The northwest Jersey area is always strong and this year is no exception.
High Point, Voorhees and Warren Hills should all contend for postseason titles, while Phillipsburg is another team to keep a close eye on.
Here we go with the first of our weekly Top 10 polls. The top five teams were an easy call, not necessarily the order. Teams at 6-10, could change week-to-week, as there is some uncertainty with the bottom five before any games have been played.
1. Warren Hills -- Blue Streaks have reloaded once again and will look for their first sectional title since 2009 and their fifth under coach Laurie Kerr. It won't be easy as defending North 2, Group 3 champion Freehold Boro is in the same section and returns a wealth of talent from last year's Group 3 title team, including star midfielder Emily Wold. Warren Hills beat Freehold in the '09 final en route to a Group 3 final appearance. Forward Lindsey Schott and midfielder Niki Miller will lead a solid group, and keep an eye on a talented freshman class that should make an impact.
2. High Point -- Wildcats return eight starters from last year's team that finished 22-2 and reached the North 1, Group 3 final. Coach Bev Keur's squad is loaded on both ends. Offensively, forwards Nikki Hull (16 goals), Darby Smith (22) and Brittany Papa (16) combined for 54 goals in 2010. On defense, Bea Cannavale is one of the area's top backs and goalie Kelsey Stoll had 13 shutouts last season. The fun will come later in the season when High Point will have to go through both No. 1 Warren Hills and No. 3 Voorhees in search of a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex title. The 'Cats gave Voorhees all it could handle in a 1-0 semifinal loss in 2010, which snapped their 15-game win streak to start the season.
3. Voorhees -- Tough call to put the talented Vikings at this spot based on their track record against area teams. Since 2000, Voorhees is 108-15-7 overall against Hunterdon and Warren schools, including a 15-4-3 mark against Warren Hills. New coach Taylor Webb, a former star player at the Hunterdon County school, will be counting on midfielder Erin Miller and forward Antoinette Metzler to pick up some of the scoring load after the departure of star middie Colleen Boyce, who set the school record for goals last season with 33. Both are talented players. The Vikes have always been known for playing rock-solid defense and goalie Kimmie Pianucci is one of the best around. She anchored a D that produced 14 shutouts in 2010. Expect this group to be hungry after a disappointing loss in the North 2, Group 3 final.
4. Phillipsburg -- Stateliners also have a new coach in former assistant Jennifer Paulus, who inherits a team that reached the North 1, Group 4 final a year ago. Unfortunately, P'burg was disqualified from playing for its fifth sectional crown after playing too many games. Forward Lauren Nunes is one to watch after posting 13 goals and 20 assists as a junior. Priscilla Howell (21 goals) is also a staple on a potent forward line. Defense may be a question with the loss of back Taylor Bay Sutton, but junior goalie Brittany Lavin really played well down the stretch last season and will be a key to the team's success this fall.
5. Belvidere -- Should be plenty of excitement surrounding this team after a 14-6-1 finish and a berth in the North 1, Group 1 playoffs last season. Coach Kristin Gaitan's Seaters have made a resurgence in recent years for a tradition-rich program that captured seven sectional crowns from 1982-96 and made seven trips to the Group 1 final during that stretch (winning in '89 and '90). This year's squad is primed for another postseason run with forward Tiffany McKenna, who led the 2010 team with18 goals, and goalie Josee Ritter (10 shutouts) leading the way, along with back McKenna Kels. This team is the favorite in the Skyland Conference Valley Division and should make some serious noise in the playoffs.
6. Wallkill Valley -- Rangers have a strong nucleus with midfielder Brittany Harlos and back Kristina Garrera, along with solid goalie Emily Stukenborg. Harlos may be the top player in the area, despite only posting eight goals for an offensively-challenged squad last season. Her strong defensive presence and athleticism at center mid is invaluable. Stukenborg, a three-year starter in the cage, had nine shutouts a year ago for a stingy D. Still, coach Irene Chernati's team, which scored one goal or fewer in 14 games last season, will have to score if it wants to make a postseason push. Wallkill could use a return to form from forward Andreanna Nordland, who scored 17 goals as a freshman before last season's total of nine.
7. Vernon -- The Vikings were a bit of a surprise team in 2010, reaching the North 1, Group 4 semifinals before Phillipsburg's disqualification vaulted coach Hollyce Schoepp's team into the title game against Montclair. The offense took a hit with the graduation of Lauren Poppe, who led the team with 23 goals. However, with seven starters back this team could make another postseason run. Midfielder Steph Peterson (10 assists) and forwards Melody Prisco and Kayla Turner-Boss bear watching this season.
8. Newton -- Tough to put the Braves so low in the initial rankings because this is a strong program with an excellent coach. However, the losses from last season are huge, including star forward Ashley Mosner (22 goals), who is now playing at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Forward Melanie Rudio (12 goals) and midfielder Alicia Grotyohann are back, along with goalie Amanda Norman. Still, coach Lisa Bechtel will have to replace 39 of the team's 55 goals on offense. The defense, which was so strong last season, will have to step up with the loss of Harley McMahon to graduation.
9. Hunterdon Central -- Odd to put a team that won only three games last season into the rankings, but coach Jenn Sponzo believes this year's squad will make last year a distant memory. Central, which has won 11 sectional and three state titles in its fine history, scored only 11 goals in 14 games a year ago, so needless to say that offense will be key to any success this fall. Forwards Kim Engelhart and Rebecca Jaeger will be counted on to put the ball in the cage. New goalies Amanda Calamito and Fran Orella, who are battling for the full-time job, will have to keep it out.
10. Pope John -- The Lions experienced a disappointing 2010 season after a strong campaign the previous year in which they reached the HWS semifinals and won 17 games. Third-year coach Susan Blanchard thinks her team will be much improved this fall. Center midfielder Meghan Chrobock and a forward line that has some talent will be the keys. However, the defense is young with a relatively new goalie, so the Lions will need to grow in a hurry.
Homer
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