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SJ PoWER PoLL ..............S2 GAMES to WAtCH ...........S2 PLAYER oF tHE WEEk ................... S6
One-on-one with Township’s Amanda Attanasi
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SEPTEMBEr 11-17, 2019
Burlington Township, Timber Creek among local schools making their debut in girls volleyball in 2019 By MIKE MONOSTRA Sports Editor
Just before 3:45 p.m. last Wednesday, Northern Burlington’s Eimile Simpkins served the ball into play to open the Greyhounds’ girls volleyball match at Burlington Township. The Falcons managed to return the serve, forcing Northern Burlington to set up a play. Less than a minute later, Northern Burlington finished off the point to take a 1-0 lead. And yet, the loudest cheer after that point went up from the Burlington Township side of the court. The Falcons may have lost the point, but it didn’t matter. They made history simply by competing in the program’s first-ever varsity match.
Burlington Township is one of five high schools in South Jersey fielding girls volleyball teams for the first time in 2019. Many of these teams made their debuts last week, including the Falcons, who opened their first season at home against Northern Burlington. “They were super excited,” Burlington Township head coach Gemma Winkler said. “I thought they were going to be nervous. But they were excited, they were ready to play. … They were just into it, they love the sport and they finally get to play it at the high school level.” Every time Burlington Township touched the ball last Wednesday, it added another page to the history books. After dropping the first six points of the match, Burlington Township finally won its first point when sophomore Taylor Fitzpatrick made a solid hit that Northern Burlington failed to return. The celebration after winning the point was almost as if the team had won a match point in the playoffs. “We were just so excited,” senior Nancy Huynh said. “When you keep the play alive, you really worked hard for that point,” senior Ariana Nunez added. “It’s a little bit of confidence booster. We came together as a team. We passed, we set, we hit, we got the point.”
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Nunez, Huynh and Kaitlyn Walker are the most experienced players on Burlington Township. The three seniors all played volleyball at the club level and were some of the community members who advocated to the school board to add girls volleyball. Getting to play in their first varsity match was a dream come true. “I remember us as freshmen trying to get a team and we didn’t have one,” Walker said. “Now as seniors, seeing (the freshman class) get to play and knowing they’ll get four years of it is awesome to see.” Most of the remainder of Burlington Township’s roster consists of players with no previous volleyball experience. The three seniors were named captains and tasked with helping Winkler teach the basic fundamentals of the sport. “We just want to motivate the girls to do the best they can.,” Walker said. “When their heads are down, we pick them up and reassure them that it’s OK to make mistakes. It’s not the end of the world, it’s just volleyball.” The Falcons’ opponent on Day One, Northern Burlington, was an experienced team that had finished with a winning record the past two seasons. It wasn’t a surprise when Burlington Township lost both games to fall in its first match, However, the score was secondary. Just getting on the court and competing in a varsity match was all that mattered. “Playing in a game, it’s a little bit more pressure, especially because it’s please see VOLLEYBALL, page S5 MikE MoNoStRA/South Jersey Sports Weekly
Burlington Township’s Ariana nunez drifts under a ball during the Falcons’ first-ever varsity match against northern Burlington last Wednesday. nunez is one of three varsity captains for Burlington Township this season.
