Southern turns the tide, upsets Cherokee to win South Jersey Group 4 Championship

MARLTON – After Cherokee ended Southern Regional’s season in the last three straight South Jersey Group 4 semi-finals, the Rams seniors decided enough is enough. Led by 4 goals from senior midfielder Delaney Falk, 2 goals from senior attacker Meri Cassidy, and 1 goal from senior attacker Piper Murray, second-seeded Southern turned the tide on the Chiefs, defeating top-seeded Cherokee by a score of 7-3 to win the South Jersey Group 4 Sectional Championship, the first in school history. Falk, senior Avery Smith, and freshman Jayden Georgeson each tallied an assist in the win. Junior goalie Adyson Griffin stood on her head, stopping six shots, including three from point-blank range in the third period when Southern was clinging to a 5-2 lead.

Cherokee sophomore Abby Ball opened the scoring 1:39 seconds into the game on a gorgeous over the shoulder shot. Falk answered back 1:10 seconds later, tying the game at 1. Cherokee scored with 3:14 left in the first, ending the quarter with a 2-1 lead. Falk opened the second quarter scoring at the 9:19 mark before her beautiful assist to Cassidy with 1:08 to go in the first half made the game 3-2. Falk and Cassidy would do it again in the third quarter, giving Southern a 5-2 lead they would carry into the fourth. Cherokee would strike first in the closing stanza with 8:40 left. Murray answered back at the 7:11 mark, and Falk closed out the game, netting her fourth score with 4:48 left in the game. Southern’s defense was rock solid all game, holding Cherokee’s high scoring offense to 3 goals which is 8.5 goals below their season average. Junior defender Julia Barry forced 2 turnovers while sophomore defender Kayden Bulger also forced a turnover.

“Defense wins championships!” said Southern Head Coach Lori Johnson. “The defense was outstanding today. They played tough, they had great slides, and great communication. And what can I say about Adyson. She has been outstanding throughout the state playoffs especially in the semi-finals against Montgomery and today against Cherokee.”

“I called timeout with 2:48 left in the game. I asked our seniors what they wanted their legacy to be. I said you are just over 2 minutes from winning the schools first sectional championship. Some of the girls started to get emotional, and I told them you can’t cry yet! These seniors won this for every class that came before them. I’ve known some of these girls since they started playing in our rec program in 2nd grade. I’ve seen them grow into amazing lacrosse players, leaders, and young women. I couldn’t be more proud of them and the whole team.”

“To be able to break through against a historically tough Cherokee team this year was absolutely amazing. Our team has grown so much, individually and as a team this season and really came together. They all care about each other, on and off the field, and the confidence that maybe they didn’t have the past 3 seasons when we faced Cherokee, really shined through today.”

Southern moves on to face Westfield, who just won the North Jersey Sectional Championship, for the overall Group 4 State Championship. The game will be on either Friday or Saturday at a location that has yet to be determined.