PHOTOS: Just three seasons after not being able to field a team, Wildwood High girls soccer program beginning to build something special

Posted: October 13th 2026

Wildwood junior midfielder Ellasyn Morey clears the ball away from a Bridgeton player during a recent game at Maxwell Field.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

Three seasons ago, the Wildwood High School girls soccer program consisted of about a half dozen players holding occasional workouts with then-head coach Sierra Palmer because there weren’t enough athletes to make up a full team.

Today, not only are the Lady Warriors back on the field, but they also seem to be building something special.

Thanks to a large junior class and an influx of talent from a strong freshmen group, Wildwood has taken the Cape-Atlantic League’s United Conference by storm in the school’s return to the league after a 25-year absence.

Wildwood takes an overall record of 13-2 into Thursday’s game with crosstown rival Wildwood Catholic. The Lady Warriors are currently tied for first place in the CAL United with Atlantic County Institute of Technology. This has come after the team combined for only 11 victories over its last two seasons in the Tri-County Conference.

“We have, in our eyes, completely exceeded our expectations,” said first-year head coach Jim Clarke, who was an assistant coach in the program in the previous two seasons. “It started early in the summer. The girls started in early July with the weight room and 6 a.m. workouts and that set the stage for what the season was going to be. Overall, we’re really happy with how it’s gone. Even in our losses, we thought we played well in both games. We’re proud of the girls and we’re happy to be doing what we’re doing.”

Freshman sensation Harper Rennie has been a force for Wildwood. She leads the CAL with 37 goals, far and away a CAL record for a freshman, attained through sensational skill, a relentless motor and exquisite finishing ability. She’s the daughter of the team’s assistant coach Mike Rennie, a former standout player at Wildwood Catholic.

“Harper is the hardest-working kid you could ever ask for, both with us and away from us,” Clarke said. “She’s constantly trying to perfect everything she does. She lifts the level of everyone and makes everybody better. She’s very unselfish. Even with all the goals she’s scored, she’s also done a great job of setting her teammates up. She gives everyone a lot of confidence. She’s somebody who can finish for us when we need it or just make a big play when we need it.

“We never saw this coming. We knew we were getting a great player. But we never would have thought it would play out the way it has so far with her.”

Rennie leads a team that is scoring at a high clip, averaging better than five goals per contest as a group. While Rennie has justifiably garnered most of the scoring headlines, 15 other Wildwood players have scored goals so far this season. Junior Nayara Alves has eight goals, currently injured freshman Iris Rulon has scored six times and junior Ellasyn Morey, freshman Whitney Macrina and currently injured freshman Kai Sciarra have posted four goals apiece. Rennie leads the team with 12 assists, with junior Julia Ennis adding eight helpers.

Defensively, Wildwood has been anchored by junior goalkeeper Addison Troiano, a three-year starter who has posted 10 shutouts so far this season.

“Everything for us starts with Addison Troiano,” Clarke said. “She’s our vocal leader and she’s been our rock through some tough times the past couple years. She’s been incredible for us.”

The back line is led by Macrina and junior Lily Atkinson at center back, with seniors Ally Lillo and Sarah Djelall on the outside.

“Whitney deserves to have her name spoken the same as Harper’s in terms of raising our level,” Clarke said. “She’s doing the same as Harper for our back line. She’s been a wall. She’s played way more mature than her age on the back line.

“And Lily’s one of our captains who’s been through a lot with us. She works very hard every single day.”

Freshman twin sisters Evelyn and Ivy Clarke, daughters of the head coach, have been steady contributors, as has junior Mollie Farrell, also currently out injured. Senior Joelle Murphy, junior Laila Fathi and freshman Londyn Atkinson have added depth off the bench.

Clarke said the dedication of the junior class is what has helped turn the program around.

"The rise in not only getting the numbers but the dedication really started with our junior class,” he said. “They’re the ones that allowed us to have the numbers but they also stepped up with how much they’ve worked. A lot of our rebirth is owed to them.

“These kids have grown. The junior class has taken some lumps, but here they are. These girls have been through some times and you can see they’re battle tested.”

Wildwood will lose just two senior starters and three overall at the close of the season. Next fall, the team will also welcome back sophomore Aubrey Bradway, a dynamic talent who has missed the entire season after a major knee injury suffered during basketball season. Bradway scored 11 goals as a freshman last fall despite missing more than half the season with a separate injury.

“We were definitely thinking, by what we had coming back and the way things went last season and then with Aubrey coming back, that next year would be our best shot,” Clarke said. “But we’re kind of ahead of schedule a little and it’s great to see.”

Wildwood, which has never hosted a state playoff game in girls soccer, is in the mix to earn a top four seed for the South Jersey Group I Tournament, which could lead to at least two state playoff games as long as the Lady Warriors win the first.

“We just want to close out the season strong,” Clarke said. “We only have three games over the next two weeks, so hopefully that helps us rest up, get healthier and improve. I have no idea how (state playoff seeding) is going to play out but it looks like we’re going to get at least one home state playoff game, so hopefully we can get at least one playoff win in front of our home crowd.”