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SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY
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1. Eastern Field Hockey
Down 1-0 to Camden Catholic at halftime last tuesday, the Vikings got four goals from Anastasia Lukasheva in the second half to win their season opener. (Last week: 1)
2. Haddonfield Boys Cross Country
Seniors Andrew Gostovich, Stephen kasko and Martin Riddell swept the top three spots in a two-mile Colonial Conference batch meet last tuesday. (2)
3. Eastern Girls Soccer
kelli McGroarty and Riley tiernan each tallied one goal and one assist as the Vikings kicked off their season with a 3-1 win over Paul Vi last tuesday. (4)
4. Williamstown Football
the Braves will be challenged right out of the gate with all of their September games coming against teams that qualified for the playoffs in 2018. (3)
5. Moorestown Friends Girls Tennis
the Foxes began the defense of their 2018 Non-Public B state championship with a convincing 5-0 win over Haddon township last tuesday. (5)
6. Shawnee Football
the Renegades open the 2019 season with back-to-back games West Jersey Football League American divisional games, including a showdown at district-rival Cherokee on Friday. (6)
7. Moorestown Field Hockey
Five different players scored for Moorestown in the team’s 6-0 season-opening win against Bordentown last tuesday. (7)
8. Shawnee Girls Soccer
kiley Endres led the Renegades with a goal and two assists as Shawnee put up an impressive 4-0 win over Seneca on opening day. (8)
9. Camden Catholic Field Hockey
the irish put up a fight against the state’s top program, Eastern, last tuesday, leading the Vikings at halftime before falling short in the final 30 minutes. (Not ranked)
10.Haddonfield Girls Cross Country
the Bulldawgs will run in Colonial Conference batch meets every tuesday in September leading up to their first big meet, the Bowdoin Classic in New York, on Sept. 28. (10)
GAMES TO WATCH
S2 SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY — SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2019
BOYS SOCCER
The heart of Haddonfield
Seniors Tommy Mollis and Cole Roddy provide talent, leadership and experience By MIKE MONOSTRA Sports Editor
Senior Tommy Mollis and Cole Roddy were named two of Haddonfield boys soccer’s captains this season, but they’ve been leaders for the program since the first time they pulled on a jersey. “Coach Nixon always preaches leadership,” Roddy said. “Even as we were coming up through the program, we were always taught that the older guys and the younger guys have to take responsibility.” Mollis and Roddy entered the 2019 season as a formidable duo in the Haddonfield lineup. Mollis is coming off a season where he tallied 11 goals and 12 assists as the Bulldawgs’ center midfielder, while Roddy has established himself as Haddonfield’s leader on defense, using his speed and instincts to clear balls out of the the Bulldawgs’ end. Beyond their contributions on the field, however, head coach Ryan Nixon believes the leadership of Mollis, Roddy and the team’s other seniors is crucial to the program’s success in 2019. “They’re really trying to take the younger guys under their wing,” Nixon said. “They’re doing a really nice job of that.” Last year, Mollis established himself as a top-tier player in South Jersey. Starting at center
Friday, Sept. 13
Football: Rancocas vs. Williamstown 7 p.m. at Williamstown High School
MikE MoNoStRA/South Jersey Sports Weekly
Tommy Mollis gains control of a loose ball during haddonfield’s game last Tuesday against Triton. Mollis is coming off a 2018 season where he tallied 23 points for haddonfield and was named first team All-South Jersey at midfielder. midfield at the varsity level for the first time, Mollis took advantage of the opportunity and was a strong contributor on both sides of the ball. His efforts earned him a first team AllSouth Jersey selection. “After last year, starting there, I’m a lot more comfortable in that role now,” Mollis said. “I feel like that’s more my position to play.” While Mollis has already been honored as one of South Jersey’s top players, Nixon believes Roddy could join him this year as an All-South Jersey player with his ability to keep opponents from getting quality scoring chances on the net. The biggest change in Roddy’s role this year is how he’s become a more vocal leader on the back line. “I think a lot of the younger guys are starting to pick it up as far as understanding their positioning,” Roddy said. “I just try my best to make
Saturday, Sept. 14 Field Hockey: Eastern vs. oak knoll 10 a.m. at oak knoll in Summit
Sat. Sept. 14, Sun. Sept. 15
Moorestown Classic teams include Moorestown, Haddonfield, Cherry Hill East, Moorestown Friends 9 a.m. on Saturday, Noon on Sunday
sure we’re organized and in the right position to help keep goals out of the net.” While acknowledging how Mollis and Roddy are two of Haddonfield’s most talented players, Nixon added the pair’s work ethic may be what sticks out more than anything, calling both players the “heart and soul” of the Bulldawgs’ lineup. The pair’s heart and work ethic could be seen in what was a disappointing opening game last Tuesday against Triton. The Bulldawgs fell, 5-2, after a series of defensive miscues allowed the Mustangs to pull away early and lead nearly the entire game by multiple goals. Despite the outcome, Mollis and Roddy played the entire 80 minutes as if it were overtime of a playoff game. One example came early in the game. With Haddonfield down 2-0, Mollis please see BOYS SOCCEr, page S8
