New coaches, return of a program highlight beginning of girls soccer season

Posted: September 4th 2024

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

There is lots new when it comes to area high school girls soccer as the season begins.

For starters, there are two new head coaches in the area as Mark Scarpa takes over at Middle Township and Bob Mannino is at the helm at Wildwood Catholic. And at Wildwood, the Lady Warriors are set to return to the field after low numbers forced the program to fold for a season.

Each of the area teams is scheduled to begin the new season this week.

The following is a look at each of the area’s high school girls soccer teams:

CAPE MAY TECH

Cape May Tech finished 0-11-1 last season with a very young side. With a bit more experience, the Lady Hawks will be looking to get at least a few wins under their belts.

Amanda Daino and Anna Delaney are two of Tech’s better players.

Krista Salvadore is in her second season as head coach.

Cape Tech opens the season Wednesday at Hammonton.

LOWER CAPE MAY

Lower Cape May enters the 2024 season as a defending conference champion, the Lady Tigers taking top honors in the CAL United Conference following a campaign that saw them go 12-4-1 overall. That success has earned Lower a move up to the CAL National Conference, which figures to feature tougher competition overall. The team hopes it has the right might of talent and experience to compete.

Lower is led by senior MF Bella Lund, who posted 12 goals and 13 assists as a junior and should be one of the better players at her position in the conference. Other top-flight returnees include junior twin sisters Riley Deignan (B) and Julia Deignan (F/MF), the latter of whom was responsible for 14 goals and 17 assists as a sophomore in 2023.

Other returnees with varying degrees of varsity experience include seniors Isabella Arbelo (MF/B), Katelynn Bailey (MF) and Dette Erb (F); juniors Meredith Lutjen (GK; eight shutouts in 2023), Kate Walker (MF/B), Ella Osmundsen (F) and Jasmine Black (F/MF); and sophomores Emma Armbruster (B/MF) and Savannah Gordon (B).

New players expected to crack the starting lineup or come off the bench with the varsity include sophomore Julia Zeigler (F/MF) and freshmen Alli Walker (MF), Avery Proud (F/MF) and Maggie King (B/MF).

Darren Rutherford enters his fifth season as Lower’s head coach.

“I expect us to compete and possibly contend in our new conference,” Rutherford said. “We structured a more competitive schedule this season, so we should be ready to go come playoff time.”

Lower is slated to open the new season Wednesday at Oakcrest.

MIDDLE TOWNSHIP

Middle Township is a team that will feature an interesting mix this fall. New head coach Mark Scarpa, taking over at his alma mater for Mike Hickman, has a handful of very experienced players at his disposal, but at the same time numerous freshmen and sophomores will be thrust into critical roles. Ten of the program’s 16 players are freshmen and sophomores.

Senior F Grace Repici is expected to lead the team’s offense after posting eight goals and 10 assists a season ago. Other key seniors include MF/F Keily Sanchez, B Carmen O’Hara, B McKenna Oliver and GK Mackenzie Palek. Junior MF Riley Odom, sophomore MF Izzy Miller and sophomore MF Gabby Oliver will also be counted on for production. Other sophomores with some experience expected to make an impact include B Ainsley Frederick, B Parker Milstead, MF Kyra Stefankiewicz, B/GK Ella Harkins, MF Madeline Bernacki and MF/B Sidny Lopez-Garcia. MF/F Zoe Super and B Maria Windle are two freshmen expected to see time.

Middle opened the season with a 4-1 loss to Vineland at home. Repici and Gabby Oliver scored the goals in the loss. The Lady Panthers, members of the very difficult Cape-Atlantic American Conference, next play Friday at home against Cedar Creek.

WILDWOOD

For Wildwood, simply fielding a team was the main goal for 2024. The Lady Warriors are poised to do just that.

After failing to have a team last season due to low interest, Wildwood will return to the field this fall after consistently drawing close to 20 players for preseason practices.

The return of the program has been bolstered by the addition of a large freshmen class of athletes, many of whom are expected to start. With such a young and inexperienced side, Wildwood could struggle this fall but is expected to have bigger things ahead as the young players mature.

Senior Janet Gonzalez and junior Ashley Moreno are the team’s captains.

Sierra Palmer is the team’s head coach. This will officially be her first season in charge.

Wildwood is set to open the season Friday at Pitman.

WILDWOOD CATHOLIC

If you follow South Jersey high school girls soccer at all, you’d certainly be familiar with the name of Bob Mannino. The new Wildwood Catholic coach comes to the Crusaders with vast experience and success, having been a head coach for 24 previous seasons combined at Triton and Schalick with a career record of 293-138-28. He’s a member of the South Jersey Soccer Hall of Fame.

Mannino takes over for Kara Saunders, who had coached for 10 seasons.

Mannino inherits a rather large roster, particularly for a school the size of Wildwood Catholic, with approximately 25 players in the program.

Four-year starters Reagan Flickinger (B) and Maeve Farrell (MF) lead the way for the Crusaders. Senior F Megan Feketics is the team’s leading returning scorer after netting eight goals as a junior.

Other seniors include GK Grace Murphy, MF Stella Quinn and B Kristen Wareham. Juniors include MF Olive Cray, B Maggie Davenport, F Maggie Farrell, MF Lily King, MF/F Reese Manni, MF Brigid Peters, F Casey Sewell and F Lily DelMonte. Sophomores in the program are B Lauren Davenport, MF Lilah Sawyer, B Sami Manni, MF Grace Clark, B Aizlynn Mathias, F Alexa Regnier and Yae Billiris. Freshmen include B Isabella Perez, F Dani Delaney and B Lucy DelMonte.

Wildwood Catholic finished 10-8 overall and tied for second place in the Cape-Atlantic United Conference last season.

“The team must stay injury free,” Mannino said. “Hopefully, we can improve from last season’s record.”

Wildwood Catholic opens the season Wednesday at home against Bridgeton.