Star-studded Class of 2023 ready for induction into South Jersey Soccer Hall of Fame
The South Jersey Soccer Hall of Fame will induct its Class of 2023 on May 21 at Valleybrook Country Club.
For tickets or more information, please visit their website at sjsoccerhalloffame.teampages.com or email Jamie McGroarty and/or Tom Guida at tomguida12@gmail.com
The inductees are Abby (George) Carey, Kerri (Aiken) Christy, Becky (Petsch) Magee, Rob DiMeo, Kevin Hartwyk, Puntipa “Penny” Moltane, George Rhea, Karl Moehlmann, Ron Rauer and the 1988 Shawnee boys soccer team.
Abby (George) Carey
Haddonfield Class of 1995 graduate
All-Colonial Conference first team selection; three-time Inquirer, two-time Courier-Post All-South Jersey selection and a honorable mention selection to the Courier-Post All-Century Team.
Second female goalie in South Jersey history to record 50 career shutouts.
A 1,000-point scorer in basketball, finished as the program’s second all-time leading scorer with 1,052 points.
Earned 12 varsity letters, named Colonial Conference female Athlete of the Year
Named to the Haddonfield Memorial High School Athletic Hall of Fame and Camden County Sports Hall of Fame.
Played at Georgetown University, finished fifth in Hoyas history in saves and seventh in shutouts as well as a four-time Big East Academic All-Star.
Kerry (Aiken) Christy
Earned 12 varsity letters at Eastern High School
Point guard on a Vikings basketball team that won the South Jersey Invitational Basketball Tournament title and advanced to the state Group 4 final. Inducted into the SJIBT Hall of Fame in 2018.
Scored over 100 career goals in lacrosse.
Recorded a program-record 18 shutouts in fewer than two full seasons before moving back to her natural position of center midfielder and eventually center back.
A three-time all-conference selection and three-time NJGSCA All-State selection. She was a NSCAA Regional All-American in her final two seasons and was the school’s Wendy’s Heisman winner and an ESPN Rise All-State selection.
Her No. 17 jersey was retired by Eastern’s girls soccer program and she was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2022.
Played at La Salle University where she was a four-year starter and led the Explorers to three NCAA tournament appearances as well as two Atlantic 10 championships. She scored the winning penalty kick to power La Salle to the second title and was the A-10 Defensive Player of the Year in her senior year.
Rob DiMeo
Graduate of Lenape High School Class of 1992.
Selected to the NJSCA Group 4 state teams in his junior and senior seasons.
Finished career with 27 goals and 16 assists.
Four-year starter at Rowan University, named twice to the all-conference team and was a Regional All-American as a senior.
Won the David Logar Award for leadership, dedication and inspiration.
Played three seasons with the South Jersey Barons and was an undrafted invitee to the Philadelphia Kixx Preseason camp and played as a reserved team selection with Burnley FC in the United Kingdom.
Member of the Medford SC and helped lead the team to four Moyer Cups.
Kevin Hartwyk
Four-year letter winner at Washington Township, earning three all-conference selections.
Was a two-time All-South Jersey selection, including a first-teamer as a senior. He was named the SJSCA Midfield of the Year and was an Adidas All American.
A four-time New Jersey and Regional ODP Player.
Played at Monmouth University where he was a team MVP and earned the Joan Martin award, which symbolizes leadership both on and off the field.
In 2000, he was an Adidas ESPN camp invitee and was part of the 2000 U-18 National team USYA training camp.
Inducted into the Washington Township Sports Hall of Fame and was a County Local Athlete of the Year nominee.
Becky (Petsch) Magee
A three-sport standout – soccer, basketball and softball – at Delsea Regional High School.
A four-year starter at goalie in soccer, led the Crusaders to two Tri-County titles and an appearance in the South Jersey Group 3 final where they lost a 1-0 decision to nationally ranked Lacey.
Started 96 games and boasted a GAA of 0.92. A two-time NJGSCA All-State, All-South Jersey and all-conference selection.
Attended Rowan University where she was a four-year starter and produced records for wins in a season (17), shutouts (31), career wins (50), single-season shutouts (13) and saves in a season (179). She was the 1999 NJAC Rookie of the Year and, later as a senior, was a Regional All-American.
