By BRIAN TORTELLA
Correspondent
On X @tortreports
WEST DEPTFORD — The South Jersey Group 2 boys soccer championship on Friday should be an interesting one, as none of the top four seeds in the sectional bracket made it to the final. Instead, No. 6 Haddonfield outlasted second-seeded West Deptford in penalty kicks on Tuesday as the Haddons punched their ticket to face off against No. 5 Seneca, a surprise 1-0 winner over top-seeded Lindenwold — a team that had outscored its first two state playoff opponents 8-0.
“It’s hard to describe. I thought both sides played a really great game,” Haddonfield coach Ryan Nixon said. “Credit to West Deptford, they’ve had a really good season. We’ve seemed to put it together at the right time the last few years.
“Today was tough because of the conditions. Both teams, I really felt like, hung in there and weathered the storm, literally. I think West Deptford — as well as ourselves — were a little unlucky to make it all the way to PKs, which is an imperfect way to end a game and end the season.”
Playing in 16 miles-per-hour winds and a feels-like temperature dipping down to about 25 degrees, the game was scoreless through regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods. Junior goalie Adam Brand recorded his 10th shutout of the season, including the game-winning penalty kick save.
“I had to make a save. I just spoke it into existence,” Brand said. “It feels great, just to be winning one of these with these guys. It feels amazing going back to the South Jersey championship, where we ended it last year. It means everything. We have the same team as last year. We want it bad, as bad as everyone else.”
On Oct. 20, Haddonfield owned a subpar 6-8-2 record. Since then, the Bulldawgs have won five straight, including shutouts in all three of its playoff games — over Overbrook, defending Group 2 state champion Sterling, and West Deptford.
After falling short in the South Jersey Group 2 championship game to Sterling last year, the Bulldawgs have a shot at redemption when they travel to Seneca on Friday.
“I’m biased because I spend so much time around these guys, (but) Adam is up there with the best goalkeepers in South Jersey,” Nixon said. “Today he proved that. I’m extremely proud of the group. I’m obviously excited about the prospect of playing in our second straight South Jersey championship.”
Despite the loss, West Deptford enjoyed a successful 13-6-2 season under coach Timothy McAndrew, who stepped back into the head coaching role after stepping away in 2024.
“That’s what it comes down to. We should’ve finished one of our many opportunities throughout the game, and we didn’t,” McAndrew said. “The (PK) kickers put a lot of pressure on themselves. They feel like the world is on their shoulders, and in reality, we should’ve taken care of business in regulation. We didn’t.”
The Eagles battled through multiple injuries, including a season-ending one to their starting goalie on Oct. 15.
“It was amazing,” McAndrew continued. “I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to come back and work with these guys. I wouldn’t change a single thing about it. They worked so hard throughout the summer. They came into the preseason in great shape. We faced some adversity this year. We had a lot of injuries and they just kept working through it.”
WHAT’S NEXT: No. 6 Haddonfield travels to No. 5 Seneca on Friday for the South Jersey Group 2 championship. West Deptford’s season is complete.
