Boys' and Girls' Soccer Off to Quick Starts

After a successful opening week for both teams, the girls' and boys' varsity soccer teams have an interesting matchup today with perennial Colonial Conference and Group 2 power, West Deptford. Each match will provide an early season test for both squads.

The girls’ team has shut out every opponent on its way to a 5-0 record. They have scored 15 goals so far led by Katie Johnston who has seven. The girls will host the Eagles at 3:45 p.m.

The boys, who are 4-0, reached a milestone last week when they overwhelmed Audubon, 8-1, to record the school's 600th victory. The win was the 595th for Coach Joe Falana. He will go for 596 when the Bulldawgs travel to West Deptford (2-2) for a 7 p.m. match tonight.

The Bulldawg girls' coach Glenn Gess welcomed back 10 of the top 15 players from last year’s team including eight starters. That team finished 19-2-2, was second in the Colonial Conference Liberty Division and lost to Middle Township in the South Jersey Group 2 title game. The headliner of the group is Johnston, one of the best players in South Jersey and a first-team All-South Jersey selection by the South Jersey Soccer Coaches Assocation.

“She is a tough, physical hard-nosed player,” Gess said of his center mid-fielder. “She works as hard in practice as she does in a game.”

While Johnson controls the center of the field, the Bulldawgs also have a strong defense as evidenced by the five shutouts they’ve recorded. Anchoring that defense in net is senior Kellie Riley, who is back after missing most of last season with a broken collarbone. Senior stopper Madie Kiep and junior sweeper Olivia Balber, a pair of All-Conference Liberty Division picks, form the foundation of a strong back line.

On the forward line, Emily Carson and Laurel Falana have each scored a pair of goals while Elizabeth Carson has also scored a goal.

After not winning the conference title last year, the Bulldawgs are on a mission and the West Deptford match is another important step toward completing it.

“I will admit we had won seven straight Colonial Conference Liberty Division championships until last,” Gess said. “We know it’s going to be a tough road but we want that championship back.”

The boys have a veteran team, returning nine starters from last year’s 14-6-2 squad. Katie Johnston’s younger brother, Alex, a junior, is his team’s leading scorer as well, netting four in the early going, including a pair in the milestone win over Audubon. P.K. Schlit, a senior forward has three. Senior back Jack Speake and sophomore forward Abby Bah have two apiece.

The defense in front of senior goal keeper Vincent DelDuca is solid. They are sweeper Lou Pera, Mike Harrer, Sean Campbell and Speake. In the midfield are Ron Schlitt, Connor Dugan and Kaleb Morales. They are all seniors as well. Up front, along with Johnston, are P.K. Schlitt and one from among a rotation of Luke Pease, Bah and John Alemmi.

“I believe the strength of this team is its senior leadership,” Falana said. “We seem to be strong at every position. Last year we would be strong up front but weak on the back line. This year with maturity and experience we have made great strides. We’re excited about the season.”