BRACKET
Monday, June 5
2-Shawnee (18-1) at 1-Moorestown (18-3)
TITLE HISTORY
Shawnee has won three sectional titles
Titles – 2010, 2013, 2016
Moorestown has won 14 sectional titles
Titles – 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Moorestown: Defeated 16th-seeded Highland, 19-0, in the opener. This was one of the most balanced efforts of the season with 13 different players scoring at least a goal. Megan McNulty led the team with four points and Maddie Miceli had six draw controls. Defeated ninth-seeded Hightstown, 18-0, in the quarterfinals. Katie Bianco led the charge with four goals and a combined three goals and six assists were added by Ava Johnson and Mae Murphy. Defeated fourth-seeded Ocean City, 16-7, in the semifinals. Bianco added seven more goals and racked up eight total points in the win. Miceli and Emma Greer combined for seven more goals.
Shawnee: Defeated 15th-seeded Timber Creek, 18-5, in the opener. Abby Davidson, Maddie Goulburn and Elle Trzaskawka combined for eight goals and five assists in the win. Six players scored at least twice and Mackenzie Borbi had 10 draw controls. Defeated seventh-seeded Northern Burlington in the quarterfinals. Trzaskawka added sig goals and five assists and Shawnee got an added 10 goals from Sydney MacDonald, Davidson and Bella Calvanese. Defeated third-seeded Cherry Hill West, 13-6, to punch a ticket to the sectional final. Borbi had nine draw controls to go with three goals and an assist. Trzaskawka added seven more points, continuing a scorching pace in the playoffs. Hannah Cornelius had five saves.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Mooresetown: Katie Bianco, So., A (66G, 14A, 80P, 14GB, 8DC, 5FT); Emma Greer, Jr., A (54G, 11A, 65P, 8GB, 3FT); Mae Murphy, So., M (37G, 12A, 49P, 37GB, 66DC, 20FT); Maddie Miceli, Jr., M (50G, 6A, 56P, 28GB, 97DC, 8FT), Danika Demas, Jr., G (76S, 103GA); Ava Johnson, Sr., A (27G, 22A, 49P, 19GB, 2DC, 3FT)
Shawnee: Mackenzie Borbi, So., M (40G, 11A, 51P, 14GB, 166DC, 12FT); Elle Trzaskawka, Sr., A (61G, 61A, 122P, 15GB, 8FT); Abby Davidson, So., A (45G, 4A, 49P, 12GB, 2DC, 3FT), Sydney MacDonald, Sr., M (36G, 37A, 73P, 21GB, 21DC, 6FT); Charlotte Kent, Jr., D (15FT, 42DC, 15GB, 5P); Abby Catalano, Sr., D/M (24G, 9A, 33P, 31GB, 61DC, 44FT)
KEY FACTOR: WHO WANTS IT MORE
Ask any player on either side what will make the difference in this game and most will say ‘Whoever wants it more.’ Most of the time that’s hyperbole, but not here. It’s one of the best rivalries in the state and these two will go at it for the 25th time in the state playoffs since 1988. It also marks the 14th time they’ve met with a sectional title on the line and third year in a row.
It was Moorestown winning the lone battle between these two during the regular season back on April 21. The trio of Megan McNulty, Katie Bianco and Maddie Miceli combined for 10 goals in the 14-10 victory. That gives the Quakers four wins in the last five head-to-head matchups against the Renegades over the past three seasons.
Miceli, Bianco and Emma Greer are the big three up front for Moorestown and their combined 170 goals equate to just below 55 percent of the team’s offense. If an opposing defense can somehow keep them in check, then the next wave comes forward in Mae Murphy, McNulty, Ava Johnson and Adelae Chierici. This team can hurt you from so many locations and with so many people. It’s not easy contending with that, especially when Miceli and Murphy are dominating on draws like they’ve done for most of the season.
Shawnee might be the only team in South Jersey that can match Moorestown’s star talent and depth throughout the lineup. The Renegades have two of the most well-rounded players in the state in Elle Trzaskawka and Mackenzie Borbi. Borbi’s wizardry on draws will be a big factor in this game and she has more draw controls (166) than Miceli and Murphy combined on Moorestown’s side (163). Don’t forget, she’s also a 40-goal scorer. Trzaskawka has an even 61 goals and 61 assists this year. She’s just as good at distributing as she is finishing. Hannah Cornelius has enjoyed a stellar season in goal and will give her team every possible opportunity to win this game.
THE PICK
Shawnee
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