Monday, Sept. 16
Boys Soccer: Cinnaminson vs. Holy Cross 3:45 p.m. at Holy Cross
Monday, Sept. 16
Girls Soccer: Shawnee vs. Bishop Eustace 3:45 p.m. at Bishop Eustace
SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2019 – SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY
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SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY — SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2019
ONE ON ONE
Minutemaids’ scoring machine Washington Township junior Amanda Attanasi, who has scored at least one goal in all but three games of her high school career, lets loose in a one-on-one interview By RYAN LAWRENCE Sports Editor
If a softball player managed to reach base in 30 of her first 33 varsity games, or a basketball player knocked down at least one three-pointer in 30 of her first 33 games, or a lacrosse player tallied at least one goal in 30 of 33 games, they’d all be impressive accomplishments. But no one has ever confused soccer with being a high-scoring sport. So for anyone to score at least one goal in 30 of their first 33 high school games, it’d be downright remarkable. According to official NJSIAA stats via NJ.com, this is exactly what Washington Township junior Amanda Attanasi has accomplished after notching one of the Minutemaids' goals in a season-opening 4-2 win over Williamstown last week. “I believe it,” Washington Township girls soccer coach Katie Sachs said of the nearly-insane stat. After breaking out two years ago as a freshman, scoring 29 goals to help Township advance to the Group 4 state semifinals, Attanasi entered her junior year with 48 goals and 17 assists in 32 career games. “It shouldn’t (be that easy), but Amanda’s a really great player,” Sachs said of her top striker’s scoring touch. “The thing with Amanda is she is brutal when it comes to being competitive. She wants to win every game and she’ll do whatever she can to help the team win. She works really hard and, for her, it’s not so much about scoring goals, it’s about the team winning. She’s not trying to chase any records, that’s not her style. She just likes to play soccer and plays hard. She’s just a really great kid. We’re lucky to have her.” After scoring her 49th career goal, while at the midway point of her already-impressive high school career, Attanasi spoke with South Jersey Sports Weekly.
RYAN LAWRENCE/South Jersey Sports Weekly
After scoring a goal during Washington Township’s season-opening 4-2 win over Williamstown last week, junior Amanda Attanasi had scored at least one goal in 30 of the 33 varsity games she’s played in. Midway through her high school career, the talented striker has set bigger goals to tackle. South Jersey Sports Weekly: Scoring in soccer isn’t easy, right? This isn’t basketball or football. So what do you credit it to, have you always been a goal scorer? Attanasi: Yeah, kind of. I’ve just learned to play with different players, but I’ve been transitioning with the same players for club and for high school, so it kind of makes it a little easier, knowing everyone’s style of play. Knowing that they know how I want the ball makes it a lot easier for me to score the goals. SJSW: You’re just about halfway through your high school career. Looking back, what would you consider your best accomplishment? Attanasi: Probably scoring an overtime, game-winning goal my freshman year vs. Kingsway. Man, that was a game. We definitely underestimated Kingsway and we’re like, ‘Oh we’re going to win.’ So going to overtime, that feeling, and then winning it, it was an amazing feeling. SJSW: And what’s your biggest goal going forward, the thing you want to accomplish most? Attanasi: Definitely getting to 100 goals. I’m going to try. [Laughs]. SJSW: Your coach said you’re somebody who has been pretty competitive and intense since Day One as a freshman. What makes you tick? Attanasi: Just the love of the game since
I began playing when I was young, the players I’m around, I’ve been with most of them since I was young. SJSW: Who is your favorite player to watch in South Jersey who isn’t on your team? Someone you respect or like their style? Attanasi: I respect (Eastern’s) Riley Tiernan. Her skills are good, you don’t know where she’s going, ever. SJSW: How big is that rivalry with Eastern? Attanasi: Oh yeah, always competitive. We drop players, they drop players and it’s still an even match. It’ll be a good one this year. SJSW: On team bus trips, who is the funniest person on your team? Attanasi: Funniest person, I’d have to say Isabelle Pingol. SJSW: How about the smartest? Attanasi: Smartest? They’re all smart, they’ll all in like the top 20. SJSW: Who would you consider the toughest player on your team? Attanasi: Manon (Bada). She’s pretty tough. SJSW: Who is your favorite player on the women’s national team? Attanasi: Julie Johnston Ertz. SJSW: Should Carli Lloyd be allowed to play in the NFL? Attanasi: Nah.
