Olympic American looks strong in girls’ soccer again

While rankings are subjective, it would be difficult to find a follower of South Jersey girls' soccer who would argue against the Olympic Conference American Division being the area's best.

In fact, in many years, the American Division ranks with the best in the state.

The last five Group 4 state champions have resided in the American Division. Eastern won in 2005 and 2006, and Lenape has won the last three years.

Last year, three American Division teams finished in The Inquirer's Top 10 – No. 1 Lenape, No. 3 Washington Township, and No. 6 Eastern.

That doesn't count Shawnee, which finished No. 7 and is the main reason for this topic being brought up.

This year, the Olympic Conference has gone from three divisions to two in girls' soccer. The American Division has added Shawnee and Winslow Township to the existing five – Washington Township, Cherokee, Eastern, Cherry Hill East, and Lenape.

It just so happens that Shawnee could have one of its best teams in recent years. Lenape, despite losing all-South Jersey forward Katie Rigby because of a knee injury, is expected to remain among the South Jersey elite.

The same is said for Eastern, a team whose leading returning scorer is Madison Tiernan, who has spent time this preseason competing with the under-15 U.S. national team. That is the type of player who performs in the American Division.

So it's not a stretch to say that Eastern, Shawnee, and Lenape will make viable runs for the No. 1 spot in South Jersey.

And anybody who thinks that Washington Township or Cherokee won't appear in the Top 10 at some point has another thought coming.

So Shawnee's addition once again raises the competition meter in the American Division.

Last season, Shawnee went 18-4-1 and won the Olympic Conference Patriot Division. Now the competition increases, which pleases Shawnee senior forward Shannon Dennehey.

An Inquirer first-team all-South Jersey selection after totaling 21 goals and 11 assists, Dennehey revels in competing against the best teams.

"We didn't have an easy schedule, but this is a lot harder," Dennehey said. "I am excited about the competition."

Keep in mind that teams in the American Division play each other twice. And it's possible they could meet two other times – in the South Jersey Coaches Tournament, and in the South Jersey Group 4 tournament.

For some, that is too much.

"I hate it because you are playing the same American Division teams, and the games are so physical," Eastern coach Jamie McGroarty said. "It's good soccer, but it's a grind on the kids."

McGroarty would like to see American Division teams play each other once in the regular season, and each team in the National Division once.

While we're at it, the Olympic Conference National Division is no slouch, either. The main difference is that the National isn't as deep as the American, and it shouldn't be. The American has the higher-enrollment schools.

Yet the National Division is no picnic. The seven teams are Cherry Hill West, Triton, Timber Creek, Seneca, Paul VI, Camden Catholic, and Bishop Eustace.

Paul VI finished No. 2 in The Inquirer rankings, and some think the Eagles could go a step further this year, despite losing all-South Jersey forward Brittany Ratcliffe because of an ACL injury.

Bishop Eustace has generated some preseason Top 10 buzz, and Seneca and Timber Creek have Top 10 potential.

By the way, many teams in the American Division don't get much of a break outside of it, either, with Eastern a prime example. Among its non-division games are matchups against Paul VI, Bishop Eustace, and Seneca.

So Eastern and the rest of its American Division counterparts get very few breathers, especially this year, when South Jersey's best division somehow has become even more difficult, if that can be imagined.