The field hockey in the northwest corner of the state is always competitive and this year should be no exception. As usual, Voorhees and Warren Hills are expected to be among New Jersey's top teams, while Belvidere and Phillipsburg should make some noise come playoff time.
I'm also looking forward to a possible resurgence in the Hunterdon Central program, which is coming off three straight losing seasons for the first time since the late 1970s.
We also have new coaches at Voorhees and Phillipsburg. Former star player Taylor Webb takes over at her alma mater, while former assistant Jennifer Paulus replaces Carrie Saul at P'burg.
Let's take a closer look at all of the teams.
Note: Delaware Valley and South Hunterdon did not provide information despite numerous requests.
Belvidere
Coach: Kristin Gaitan (3rd season, 25-13-2)
2010 record: 14-6-1, 8-2 (second place Skyland Conference Valley Division)
Key returnees: MF Laura Cheatham, sr.; MF Kasey Keenan, sr.; MF Morgan Lucas, sr.; D McKenna Kels, sr.; GK Josee Ritter, sr.; F Tiffany McKenna, sr.; F Nicole DeHerde, jr.
Key losses: F Rachel Dalrymple (11 goals, 11 assists); F Taylor Rudd (16 goals).
Top newcomers: D Kristen Ostrzyzek, jr.; F Alison Bancroft, jr.
Outlook: County Seaters are back on the map after back-to-back winning campaigns under Gaitan, including last season's berth in the North 1, Group 1 playoffs where they lost on strokes to Mountain Lakes. Prior to that contest, Belvidere gave Phillipsburg all it could handle in a 3-2 loss. Seaters enjoyed a pair of six-game win streaks in 2010 and despite the huge losses of Dalrymple and Rudd, are expected to be a contender this fall. McKenna led the team with 18 goals last season, while Ritter was solid in the cage, anchoring a defense that produced 10 shutouts.
Hackettstown
Coach: Stephen Speirs (2nd season, 8-8-1)
2010 record: 8-8-1, 5-2-1 (second place NJAC Freedom Division)
Key returnees: F Kaitlin Perch, sr. (5 goals); F Megan Healy, sr.; GK Tanya Volkert, sr. (5 shutouts); D Rebecca Connelly, sr.; F Danielle DeGraw, sr.; D Julia Derco, jr.; F Stefania Swider, jr.
Key losses: F Meg Tillou (5 goals); D Brittany Drake (MVP); F Taylor Thorp (7 goals); F Marissa Keller; D Melissa Garcia; MF Taylor Zukoski; F Melissa Firth; MF Rachael Swider.
Top newcomers: MF Nicole Andes, so.; D Kelsey Connelly, so.; MF Nicole Felicetti, so.; F Sierramarie Fitzgerald, so.
Outlook: Tigers were hit extremely hard by graduation, losing eight starters, including standout back Brittany Drake. If Hackettstown was still in the Skyland Conference it would likely be facing a long season. However, in the NJAC Freedom, the Tigers should be able to compete and possibly be around the .500 mark again this season. The 2010 team went 1-1 in the postseason, falling 3-0 to eventual runner-up Newton in the North 1, Group 2 section. Perch, Healy and Volkert are a solid trio to build around this fall.
Hunterdon Central
Coach: Jenn Sponzo (12th season, 163-75-16)
2010 record: 3-12-1, 2-9-1 Skyland Conference Delaware Division
Key returnees: F Kim Engelhart, sr.; F Rebecca Jaeger, sr.; F Nicole Barrett, jr.; MF Kristen Given, sr.; MF Julie Earle, sr.
Key losses: F Allison Canonico; F Ashley Gargano; GK Christina Kossak.
Top newcomers: MF Allison Baligian, so.; D Chloe Maurice, jr.D Emily Zengel, jr.D Faith Harper; GK Fran Orella, jr.; GK Amanda Calamito, jr.; D Annie Hosler, so.
Outlook: Red Devils struggled in every phase last season, posting the program's lowest win total since the 1986 team went 2-6-1. However, Sponzo feels this year's squad is "a new team with a new attitude." Offensively, Central scored 11 goals in 16 games last season, so getting the ball in the cage is a top priority. Engelhart and Barrett, along with Jaeger will be responsible for that phase. A young defense and relative inexperience in the cage are other areas to watch. Sponzo, who is two wins away from passing Sandy Chronic for most coaching wins, said the group has worked hard and is excited about the season. That's coming from a highly-successful coach that doesn't sling around unwarranted praise. It will be good to see Central, which has won five sectional titles under Sponzo, get back in the mix.
North Hunterdon
Coach: Stacy Ditze (4th season, 32-43-2)
2010 record: 7-12-2, 4-6-2 Skyland Conference Delaware Division
Key returnees: MF Jenn Lambert, sr.; F Monica Chamberlin, sr.; D Michaela Martino, sr.; MF/D Sam Kose, sr.
Key losses: F Alyssa Fania (7 goals, 10 assists); F Maggie Meurer (8 goals); GK Lindsay D'Alessandro (6 shutouts).
Outlook: Lions, who lost on strokes to Randolph in the North 1, Group 4 playoffs in 2010, are extremely young and inexperienced with only four returning letterwinners. Lambert and Chamberlin are the only players with varsity experience. Ditze, who has done a nice job as both the field hockey and lacrosse coach at North, is counting on Martino at the center back spot to lead a junior-laden defense. Expect the Lions to struggle in a tough division, but also expect improvement as the season wears on.
