The Palmyra High School boys’ soccer team put the pressure on opponent Woodbury early and often in the first half of their Oct. 25 match, scoring three goals during the Panthers’ 5-0 shutout victory in the opening round of the South Jersey Group 1 playoffs.
After several strong runs by the team’s offense, Palmyra left winger Abdulazeez Iyiola moved in front of the goal and drilled the ball into the back of the net for the game’s first goal.
With 9:40 left in the half, forward and midfielder Andrew Santoro blasted a 16-yard shot into the bottom left corner to bring the Panthers’ lead to 2-0, and followed with a second goal seven minutes later to put them in control at halftime.
In the game’s second half, fans in the bleachers went wild when Santoro scored his third goal of the game for a hat trick and his team-leading 14th goal of the season. Midfielder Connor Jones scored the fifth goal.
Setting up the final four goals were forward Kian Briant and midfielder Luke Cannuli, who each were credited with two assists. Overall, the team made crisp, accurate passes and moved the ball quickly, including on the back line of the defense that helped sophomore goalie Deakon Haines earn the shutout.
Head coach Mike Papenberg and his staff encouraged the players throughout the match to execute the well-designed game plan of going to the weak-side wings while attacking, then crossing the ball into the goal mouth. On defense, the backs got the ball out of danger with quick passes often to the outside.
As of The Sun’s deadline, second-seeded Palmyra was slated to host seventh-seeded Riverside on Saturday, Oct. 28, in the second round of the playoffs.
Since humble beginnings in the 1970s, Palmyra has evolved into a Group 1 power. The Panthers earned a state championship in 2009, sharing the crown with Hillsborough after the teams played to a 0-0 tie during 100 minutes of soccer.
This season’s record is 16-2-1; one of Palmyra’s losses was to Cinnaminson, which beat Willingboro, 5-0, in the first round of the South Jersey Group 2 playoffs on Oct. 25. The four leading scorers for the Panthers this year are Santoro with 14 goals, midfielder Jaden Jennings with 10, senior midfielder Richie Butler with nine and Iyiola with eight.
Seniors hoping for a championship are forward Julian Carlino, Butler, Iyiola, Cannuli, fullback Jase Jennings, fullback John Bilkins, Santoro, forward Collum Curcie and midfielder Renato Godoy. Juniors this season include Jaden Jennings, Dean Maute, Cole McCamy, Connor McCann, Jones, Nolan Falicki, Xavier Oliver, Sam Adams, Justin Lopez, Carson Strobel and Michael Torres.
Upcoming sophomores and freshman include starting goalie Haines, Briant, Rian Austin, Brandon Howell, Justin Butler, Patrick Broadbelt and Carter Priest.
