No. 1 seeds struggle in South Jersey playoffs

Always the ones with the biggest targets on their backs heading into the postseason, top seeds hit a couple bumps in the road in NJSIAA playoff action on Thursday as two of South Jersey’s top teams were taken down by eight seeds.

Top-seeded Clearview fell victim to eighth-seeded Egg Harbor Township in Mullica Hill. Jon Gjyleri scored a goal in each half and goalkeeper Hunter Barbieri made 13 saves to lead the Eagles to the upset.

EHT will take on fifth-seeded Washington Township in the Group 4 South semifinal on Monday afternoon. Washington Township edged Cherokee 1-0 on a Brett Guetens goal.

The other Group 4 semifinal will see No. 2 Williamstown hosting third-seeded Rancocas Valley. Rancocas Valley topped Shawnee 4-1 behind goals from Tyler Kazmierowicz, Danny Morgan, Kyle Sweeney and John Weeast and Williamstown edged Toms River North 1-0 on a Matt Fahey goal and a six-save clean sheet from Jason Saas.

The top seed in Group 3, Ocean City, dropped a 1-0 decision to Hammonton. Vincent Petulla scored the winner and Devin Piro made seven saves to keep the shutout.

One semifinal will see Hammonton visiting Cherry Hill West, which beat Seneca 3-0 behind goals from Ishmael Bokai, Jason Kahan and Dimitri Malliaros and an eight-save clean sheet from Andrew Robertson. The other semifinal will have Mainland, which beat Triton in the battle of Mustangs 5-0 and Central Regional, 1-0 winners over Pinelands.

In Group 2, Delran avoided the upset with a 5-3 win over Bordentown and will take on Robbinsville in Monday’s semifinal while Point Pleasant Boro topped Collingswood 4-1 to set up a semifinal against Haddonfield, 1-0 winners over second-seeded Middle Township.

Haddon Township was the only top seed not even put to the test on Thursday. Jared Green had a hat trick and four others scored to lead the Hawks to a 7-0 win. Kieran Burns made four saves to set a new program record with 33 clean sheets in the match.

Audubon will meet Haddon Township in one Monday semifinal after a 4-2 win over Maple Shade while Schalick advanced on PKs after a scoreless draw with Haddon Heights to set up a meeting No. 2 seed Glassboro, which got a hat trick from Danny Guerin in an 8-1 blowout of Gateway.

South Jersey Non-Public A’s semifinals will see top seed Christian Brothers against St. Joseph and No. 2 St. Augustine take on Notre Dame. Non-Public B’s semifinals will have top see Gil St. Bernard’s against Gloucester Catholic and No. 2 Wildwood Catholic taking on Holy Cross.