Lindsey Emerson</strong>. Emerson's finish was sublime. Senior <strong>Jolie Brancaccio</strong> had the other goal in the match on a well-taken penalty in the first half. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seniors <strong>Faith Quinn</strong> and <strong>Emily Stewart</strong> also played key roles in the team both in defense and going forward. Sophomore forward <strong>Nevaeh Roark</strong>, meanwhile, looks like a star in the making coming off the bench. She has the pace to get behind the defense and moves well in the attack with and without the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The mix of ages, playing styles and the ability for head coach Jamie McGroarty to rotate without sacrificing too much on skill is why Eastern appears poised for yet another deep run in both the coaches tournament and the postseason. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->