Boy’s soccer begins its quest for a state title on Tuesday afternoon when #10 Pinelands comes to Cinnaminson for a 2pm contest. Here is our preview for the first round of the South, Group 2 Tournament.
#7 Cinnaminson: 9-6-3
#10 Pinelands: 11-7
Boy’s soccer begins the playoffs having lost three of their final four regular season games. All three losses came in overtime. The lone win came against Palmyra, 1-0. In their final game of the regular season, the Pirates fell to New Egypt 3-2.
A second of those three losses came against Rancocas Valley in overtime a couple of days before R.V. went on to win the Coaches Cup title.
Despite the losses, the Pirates defense has been stellar over the final two weeks of the season, allowing a total of only seven goals in the last eight games played. This includes three shutouts.
The Pirates outscored their opponents 26-20 during the regular season.
Cinnaminson won the South, Group 2 sectional title last season with a 4-0 victory over Audubon in the title game. It was their third shutout of the tournament. The Pirates lost to Hackettstown 3-1 in the Group 2 State Title game.
Pinelands comes into this game fresh off a 5-2 victory over Calvary Christian from Old Bridge. The Wildcats scored 13 goals over their final two regular season games.
This is the fourth consecutive appearance in the state tournament for Pinelands. In their three previous appearances, the Wildcats lost in the first round twice and all three times they were eliminated it came in the form of a shutout.
The 11 wins for Pinelands this year marks a high for the program over the past nine years as the Wildcats endured a handful of one-win, two-win and three-win seasons.
The Wildcats have two players in double-digit goals in Matt O’Connell with 18 and Denilson Salgado with 10. Keeper Dave Lunn made 102 saves this season.
Cinn City Sports will have coverage of this first round game vs Pinelands beginning this afternoon at 2pm. Follow us on Twitter for live updates throughout the game.
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