Moments after Moorestown edged visiting Rancocas Valley, 1-0, on Sept. 24, losing goalkeeper Teresa Mathews already was thinking about the next meeting of the two Burlington County Liberty Division teams.

"Next time we see them, we will be completely different," the junior three-year starter said after turning away 12 of 13 shots.

That next time is tomorrow at RV, and players on both sides are on high alert. The winner will likely run the table and capture the division crown.

"Losing is not an option," Moorestown goalie Sydney Hyder said. "We want to win the division back."

Northern Burlington is the defending champion, and both Moorestown and Rancocas Valley have beaten the Greyhounds. But Moorestown is aching to get back the title it held the year before, when Hyder and fellow senior Karli Tobin became starters.

"We have been using practices and games to improve with this [game] in mind," Hyder said. "We had been winning by 1-0, and the offense got fed up. The offense has been pushing hard, and it has been showing."

After beating RV, the Quakers won their next four games by averaging 31/2 goals a game and allowing only one goal overall.

Meanwhile, Rancocas Valley, which had zero shots on Hyder last month, has increased its goal production, too. The Red Devils averaged three goals a game over the next five, during which Mathews allowed only two goals.

"The team is boosting its intensity," Rancocas Valley senior forward Shelby Aaronson said. "We were flat in bringing up the ball the last time. We weren't aggressive in the attacking circle.

"We've been trying to fix the mistakes in the Moorestown game and bring what we learned to other games we've been playing."

Fired up

When Cherry Hill West travels to Pennsauken Saturday for an Olympic Conference Patriot Division game, memories of their last meeting, on Sept. 17, will fuel the action.

Visiting Pennsauken nipped the Lions, 1-0, in overtime, prompting both sides to promise more intensity this time.

Carrying the action into overtime was a morale booster for West, an inexperienced team whose only victory was against Winslow Township, 2-1, on Oct. 3.

"Knowing that we tied in regulation will make the girls want to work harder," said senior back Laura Flanagan, the only four-year starter for West. "We kept them at 0-0 in regular time so we should be able to beat them."

West coach Heidi Brunswick said only 16 players dress for West.

Pennsauken dresses 25 players, and the Indians' goal is to make the playoffs. So every victory is precious in a division dominated by Shawnee.

Freshman forward Alexis Ammons scored Pennsauken's winning goal the last time, so West's defense will be paying attention to her and senior forward Brianna Benjamin, the team's top scorer.

Did you know?

The cutoff date for the playoffs is Oct. 22. Teams must have a .500 record or better to qualify. . . . Williamstown's Justine Mattia has been leading South Jersey in scoring. The junior forward had 16 goals through Monday. . . . Pitman senior center forward Brittany Creighton was the most valuable player on offense at the third annual Madelyn Chiomento Tournament. Clearview's Allison Kearsley was the MVP for the defense.

Unlucky 13

Lisa Patrone's No. 13 has become an unlucky number for most opposing teams this season because the Washington Township junior midfielder is so difficult to stop. Patrone scored the winning goal as well as the one that tied No. 3 Shawnee in a dramatic, 3-2, come-from-behind victory Oct. 1 in an Olympic Conference interdivisional game.

Quote of the week

"I want a goal right now," Kingsway coach Sara Lewis said with 9 minutes, 26 seconds remaining in the first half of a scoreless tie with visiting Williamstown on Saturday.