Washington Township returns to South Jersey final; top seeds Haddon Township and Delran also advance in high school playoffs

After losing six of their last seven regular season games, the prospects for Washington Township winning another South Jersey Group 4 final for boys soccer weren’t looking too great.

But after three straight shutouts, including a 4-0 win over Egg Harbor on Monday, The Minutemen are back in the sectional final they won in 2014 and 2015 en route to their back-to-back state championships.

Arturo Serano had a hat trick and John Dalesandro had a pair of assists to lead Washington Township while goalkeeper Frank Borgesi had a four-save clean sheet.

Third-seeded Rancocas Valley advanced in the other sectional semifinal with a 4-1 win in the penalty shootout after a scoreless draw at No. 2 Williamstown.

Rancocas goalkeeper Dylan Mohan made a critical save in the shootout and was credited for nine saves on the day. Dylan Kazmierowicz, Tyler Kazmierowicz, Mike Findlay and Tyler Marlin all converted from the spot in the shootout while Williamstown’s lone shootout goal came from Jim Buchanan.

In Group 3, eighth-seeded Hammonton edged No. 4 Cherry Hill West to advance to the sectional final, where they will face No. 3 Mainland, which advanced on penalties after a scoreless draw with No. 7 Central Regional.

Top-seeded Delran will take on No. 7 Haddonfield in the Group 2 sectional final after they beat up on Robbinsville 4-0 and a Max Green goal made Haddonfield 1-0 winners over third-seeded Point Pleasant Boro.

The top seeds held serve in Group 1, setting up a 1 versus 2 final between top-seeded Haddon Township and Glassboro.

No. 2 Glassboro routed Schalick 7-1 to make it an astounding 23 goals in three playoff games while conceding just three times. Sinan Tuzcu has accounted for seven of those goals alone to lead the high-powered attack. Top seed Haddon Township got two first half goals and shut down Audubon the rest of the way to advance.

The top two seeds also advanced in South Jersey Non-Public A and B. Christian Brothers will play St. Augustine in the Non-Public A sectional final and Gill St. Bernard’s will face Wildwood Catholic in the Non-Public B final.

The sectional winners will compete in the state semifinals (North I vs North II, Central vs South) on November 15 and the state championships on Sunday, November 20 at Kean University. The Non-Public A and B championships will be played on Sunday, November 13.