Marc Narducci: Looking ahead to state soccer tournament

The boys' state soccer tournament begins Monday and the girls' competition opens Tuesday.

In both instances, it should be quite a ride. Parity reigns in South Jersey, and the sectional titles are clearly up for grabs.

The Lenape girls' team has won three straight state Group 4 titles and a fourth is likely, but the path appears more treacherous than in the recent past.

To illustrate how difficult South Jersey Group 4 is, Williamstown was unbeaten at the cutoff date when teams are seeded and the Braves earned only a third seed.

It's also dangerous to say that Lenape is vulnerable this year, as the Indians have again won South Jersey's top division (the Olympic American) and scored a thrilling, 2-1, double-overtime win over Absegami to win their fourth straight Coaches Tournament title.

Absegami, Shawnee (the only team to beat Lenape), Eastern, and probably one or two others are capable of beating the Indians. However, being capable and following through are two different things.

The same is the case in Group 4 boys, where close to half the field could make a claim of contending. For instance, Lenape is the No. 14 seed and last week tied Shawnee, which is the third seed, 1-1.

And now these two meet in a first-round game that won't be easy for either side.

And look at Group 2 boys for true depth. Last season, West Deptford was the South Jersey champion and the Eagles will again contend.

However, two-time defending state champ Delran and fellow Burlco power Cinnaminson were moved from the Central Jersey tournament to South Jersey, making the boys' Group 2 bracket as deep as ever.

Haddon Heights and Haddonfield also bear watching. Both beat West Deptford last week.

The same is true in girls' Group 2 where Cinnaminson and Delran add depth. Cinnaminson and West Deptford are the two favorites and played to a scoreless tie in the Coaches Tournament. Cinnaminson finally prevailed in penalty kicks. Delran won the Burlco Patriot and only lost by 1-0 to Cinnaminson, so the Bears should be formidable.

Nobody should fall asleep on defending state champion Haddonfield, making another patented late-season run. After losing, 4-0, earlier this season to West Deptford, the Bulldogs played the Eagles to a scoreless tie and beat Group 4 Cherokee last week.

Groups 1 and 3 are also wide open in both brackets. In Group 1, a school to watch in both the boys' and girls' playoffs tournament is Haddon Township, which moves from Group 2.

Timber Creek is another school that will be a threat in boys' and girls' Group 3.

South Jersey's top boys' team, St. Augustine Prep, is seeded first in Non-Public A, but navigating past Shore Conference Tournament champion Christian Brothers Academy won't be easy.

Some boys' teams which compete in the Central Jersey tournament which could bear watching are Rancocas Valley in Group 4 and defending state cochampion Palmyra in Group 1.

With teams in most brackets having to win four games just to earn a sectional title, there is no easy route, nor should there be. A championship should be difficult to earn and that has virtually been assured in every section involving South Jersey teams.