NJSIAA state soccer previews

Haddon Heights boys' soccer coach Jeff Eppright is making his first state-final appearance and savoring the experience.

Now in his 23d season with a 292-133-38 record, Eppright is enjoying every moment in this extended season. Haddon Heights is one of four South Jersey teams playing for a state soccer title this weekend.

The Cherokee boys and Lenape girls are in Group 4 finals, and Pennsville's girls are in the Group 1 title game.

Haddon Heights (19-2-2) will meet Cliffside Park (23-1) in the state Group 2 final at 4 p.m. Sunday at the College of New Jersey.

The Garnets extended their season by advancing on penalty kicks Tuesday against North Plainfield. The teams had played to a 1-1 draw through regulation and two overtimes before Heights won the penalty kicks, 4-2, at Washington Township.

"When we were taking penalty kicks, it was pouring rain and I didn't know it was raining," Eppright said. "That is how in tune we were. This has been just an incredible experience what this team has accomplished."

Eppright understands that his team will be an underdog against a Cliffside Park team that was nationally ranked before losing, 2-0, to Delran in last year's Group 2 state final.

"I told our guys all year we've been flying under the radar," Eppright said. "We've been the underdog a lot, and our players have enjoyed that role."

A team can't be too big an underdog when it has a threat such as Haddon Heights senior forward George Gans, who has scored a single-season school-record 31 goals.

Junior stopper Austin McCleery has been among South Jersey's top defenders and a vital part of starting the Haddon Heights attack from the back.

Cliffside Park, the state Group 2 cochampion in 2008 with Delran, is led by senior Exau Paz, who scored his 33d goal in Tuesday's 3-2 semifinal win over Glen Rock.

The Red Raiders' lone loss was a 2-1 defeat against Northern Highlands in the Bergen County Tournament. Haddon Heights' only losses were to West Deptford and Cherry Hill West.

Heights avenged the West Deptford loss by beating the Eagles, 2-0, in the final regular-season game, clinching the Colonial Conference Liberty Division.

Here is a look at the other three South Jersey teams in state finals.

State Group 4 final: Cherokee (16-5-2) vs. Hunterdon Central (18-5), Friday, 8 p.m. at the College of New Jersey. Cherokee has one of the most explosive scoring duos in junior Mike Ryan (24 goals) and senior Dave Schlatter (17).

Yet the Chiefs have advanced with neither Ryan nor Schlatter scoring the past two games. Goalie Barry Fitzgerald has led a strong defense that has allowed five goals in five postseason games.

Senior Sam Savoia, who scored in Tuesday's 1-0 semifinal win over Freehold Township, has been part of an extremely strong backline.

"The key for us is playing tough defense and having our forwards finding early success, playing a clean game in our defensive end in order to limit their set-piece opportunities," Cherokee coach Anthony Gallo said.

Cherokee will face a Hunterdon Central team coming off Tuesday's 3-2 win over West Orange in the semifinals. Trey Leggett has 16 goals, and Shane Kohler, who scored twice against West Orange, has 13.

Hunterdon Central coach Anson Smith says that Rutgers, Clemson, James Madison and St. John's are among the schools recruiting Leggett.

"Their forward Trey is the real deal," Gallo said. "He will earn much of our attention."

Yet not all of it.

"They have a couple of playmakers in the midfield and seem to capitalize on their set pieces," Gallo said.

Group 4 final: Lenape (22-1-2) vs. Livingston (22-2), Saturday, 12:15 p.m. at the College of New Jersey. Lenape, ranked No. 1 in South Jersey by The Inquirer, is attempting to earn its fourth straight state title.

The Indians advanced with Tuesday's 2-1 overtime win over Jackson. This team has a number of dangerous finishers, led by freshman Kate Walters, who has 19 goals.

Courtney Kovac, who scored the winner against Jackson, has 11 goals, and freshman Rachelle Ross, who also scored against Jackson, has nine.

Sweeper Morgan McDivitt leads a strong defense in front of one of South Jersey's top goalkeepers, Allison Johnson.

Livingston is led by Kate Schwindel, a 39-goal scorer headed to the University of West Virginia.

"The key to winning is containing Schwindel and playing solid team defense," Lenape coach Kevin Meder said.

While this is a young team, the fact that Lenape is making its fourth straight state-championship appearance should be a benefit.

"I like to think that our experience will serve us well," Meder said. "We know what it takes to win in the state final and shouldn't be in awe of the fact that it's a state final."

Group 1 final: Pennsville (16-6) vs. New Providence (17-3), Saturday, 5 p.m. at the College of New Jersey. The game time was switched Thursday from 2:30 to 5. New Providence has a Saturday football game, and the school wants its fans to be able to see both games.

Of course, Pennsville would play willingly any time.

"It's a great honor to be in the state final and to have a team of hardworking players," Pennsville coach Jill Schoenberg said.

The Eagles have picked an opportune time to play their best soccer of the season. Of the five playoff wins, three have been by a goal, including Tuesday's 3-2 victory over Point Pleasant Beach in a state semifinal.

"The players have stepped up their game and have stayed focused during the playoffs," Schoenberg said. "The girls have been playing well together as a team and have the talent and heart to win."

The Eagles also have some serious offensive ability.

Alex Smith leads the team with 33 goals, followed by Sarah Nickle (17), Chelsea Abhau (14), Abigail Nickle (9), and Brielyn Hackett (7). Goalie Dani Cornman has recorded 12 shutouts.

New Providence advanced with a 3-0 semifinal win over Belvidere. Sophomore Alex Schlobohm had two goals

Heading the attack is senior midfielder Gina Caprara, a College of New Jersey recruit who had a goal and an assist in the semifinal.