North Warren
Coach: Laura (Elmo) Kasa (2nd season, 0-19)
2010 record: 0-19, 0-10 Skyland Conference Valley Division
Key returnees: GK Madison Moore, sr.; D Kathleen Wadiak, so.
Key losses: None.
Top newcomers: F Jessica Towey, fr.; MF Kali Thies, so.
Outlook: There's nowhere to go but up for the Patriots after a winless campaign. North Warren enters the season on a 23-game losing skid after losing the final four games in 2009. Pats' last win was 2-1 in overtime against North Plainfield on Oct. 22, 2009. Kasa returns everyone from a year ago, including sophomores Laura Gessler and Rebecca Hendershot, who scored the only goals in 19 games. Improving the offense will be the first task, since you can't win if you can't put the ball in the cage. Defensively, Moore will need to keep opponents from doing the same after North gave up 96 goals in 2010.
Phillipsburg
Coach: Jennifer Paulus (first season)
2010 record: 16-7, 8-4 Skyland Conference Raritan Division
Key returnees: F Lauren Nunes, sr. (13 goals, 20 assists); F Priscilla Howell, sr. (21 goals); F Katie Decker, jr. (8 goals); MF Molly Zgoda, jr. (5 goals); GK Brittany Lavin, jr.
Key losses: D Taylor Bay Sutton (9 goals, 10 assists); D Allison Blazejewski; MF Justine Schultz (9 assists); F Melissa Sheenan (8 goals).
Top newcomers: F Clare Smith, jr.; MF Mariya Saydek, jr.; MF Cassie Fortuna, sr.; D Allyson Butler, jr.; D Autumn Marinelli, sr.; D Renee Custodio, jr.; F Kelly Jankowski, so.; D Lindsay Collins, fr.
Outlook: Stateliners are coming off one of their best seasons under former coach Carrie Saul, who stepped down this past offseason to spend time with her family. Saul's teams went 109-105-8 in her 11 seasons and suffered a disappointing end to last year when the 'Liners were disqualified from playing in the North 1, Group 4 final for playing too many games. Paulus is excited for her first season in charge and will count on a talented forward line, led by Nunes and Howell. Defense will be a question with the graduation of Sutton, one of the program's top players in recent memory. Expect the Stateliners to be a major player in a ridiculously tough Raritan Division.
Voorhees
Coach: Taylor Webb (first season)
2010 record: 22-1, 12-0 (first place Skyland Conference Raritan Division)
Key returnees: F Antoinette Metzler (9 goals), sr.; MF Cat Chen, sr.; F/MF Tori Crans, so.; MF Erin Miller (13 goals), sr.; F Kat Francis, sr.; GK Kimmie Pianucci (14 shutouts), sr.; D Taylor Irving, sr.; F Ashley Kerekgyarto (7 goals), so.
Key losses: MF Colleen Boyce (33 goals, school record); MF/D Theresa Kolodzieski; MF Kristen Harrison; MF Jill Martinko.
Outlook: Vikings have a rich tradition and a new coach this season, as Webb takes over for Beth Stocker. During Stocker's eight seasons, Voorhees went 130-32-9 overall, the second-most wins for any coach in school history, while capturing four conference titles and one sectional championship. Webb, a former midfielder, was one of the best players in school history and is embarking on her first head coaching stint. The Vikes lost one of the school's best ever in Boyce, along with a solid midfield group. Miller and Metzler will have to pick up the bulk of the scoring, while Pianucci is one of the top keepers around, posting 14 shutouts for a defense that didn't allow a goal for eight straight games last season en route to a North 2, Group 2 sectional final appearance.
Warren Hills
Coach: Laurie Kerr (11th season, 175-57-11)
2010 record: 16-6, 9-3 Skyland Conference Raritan Division
Key returnees: F Lindsey Schott, sr. (21 goals); MF Niki Miller, jr. (8 goals, 7 assists); MF Nikki Schott, so. (6 goals, 16 assists); MF Jamie Miller, sr.; D Whitney Kowski, sr.; D Jen Hylkema, sr.; GK Katie Wintersteen, jr. (11 shutouts); F Sarah Detrick, sr.; F Kayla Grater, sr.; D Caitlin Clark, sr.; F Meghan Dempski, jr.
Key losses: F Tori Popinko (9 goals, 8 assists); MF Lauren Brands.
Top newcomers: F Sydney Muntone, fr.; MF Nikki Profita, fr.; D Amanda Crampton, fr.
Outlook: Blue Streaks have been a major player in both conference and state play during Kerr's entire tenure at the Warren County school and this year will be no exception. Warren Hills is loaded with talent, starting with Lindsey Schott and Nikki Miller. Schott is one of the school's most prolific scorers with career numbers of 45 goals and 30 assists. Miller emerged as a star last season as a sophomore and anchors a solid midfield, along with Nikki Schott, who was an impact freshman in 2010. Speaking of freshmen, watch Sydney Muntone, Amanda Crampton and Nikki Profita who lead a new wave of incoming talent. Kowski and Hylkema are solid defenders. In the cage, Wintersteen has worked hard this offseason and her play will be key if the Streaks are to reclaim a North 2, Group 3 title and go deep in the Group 3 playoffs.
Great job Mike, as always! Miss you! BS!!!
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