By BRIAN TORTELLA
Correspondent
On X @tortreports
FRANKLINVILLE — Two days ago, coach Dan Matozzo and the rest of his Clearview Regional High girls soccer squad walked off their home field after a three-goal loss to Delsea Regional carrying several question marks.
Olivia Capecci and Adelyn McDonnell combined for three goals as the Crusaders cruised to a convincing victory — seemingly bringing all the momentum into Friday’s rematch in the first round of the South Jersey Coaches Cup Tournament.
However, it’s amazing what 48 hours can do.
After a great day of practice, during which much-needed adjustments were made, 12th-seeded Clearview flipped the script to stun No. 5 Delsea, 5-1, in the tournament’s opening round. The Coaches Cup corrals the top 16 teams in South Jersey in a single-elimination format.
“I think they just needed to see the girls play, and we made adjustments,” Matozzo said. “They have two outstanding forwards. More goals (this season) than our team combined. We had to keep a defensive structure, and we did. The girls listened to everything we went over and it went well. They work very hard. That was the biggest thing.
“It’s tough when you play a game and you’re going to play them again a couple days later. We did the same thing last year and it was just that same preparation. We lost to them earlier and we played a much better game the second time we were here. When you see what you’re going to face, visually rather than hear about it, it’s a big thing.”
The Pioneers were able to successfully contain Capecci and McDonnell, while finding much more offensive success.
Keira Shute and Natalie Gray wasted no time getting the Pioneers on the board, each scoring in the first 10 minutes. Samantha Ambrose gave Clearview a 3-0 lead at intermission.
“We didn’t have the finishing touch on Wednesday, but we brought it today,” said Gray, who led the team with two goals. “Through balls worked on Wednesday, and we knew they would work today. We used that. I think we knew we played really well in the first half on Wednesday, and we knew we had to keep the same intensity for today.”
The intensity certainly showed.
Gray, a sophomore, notched an insurance goal for the Pioneers 12 minutes into the second half after breaking away and getting a one-on-one opportunity against the goalie.
Clearview fell 3-2 to Delsea (14-3-1, 10-0 Tri-County Liberty) in the first round of the South Jersey Group 3 playoffs last year. Gray missed a similar shot in that game as a rookie.
A year later, she got her redemption.
“Last year in the playoff game (against Delsea), she had a chance to put us up, and she missed it,” Matozzo said. “Not that she did anything wrong, but as a freshman she went one vs. one (with the goalie) and missed a goal.
“I told her yesterday, ‘If you can get one of those, just finish one of those.’ That one she finished.”
She sure did. And so did the rest of the Pioneers (10-7-2, 2-3-2 Tri-County Royal) in a huge statement triumph.
“No, not because of the way the game went before,” Matozzo said when asked if he saw the 5-1 score coming. “I was figuring 2-1 again, but, you know, soccer’s cruel and rewarding at the same time. You just scored five goals on the team that hasn’t given up five all season. This was good. This was awesome.”
WHAT’S NEXT: Clearview faces the winner of Saturday’s game between No. 4 Cherokee and No. 13 Northern Burlington on Monday, time TBD. Delsea awaits its first-round opponent in the state playoffs.
