Players to Watch: South Jersey Girls Finals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After the boys sectional champions were crowned on Saturday, it will be the girls turn to decide who will be representing South Jersey in the final two rounds of NJSIAA state championships in games being played later today. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at some players to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Group 4 Final: Central Regional vs Kingsway, 3:30 p.m.</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A first-time sectional champion will be crowned at the conclusion of this one. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Central is led by senior captain <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='23969' first='Emma' last='Harmon']</strong>, who is a treat to watch as a midfielder who is shifty on the ball, can shoot from distance and is good at setting up chances for teammates. Senior forward <strong>Arianna Chidiac</strong> is also a handful in the attack for the Golden Eagles and senior goalkeeper <strong>Erika Kangas</strong> leads the team from the back. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kingsway has a very balanced team from front to back with seniors <strong>Brianna Lewis</strong> and <strong>Hannah Ferris</strong> anchoring a strong back line and central midfield. Senior midfielder <strong>Emma Nugyen</strong> is a crafty midfielder with a good left foot and a dangerous dead ball. Junior forward <strong>Cailon Burlingame</strong> leads the team in goals and senior <strong>Maddie Hicks</strong> does a little bit of everything in the final third. Sophomore goalkeeper <strong>Mackenzie Barry</strong> might end up being the most important player for the Dragons in this one. She's recorded clean sheets in each of Kingsway's last four games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Group 3 Final: Ocean City vs Shawnee, 2 p.m.</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is going to be a fun battle between the 1 and 2 seeds. Both teams were on the losing end of semifinals at the South Jersey Coaches Cup but showed their class in each game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ocean City junior forward <strong>Naomi Nnewihe</strong> and senior <strong>Mckenna Chisholm</strong> are both lightning in the attack. Nnewihe has speed to get behind and is solid in the air while Chisholm can beat you in a variety of ways with and without the ball, scoring goals with her head off set pieces, in transition and from distance while also dominating on the defensive side of the ball. Other players to watch include junior attacker <strong>Kati Maxwell</strong>, who is good on the half turn and at crosses, sophomore forward <strong>Jaida Dooley</strong> and junior <strong>Coryn McDonnell</strong>. Junior defender <strong>Brooke Liebrand</strong> and senior <strong>Ashley Rhodes</strong> are also players to be mindful of.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior <strong>Mackenzie McCready</strong> (pictured at top) is the veteran leader of the squad who has an incredible work rate and ability to create going forward. Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='24159' first='Madelynn' last='Sadusky']</strong> has had a breakout year on the offensive end after contributing as a first-year player as an outside back. Junior goalkeeper <strong>Mackenzie Borbi</strong> is a gamer who will definitely be tested against Ocean City. Junior defenders <strong>Joellie Giquinto</strong> and <strong>Erin Doyle</strong> make a formidable center back pairing in front of Borbi. Junior <strong>Eva Matesich</strong> along with first-year forward <strong>Caitlin Olkowski</strong> and sophomores <strong>Tori Tepes</strong>, <strong>Courtney Davis</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='23880' first='Avery' last='Kornafel']</strong> also contribute to a team that continues to have young players breaking through. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Group 2 Final: Seneca vs Cinnaminson, 2 p.m.</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seniors <strong>Gabby Miller</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='23876' first='Ava' last='Palladino']</strong> are a formidable attacking pair going forward. Both are technically sound and have multiple ways to beat you. Junior midfielder <strong>Caydence Feehan</strong> pulls the strings for a team that has outscored 17-2 en route to the sectional final. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cinnaminson is led by super sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='111067' first='Shiloh' last='Moore']</strong>, who is a pacy, smooth and clinical forward with excellent ball control and finishing ability in the final third. Her brace in the semifinal ended Sterling's unbeaten season. She combines well in the final third with junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='23881' first='Bailey' last='Coston']</strong>. Sophomore goalkeeper <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='101711' first='Norah' last='Quinn']</strong> backstops a defense that hasn't conceded through three tournament games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Group 1 Final: Audubon vs Schalick, 3 p.m.</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Audubon has gotten a lot of contributions from underclassmen this season with junior <strong>Makenna Ammon</strong> leading the team in scoring and sophomores <strong>Molly Sullivan</strong>, <strong>Brooke Felli </strong>and first-year standout <strong>Morgan Wiltsey</strong> all standing out. Senior <strong>Maddy Carter</strong> leads a stingy back line for the Green Wave.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kerri Jackson leaving gave way to another record-breaking goal scorer this season with senior <strong>Emily Miller</strong> shattering Jackson's record. Miller broke Jackson's record of 43 goals in a season and is now just three shy of 50. Senior goalkeeper <strong>Carly Hayman</strong> has been key to the team's run too but there a number of underclassmen contributing as well with sophomores <strong>Abby Willoughby</strong>, <strong>Cali Fisler</strong> and <strong>Quinn Berger</strong> and first-year <strong>Karlie Bakley</strong> all having solid seasons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Non-Public B Final: Bishop Eustace at Rutgers Prep, Tuesday at 2 p.m.</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bishop Eustace will be looking to knock off defending sectional champs Rutgers Prep to win the school's first sectional championship since 2017. They are led by Clemson-bound senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='23827' first='Allie' last='Serlenga']</strong> and junior midfielder <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='55948' first='Mia' last='Abbey']</strong> in the midfield going forward and in the back by juniors <strong>Ace Higgins</strong> and <strong>Hayley Noonan</strong> in the back in front of junior goalkeeper <strong>Izzy Serano</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rutgers Prep is loaded with D1 talent with the likes of junior Virginia commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='23805' first='Addison' last='Halpern']</strong> closing in on 40 goals, junior Virginia Tech commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='23958' first='Ellie' last='Robertson']</strong> and senior goalkeeper and UConn commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='24313' first='Syrai' last='Parker']</strong>. Promising underclassmen in the squad include sophomore playmaker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='23820' first='Alexa' last='Lee']</strong> and sophomore midfielder <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='24232' first='Nyla' last='Lopez']</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->