SJSW: What, you think it should be an all-male sport or what? [laughs] Attanasi: She’s too old. SJSW: Great, now I feel old. But, and I’m going to show my age here, kickers can be old, there was a kicker for the New Orleans Saints back in the 90s who was in his mid-40s. And Tom Brady is what, 42? Attanasi: He just throws the ball. SJSW: [Laughs]. Who is your favorite Philly athlete? Attanasi: I like Rhys Hoskins. SJSW: Do you have a favorite team? Attanasi: Eagles. SJSW: Favorite thing to do when you’re not playing soccer? Attanasi: Sleep. SJSW: [Laughs]. I like that. Good one. Your sister is also on the team, right? Attanasi: Yeah. SJSW: There are also three sisters on this team, right? Coach Katie Sachs: The Castorina sisters. But (Attanasi) is a triplet. Only two of them (Amanda and Taylor) play. SJSW: What does your other sister (Paige) do? Attanasi: Cheers. SJSW: What’s your favorite thing about being a triplet? Attanasi: Sharing clothes probably. SJSW: Least favorite thing about being a triplet? Attanasi: Sharing a room. SJSW: I know you committed to James Madison University to keep playing soccer. What was it about JMU that you liked? Attanasi: I just like the coaching staff, the facilities, the program, how they talked me up. SJSW: Do you have a favorite movie? Attanasi: The 5th Wave. SJSW: Favorite school subject? Attanasi: Math. SJSW: OK, we’re at the state championship game and they’re announcing the starting lineups. Each player gets their own song to walk out to. What song are you picking? Attanasi: Yikes. I don’t know. [Laughs] SJSW: I put you on the spot there. Something that gets you hype? Attanasi: Probably “UCLA” by RL Grime. ■
SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2019 – SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY
VOLLEYBALL continued from page S1
home and we want to play well on our home court,” Nunez said. “But we made history, the first game ever for the school’s first volleyball team ever.” “We just made our first-ever point in history, first-ever serve in history, first-ever kill in history, first-ever dig,” Huynh said. “It was just so many firsts and I think we’re all so glad to be a part of the program.” Burlington Township is hoping to achieve another first soon: its first win.
Timber Creek charged up for volleyball debut
Excitement was also running high 25 miles away as Timber Creek girls volleyball prepared for its first-ever match. The Chargers got extra preparation time for their debut they did not have a match in the season’s first week. Timber Creek was scheduled to open its season at Winslow Township on Sept. 9. There may not have been a more lively preseason camp than the one Timber Creek head coach Chuck Newsom had this summer. After being a football coach for three decades, Newsom initially decided to step down from the football program to spend more time with his grandchildren. Shortly afterward, the girls volleyball head coach position opened up. Newsom jumped at the opportunity. “I started going to clinics, volleyball classes,” Newsom said. “I got track girls to come out and basketball players.” The enthusiasm for Timber Creek’s newest sports team was apparent from day one. Sixtyseven players tried out for the team this summer. Nearly all of them were playing competitive volleyball for the first time. “We’re out her to have fun, learn the basic rules and fundamentals, along with sportsmanship,” Newsom said. “This is a classy sport with a lot of quality people.” The two players on Timber Creek’s roster with club experience are serving as the program’s first varsity captains. Junior Mhylah Eiserman and
senior Keida McElroy both wanted Timber Creek to add volleyball for the past couple of years and are thrilled to finally be able to represent their school this season. “I started a couple years ago playing volleyball,” McElroy said. “So it was really exciting when we actually got a team that was going to compete with the other schools.” Eiserman and McElroy are almost like player-coaches, teaching many of the new players about the rules, positioning, how to rotate and basic skills. “It’s our first year, so a lot of people haven’t played before,” Eiserman said. Girls volleyball was added at all three Black Horse Pike Regional High School District schools this fall, with Highland and Triton also fielding teams for the first time. The three district high schools scrimmaged twice in the preseason, giving each other competitive matches early in the season. They will also play each other twice in the regular season. “We shared the gym with Highland all summer,” Newsom said. “We have a good relationship with them and the Triton coaches. We’re all starting together. It’s like a family unit.” The inaugural season is more about building a foundation than wins and losses for both Burlington Township and Timber Creek. Timber Creek’s roster features a lot of athleticism, with many players who compete in other sports such as basketball and track. While that athleticism could help the Chargers compete. Newsom said this season is about mastering the basic skills in the sport. “It’s a good group of kids, good athletes who are really embracing the sport,” Newsom said. “We’re having fun.” Winkler plans to set goals for each match for Burlington Township rather than focus on the team’s record. She also believes mastering the basics of the sport will set her team up for success years down the road. “As long as they are improving on their skills, as long as they’re building on what they’re doing and getting more consistent, I’m happy with it,” Winkler said. ■
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Mike Monostra/South Jersey Sports Weekly
Mhylah Eiserman and Keida McElroy are the captains on the first-ever Timber Creek girls volleyball team. Eiserman and McElroy are the only two players with club volleyball experience on the team.
