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A championship weekend for pair of Middle teams

Members of the Middle Township High School girls cross country team are all smiles after winning Division 1 at the South Jersey Open at Delsea on Saturday.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

The Middle Township High School athletic program had a lot to celebrate over the last few days.

On Friday, the school’s field hockey team clinched its first-ever outright Cape-Atlantic National Conference championship with a win over Cedar Creek. 

And on Saturday, the school’s girls cross country team won its division at the South Jersey Open for the first time in program history.

Goalkeeper Amber Howatt set the field hockey program’s single-season shutout record in the 2-0 victory over the Pirates. It was her 12th of the season. Howatt has conceded just 10 goals through 16 games, none against CAL National opponents.

Kate Herlihy and Lexie Frank had the goals for Middle in the win over Cedar Creek. The Lady Panthers are 14-2 overall.

Friday’s win came just two days after Middle pulled off a 3-2 upset victory in overtime over CAL American Conference foe Ocean City.

Middle is next scheduled to play Tuesday at Delsea.

In girls cross country Saturday, Middle beat 11 other teams to win the South Jersey Open’s Division 1 title. The meet was held at Delsea Regional High School.

Middle posted 72 points to edge out Bishop Eustace and Schalick, which each finished with 78 points.

Freshman Sofia Jurusz led Middle with a fourth-place finish in 20:44. Fresman Emily Letts was 11th in 21:34. Other scorers for Middle included senior Alex Ramirez (15th place; 21:47), senior Catherine Bostard (27th place, 23:04) and freshman Maria Kurz (28th place, 23:05).

Wildwood Catholic’s Alyia Gray-Rivera finished 18th in 22:00.

Members of the Middle Township High School field hockey team celebrate clinching the CAL National Conference title and goalkeeper Amber Howatt’s record-setting 12th shutout of the season after Friday’s win over Cedar Creek.