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VIDEO, PHOTOS: Warriors breeze by Clayton, inch closer to first-ever championship

Posted: September 30th 2024

Wildwood's Kelan Miller sends the ball forward from the midfield against Clayton.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

WILDWOOD – The Wildwood High School boys soccer program has never won a championship of any kind.

That could be changing this fall.

The Warriors moved a step closer to the Tri-County Classic Division title by going two games clear of all division competition behind Monday’s 7-0 rout of Clayton at Kaitlin M. Anzelone Memorial Field.

Wildwood improved to 7-2 overall, 6-0 in division games. Clayton, which was in second place in the division entering the game, fell to 4-5, 3-2.

Wildwood has beaten all division competition at least once. The team’s remaining division games are against Gloucester Catholic, Salem Tech, Salem and a second date with Clayton.

“We’re definitely trying to take it one game at time with everything,” Wildwood coach Sal Zampirri said. “Our boys are a confident bunch. We’re extremely proud of them and we want them to play with that confidence, but we also have to keep our eyes on the prize. Yes, we want that division title. But the boys want more than that as well. They want to do better than last year. They want to win more than one playoff game. But that’s all far ahead. We have to take it one game at a time.”

With the wind at its back and decided advantage in talent and experience, Wildwood needed little time to exert its will on the proceedings against the Clippers. Ahmed Djelall gave the Warriors the first goal just 2 ½ minutes in with a thundering header at the back post from Gavin Burns’s inviting corner kick.

Noureddine “Nunu” Bedderi’s gave Wildwood a two-goal cushion soon thereafter with a tidy finish after being sent in alone on goal by a Burns through ball. Bedderi then drew a penalty kick after being taken down in the box and Burns converted from the spot to make it 3-0.

Bedderi later added his second and then assisted on a goal by Angel DeJesus as the Warriors had the result locked up with a five-goal lead at the half.

Alex Palomec and Michael Blanda rounded out the scoring after halftime.

The victory was Wildwood’s third straight and seventh in eight games.

“The boys are clicking well, they’re working hard and they’re playing for each other out there,” Zampirri said. “They’re playing with physicality and drive and they’re not quitting on one another.”

Wildwood faces one of its biggest tests of the season when it hosts Schalick on Wednesday. The Cougars (6-1) are currently at the top of the South Jersey Group I power-point standings. A strong performance against Schalick could give the Warriors contender status for a sectional championship as well.

“Hopefully, we can keep this rolling into Schalick because they’ll be one of the toughest opponents we’ll see all season,” Zampirri said. “We’re excited to match up with them.”

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