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SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY
PLAYER OF THE WEEK!
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SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY — SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2019
FIELD HOCKEY
Easten rolls on without Heck
RYAN LAWRENCE/South Jersey Sports Weekly
Matthew D’Ottavi Moorestown Friends School Junior BOYS Soccer
It’s difficult to think of a better way to start the season then collecting a game-winning goal in double-overtime on the first day of the scholastic school year, and that’s exactly what D’Ottavi did. The talented Foxes junior captain tallied his second goal of the game in the second extra period against Princeton Day to lead Moorestown Friends to a 2-1 victory. D’Ottavi has been a consistent scorer at MFS since his arrival: he scored 25 goals in his first two seasons. Quotable: “He has already proven to be one of the top finishers in South Jersey and seems poised to take his game to another level,” said Moorestown Friends coach Mike Schlotterbeck. “He scored two big goals in our opener and both required strength and technique before the opportunity presented itself. Matt is tenacious. He’s a hardworking player who is also versatile. Last year, he stepped in at center back when we had a starter go down to injury. He is also a leader and has been selected as a tri-captain by his teammates.” ■
Eastern senior Kara Heck, who racked up 156 goals and 78 assists in 74 games in her first three varsity seasons, watches from the sidelines during a game at Cherry Hill East. Heck, who will play at Boston College next year, is out for the entirety of her senior season after undergoing right knee surgery in June.
The Vikings, No.1 in the nation, will play the field hockey season without two-time, first-team All-American Kara Heck By RYAN LAWRENCE Sports Editor
On Thursday afternoon, she found a spot at the end of the bench and watched. The action was fast and furious. But she had to resist her instinctual, competitive drive and stay off her legs. It felt unnatural, especially after being out on that field for three straight years as one of the state’s top field hockey players. For Eastern senior Kara Heck, this is like solitary confinement, except she has the best seat in the house for the activity she can’t join.
“It didn’t hit me at first, not until I was out here (this week), on the sidelines,” said Heck, who underwent ACL surgery on her right knee in June, shortly after suffering the injury in a lacrosse game. “It’s affecting me more now than when I got injured.” But on Friday, Heck was back on her legs, taking an important step. Nearly three months out from surgery, Heck was cleared to begin a light running program. Heck, the South Jersey Sports Weekly Player of the Year as a junior and a two-time MAX Hockey first-team AllAmerican (she was second-team as a freshman), will miss the entirety of her senior season. After scoring 156 goals and tallying 78 assists in 74 games, leading Eastern to a 74-4-1 record, three state titles and a Tournament of Champions championship last fall, Heck has to watch from the sidelines in 2019. While her teammates aim to collect an unprecedented 21st consecutive state championship this season, with arguably the toughest schedule in the coming two months, Heck won’t be able to do what she does best: compete. Eastern, No.1 in MAX Field Hockey’s preseason national high school rankings,
will play No.3 Oak Knoll (NJ), No.5 Cox (VA), No.10 Wyoming-Seminary (PA), No.15 Sacred Heart (KY) and No.18 New Trier (IL) this season. “It sucks I’m not out there with them, but I’m on the sidelines cheering them on,” the Boston College-bound Heck said. “I think our team is going to do just fine this year.” No, there’s no replacing Kara Heck, even when you have one of the deepest rosters in the state, which includes her younger sister, Ryleigh, a University of North Carolina commit who scored 44 goals as a freshman last season. But the Vikings are fortunate to field an experienced roster in 2019; they lost only two starters to graduation. Elisa Pettisani, a four-year starter, solidifies the defense in front of the talented senior goalie tandem of Lindsay Tripodo and Nina Santore. Kylie Zielinski, Tara Somers, Kendall Jung, and Amanda Middleman lead an experienced senior class. All nine seniors, including Heck, will play field hockey at the collegiate level next year. “We’ve got a lot of seniors that have been a part of this for a while and we have a nice junior class that has really developed and have been nice products of the program that can really step in and contribute,” Eastern coach Danyle Heilig said. “I think when you can look at your bench and see a few kids that you feel confident putting in for periods of time, I think it makes you feel better for sure.” But when those ultra-competitive games take place in the coming weeks, it’ll be easy to wonder how much better Eastern’s talented roster would be with Heck on the field. “Oh, I was shocked. It was a big shock,” Tripodo, who will play at Shippensburg University next season, said when she first heard about Heck’s injury late last spring. “But then I realized, we have so much talent. Our senior class has been playing together for our entire lives almost, since second grade. And we have a lot of younger talented players. Obviously it’s a devastating loss not having Kara with us, but we have other players that can’t replace her, but fill some of what she brought to our team.” The million dollar question is whether Eastern can repeat last year’s remarkable run: make it through the challenging regular season schedule unbeaten and remain undefeated en route to state and T of C titles, too. “I’m really confident because a lot of our players have skill, have been on varsity (for a while), I think we only have one first-year starter, but she knows the game and has been practicing with us,” said Santore, who will play at Quinnipiac University next year. “So I’m really confident.” Heck, meanwhile, will sharpen her cerebral field hockey skills. While she can’t physically contribute, she’s already been taking mental notes as she watches the game from a new perspective. She’ll please see HECK, page S8
SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2019 – SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY
Clearview’s Cody Scully tries to take the ball away from a Sterling attacker.