Works as a health and physical education teach at Williamstown High School and is an assistant coach with the girls’ soccer team.
Puntipa “Penny” Moltane
Has been a New Jersey Youth Soccer official and a high school official under the NJSIAA for over three decades.
Was the first female official of the ACCSOA and later became the Secretary for the organization.
Worked with the SJGSL for over 30 years and became a mentor for young/new officials.
Contributed to the sport as an assignor for the officials, including many of the area’s top soccer tournaments.
George Rhea
Played at Cherry Hill West High School and Glassboro State College, where he helped kick start the Profs’ program under coach Dan Gilmore.
After working as an assistant coach under Hall of Famer Ira Kosloff, Rhea took over the Penns Grove program where he guided the Red Devils to over 200 win over a 30-year career before stepping down last fall.
Named Coach of the Year in 2003, 2009 and 2022
Coached in the South Jersey Select program as well as owkring with the Medford Strikers Xtreme, A.C. Diablos and WPSL South Jersey Select team.
Worked on the SJSCA and NJSCA boards as well as being an Olympic Development evaluator and a long-time FIFA referee.
Karl Moehlmann
Was an assistant coach at Villanova (1978-1982 and junior varsity coach at Swarthmore College (1984-1988).
Coached 24 seasons at Cherry Hill East, compiling a 272-139-34 career record. His teams won nine Olympic Conference American Division championships (1989, 1991-1996, 1998 and 2009) and the South Jersey Group 4 title in 1998 when the Cougars went 19-2-2.
Guided East to seven Coaches Tournament finals, earning titles in 1989 and 2012.
Named the South Jersey Coach of the Year in 1998 and State Coach of the Year in 2012.
Inducted into the South Jersey Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame in 2014.
Coached the East volleyball coach to three state titles and more than 330 victories in two decades.
Ron Rauer
A three-year starter at Sterling High School, Rauer was a tri-captain and anchored the back line on the Silver Knights’ South Jersey championship squad in 1972.
Helped guide Sterling to a No. 1 ranking in South Jersey in 1972 and a No. 2 spot in 1973, a team that advanced to the Coaches Tournament final before falling to Kennedy.
Was a first-team All-Group 3 section and All-South Jersey honorable mention in 1973.
A four-year starter at defender for the University of Scranton helping the team earn two MAC championships and reached the Division III quarterfinals.
Was a key member of the Interboro teams in the early 1970s. He was a central defender/sweeper on the U18 New Jersey state champion team which made it to the National Cup East Coast Finals in 1973. He was part of nine consecutive league championship teams and four Carnegie Cup title squads and the only team from South Jersey to win the Tournament of Champions.
Treasurer and Director of the Recreation program for the Tarkill Soccer Club, where he started his soccer career in 1969.
Shawnee 1988 team
Selected as the Team of the Century by the Courier-Post with a 25-0-1 record, a SJSCA Coaches Tournament title, a South Jersey crown and the region’s first state Group 4 championship. The lone blemish was a 1-1 tie against Navy Plebes at Annapolis.
Led South Jersey in goals scored with 146, including a team-best 42 by Pete Schneiders, who earned South Jersey Midfielder of the Year status, and 38 by Jeff Zaun.
The defense was led by Andrew Steel and goalkeeper Mike Harrington as Shawnee held its opponents to 11 goals for a 0.42 GAA.
The team finished third in the country.
Team members were: Justin Pfeffer, Pete Rath (Capt.), David Stielau, Andrew Steel (Capt.), Walt Landen, Chris Sallade, Bob Hurley, Mark Palladino, Derek Steffen, Mike Harrington, Pete Schneiders, Tim Bourdon, David Lindsay, Chris McCarthy, Greg Brock, Alex Slonin, Brad Walsh, Ed Penberthy, Ted Keim, Shawn Taylor, Casey Reed, Jeff Zaun, Bonnie Schneider-Mgr.
Head coach: Brian Gibney, assistant coach Sam Maira.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: South Jersey Soccer Hall of Fame to induct Class of 2023
