Tues. S.J. boys' roundup: Absegami prevails

Brolin Cruz netted the decisive shot as eighth-seeded Absegami outlasted No. 9 seed Washington Township, 4-3 in penalty kicks, in Tuesday's opening round of the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 4 boys' soccer tournament.

Eric Jordan of Washington Township and the Braves' Payne Vazquez traded first-half goals, but then the defense took over - with Nick Ditullio recording nine saves for the Minutemen, and Absegami keeper Ryan Taylor turning aside seven shots.

In other South Jersey Group 4 first-round action:

Alex Ganci opened the scoring in the 70th minute by heading in a long thrown-in by Chris Grabert, and Ganci set up Shane Patterson's insurance goal three minutes later, leading seventh-seeded Clearview past No. 10 seed Toms River South, 2-0. Steve Keane (four saves) was perfect in goal for the Pioneers.

Top-seeded Cherokee grabbed the lead on goals by Bryan Ingham and Mike Ryan and then held on to defeat No. 16 seed Southern Regional, 2-1. Barry Fitzgerald earned the win with 11 saves.

Dan Feiser knocked in a feed from Adam Quinton in the first half, and Andrew McNellis (two saves) and the Williamstown defense made the lead stand up, as the fourth-seeded Braves ousted No. 13 seed Cherry Hill West, 1-0.

South Jersey Group 3. Justin Veltri picked up his own rebound, beat a defender and scored from in close with 3 minutes left in overtime for his team-leading 13th goal of the season, making seventh-seeded Oakcrest a 2-1 winner over No. 10 seed Delsea. The Crusaders forced the game into overtime, thanks to Christian Cortese's goal off a direct free kick with 10 minutes remaining in regulation.

Jacob Dowiak scored one goal and set up three to guide eighth-seeded Moorestown to a 6-1 romp past No. 9 seed Central Regional.

Austin Francis scored in the 24th minute and Burak Kilic added an insurance goal in the 60th minute, sealing fourth-seeded Burlington Township's 2-0 triumph over No. 13 seed Hammonton.

Kent Dimmig notched his 14th and 15th goals of the season and Eric Bihlear chipped in a pair of assists, sending fifth-seeded Seneca past No. 12 seed Cumberland, 3-1.

South Jersey Group 2. Kwesi Annoh accounted for all of the scoring in the match, putting in one goal and setting up teammates Peter DeLaGarza and Clevon McPherson, as 11th-seeded Pemberton upended No. 6 seed Bridgeton, 3-0.

Freshman Mark Staudenmayer put in a rebound for his third goal of the season with 15 minutes left in the first half, and senior sweeper Justin Redziniak played a solid game in front of goalie Joe Calenzo (three saves), allowing ninth-seeded Cinnaminson to edge No. 8 seed Sterling, 1-0.

Jacob Cowan's second goal of the match, on a penalty kick with 2:48 to go in the first half, put fourth-seeded Middle Township ahead to stay in a 5-2 triumph over No. 13 seed Buena.

Bernardo Mirando had a goal and an assist, Laris Brkic converted a penalty kick and Delran's staunch defense kept the ball away from goalie Nick Stone (one save), as the seventh-seeded Bears bounced No. 10 seed Deptford, 4-0.

Tim Krott and Kyle Redrow scored two goals apiece and Joey Mingrino added a pair of assists, paving the way for fifth-seeded West Deptford in a 6-0 defeat of No. 12 seed Collingswood.

The tandem of Austin McCleery (two goals) and Kevin Miller (three assists) proved too much for 14th-seeded Barnegat to handle, as No. 3 seed Haddon Heights cruised to a 4-0 home win.

Zack Smick's two goals paced a balanced attack that enabled second-seeded Woodstown to put away No. 15 seed GCIT, 5-0.

South Jersey Group 1. Kyle Kilvington volleyed home a throw-in by Drew DiPrinzio 6 minutes into overtime, giving seventh-seeded Audubon a 2-1 win over No. 10 seed Woodbury.

Lucas Barousse and Tim Bernard each scored twice and Jason Skidmore contributed a goal and two assists, highlighting fifth-seeded Glassboro's 6-0 romp past No. 12 seed Cedar Creek.

Chris DePierro netted a pair of penalty kicks in sixth-seeded Maple Shade's 6-1 win over No. 11 seed Wildwood.

Zach Curl led the offense with a hat trick while Scott LaPan and Brendan Anderson split time in the nets for top-seeded Haddon Township, which recorded its 12th shutout of the season in blanking No. 16 seed Paulsboro, 5-0.

Anthony Colofranson scored four times to tie the Gateway career record with 69 goals, and Ryan Wells added a pair of assists as the second-seeded Gators feasted on No. 15 seed Lindenwold, 6-1.

Third-seeded Schalick rode a hat trick by Daniel Bermudez to a 6-1 win over No. 14 seed Salem.

South Jersey Non-Public B. Sophomore Peter Bader buried a shot from 20 yards out and later knocked in a crossing pass from Dan Richards, leading seventh-seeded Moorestown Friends past No. 10 seed Mater Dei, 3-1.

Pat Roache scored twice and Jeff Wallace set up a pair of goals, as sixth-seeded Wildwood Catholic came on strong in the second half to finish off No. 11 seed Marist, 4-1.