haddonfield’s Christian Ball slides toward a loose ball.
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Clearview goalkeeper Zane Martin punts the ball.
Numerous boys soccer teams from the Colonial Conference and TriCounty Conference opened up their 2019 seasons last Tuesday at West Deptford Park in the third annual Colonial vs. Tri-County Challenge. The 6 p.m. games last Tuesday featured Clearview taking on Sterling and Haddonfield battling Triton. Clearview took down Sterling, 6-0, while Triton defeated Haddonfield, 5-2. Clearview’s Vincent Fedoryka connects with a header.
robbie Albertson clears the ball out of Clearview’s end of the field.
All Photos: MikE MoNoStRA, South Jersey Sports Weekly
haddonfield’s Mike Zappetti throws the ball back into play.
Clearview’s Pearse Costello passes the ball to a teammate.
haddonfield’s Tommy Mollis gains control.
Cody Scully follows the play up the field for Clearview in the second half.
SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS WEEKLY — SEPTEMBER 11-17, 2019
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BOYS SOCCEr continued from page S2
muscled his way past multiple Triton defenders and got the ball into the box before being tackled, earning Haddonfield a penalty kick. Roddy converted for the Bulldawgs’ first goal. Later, with Haddonfield down, 5-2 and the outcome decided, Roddy showed why it’s important to continue competing until the final whistle. On one play in the offensive end, he dribbled his way past multiple Mustang defenders and fired a shot that deflected behind the Triton goal, earning Haddonfield a corner kick. Neither play made a difference in the outcome of the game, but it was an example of both players’ heart and it didn’t go unnoticed by Nixon, who said Mollis and Roddy personify Haddonfield’s philosophy of playing 100 percent, even when the team is down.
“One of the really positive things about this team and over the last couple years is I’ve been really fortunate and blessed to have kids who never quit,” Nixon said. “It doesn’t matter what the score is.” It also doesn’t matter what outsiders think of Haddonfield’s performance in the season’s opening game. Mollis and Roddy recall how Haddonfield also had a lopsided loss, 6-2, against Sterling early in the 2018 season. The Bulldawgs went on to win their next four games in a row and finished the year with a 15-7 record and a trip to the semifinals of the South Jersey Group 2 playoffs. “We don’t really listen to the expectations coming from the newspapers and stuff like that,” Mollis said. “We set our own expectations.” “We always have the same expectations,” Roddy added about the team’s goals. “Every game we’re going to come out and compete.” ■
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continued from page S6 satisfy her competitive drive by contributing to the team as quasi-coach. “I’m still here,” she said, “to help them get through all of those games.” Heck’s high school playing career has been cut short, but she’ll remain committed to the game in a new way. “Beyond the fact that she’s losing her senior year, she’s losing her last opportunity to play with her sister, she’s losing an opportunity to potentially set records where she could get her jersey retired, and as good as Kara is, she’s never been the state player of the year, if you can imagine that,” Heilig said. “So to me, that’s what’s really sad, she’s losing those opportunities. But I think everything happens for a reason and that it’ll make her hungrier at the next level.” ■
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*If your system breaks down for any reason during the fall or winter season, we’ll refund the cost of your tune-up or put it towards the cost of repair! **Electric or gas only; excludes oil. Coupon must be presented at time of service. May not be combined with any other offer. Residential only. © By Horizon Services, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Plumbing Lic # PL36BI01232300 – David Geiger, HIC reg. # 13VH05117300, EL.Lic. #34EI01207700, NJ Master HVACR contractor Lic. # 19HC00193700