Florence has a firecracker of a forward and she happens to be the coach's daughter.
Lexi Smith, whose mother is head coach Gina Smith, enters her third season as a starter with 87 goals. The junior already has broken the school's career scoring record of 73, set by Melissa Bond in 1995.
Now Smith is going after the school's single-season scoring record of 46 set by assistant coach Dianne Carey-Stranko in 1992. Carey-Stranko is Lexi Smith's aunt and Gina Smith's sister.
Shawnee has two players who may help to determine the team's future this season. They are Elite Futures players Amily Arnot and Marissa Cutry.
A four-year starter, Arnot is a playmaking forward. A three-year starter, Cutry is listed as a defender but she is more of a midfielder with defensive and offensive responsibilities.
They are part of a nucleus around which a talented cast can thrive. -Bill Iezzi
Rancocas Valley has adopted a wait and see attitude towards the field hockey team.
The Red Devils have two returning starters, five letter winners, a goaltending job up for grabs and a group of eager players anxious to get varsity experience. - Bill Iezzi
Dan Mastromatteo, Holy Spirit's heavily recruited linebacker, said 20 schools were after him before he committed to North Carolina in early June.
The Tar Heels were one of 12 Division 1 programs who wanted him, he added.
Mastromatteo decommitted in late July, then recommitted in early August. He is happy with his decision.
Holy Spirit won the state Non-Public III football championship last season with a good team. This year's squad is deeper and is the favorite to win another state crown, this time in the less competitive Non-Public II.
Schools were reclassified by enrollment
If opponents thought there was a soft spot in the Spartans' armor at quarterback, they'd better think again.
Kaiwan Lewis, a rising senior linebacker at St. Joseph of Hammonton and one of the highest recruited players in South Jersey, has made an oral commitment to attend the University of South Carolina.
The 6-foot-2, 226-pound Lewis said he chose South Carolina over Florida and Florida State. He recently made unofficial visits to all three schools.
“I felt comfortable at the campus and really liked it there,” said Lewis, who had 79 tackles and six sacks last season.
With Council Rock Newtown's elimination from the Little League baseball Pennsylvania state tournament Wednesday, all eyes are on Erial.
In the first game of the New Jersey state Little League tournament, Erial is scheduled to take on Paramus at 5 p.m. Friday at the Monroe Township Little League Complex in Williamstown.
In a girls' basketball game featuring The Inquirer's top two rated teams, Sterling holds a 16-15 halftime lead over visiting Rancocas Valley.
Despite leading, Sterling has been hurt by 11 first half turnovers. Rachel Hodge has six points for Sterling while Lauren Gaskill has five points for Rancocas Valley.
Will Clearview be able to upset Cherokee Thursday in a South Group 4 softball quarterfinal?
Seeded 15th, Clearview sent home No. 2 seed Oakcrest Tuesday with a 3-2 win.
Cherokee is seeded seventh and is on a nine-game winning streak. Clearview has won its last three and is playing with confidence.
