South Jersey Girls to Watch in High School State Finals
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Two girls high school teams from South Jersey will head to Kean University in Union on Sunday in search of state titles. Cherry Hill West plays Ramapo at 10 a.m. in the Group 3 final and Paul VI will take…
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Continue ReadingTwo girls high school teams from South Jersey will head to Kean University in Union on Sunday in search of state titles.
Cherry Hill West plays Ramapo at 10 a.m. in the Group 3 final and Paul VI will take on Immaculate Heart in the Non-Public A final at 3 p.m. Neither program has won a state title in girls soccer before.
Here’s a look at some players who could make a difference in bringing a trophy back to South Jersey.
Reilly McGlinn
Reilly
McGlinn
F
NJ
, Senior, Forward, Cherry Hill West
McGlinn has led Cherry Hill West through the playoffs with a pair of goals and three assists and is part of a dynamic duo with junior Kennedy Erdman that has been stuffing the stat sheet this season.
Olivia Brocious
Olivia
Brocious
F
NJ
, Senior, Forward/Midfielder, Paul VI
The Paul VI attack runs through the talented senior and she’s been a big reason for their surprising run to the Non-Public A final. She has five goals and an assist in the playoffs.
Abigail Leporati, Junior, Goalkeeper, Cherry Hill West
Leporati has been a steady presence on the back line for the Lions in their playoff run. She was especially good coming off her line and absorbing pressure in the 1-0 semifinal win and will need to be at her best again against a top-seeded Ramapo team that average 3.7 goals per game this season.
Kennedy Erdman, Midfielder, Cherry Hill West
Erdman, like McGlinn, creates problems for teams with the way she can create from the midfield, play with her back to goal and torch teams with her passing vision, soccer IQ and finishing ability.
Sophia Miller
Sophia
Miller
M
Paul VI (NJ) | 2024
State
NJ
, Junior, Defender, Paul VI
After conceding early in the semifinal at Red Bank Catholic, Miller and the Paul VI back line was able to limit Red Bank’s attack and hold on for the 2-1 comeback victory. As a captain Miller plays her position and well and provides stability and steadiness on the back line.
Sienna Mount, Junior, Midfielder, Paul VI
Mount set up the important equalizer in the first half against Red Bank Catholic off a corner kick for her fourth assist of the playoffs. Good service on set pieces could end up being the difference in Sunday’s final.
Ave Martin, Junior, Midfielder/Forward, Paul VI
Martin’s goal held up as the winner in the semifinal and while it was off a great ball from the right flank from Brocious, Martin did well to finish off the scoring chance by using her technical ability to get past the Red Bank defender.
Jillian Shapiro
Jillian
Shapiro
5'7" | D
Cherry Hill | 2023
NJ
, Senior, Defender, Cherry Hill West
Shapiro is a silky smooth center back who keeps the Lions back line organized and has a knack for knowing when to drift into the right spots to make plays.
Ava Hawk, Senior, Forward, Cherry Hill West
When so much of the focus has to be limiting touches for Erdman and keeping McGlinn in check, it gives opportunities for players like Hawk to step up, which she did when she scored the lone goal in the semifinal off a cross from McGlinn.
Sofia Marchese, Junior, Midfielder, Paul VI
Paul VI has had to rely on number of players to step up to get them this far and Marchese has answered the call the last two games with a pair of goals in the quarterfinal win over Immaculata and the first half equalizer in the semifinal.