Belvidere ready to make postseason run

Belvidere's field hockey team has a long and storied tradition. Once a Group 1 powerhouse, the County Seaters are well aware of their past as the present group keeps an eye on the prize.

"Being [14-3] says a lot for where we are [as a program]," said third-year coach Kristin Gaitan, who has guided the Warren County school to three consecutive winning seasons after inheriting a program that finished 6-11 in 2008. "I'm proud of this team."

Belvidere was awarded the top seed on Monday for the upcoming NJSIAA North 1, Group 1 sectional playoffs. The Seaters will host the winner of the first-round game between No. 9 North Warren and No. 8 Montclair Kimberley to played on Thursday.

Gaitan's team, which is chasing the school's first sectional title and playoff win since 1996, would love a rematch with Montclair Kimberley, which knocked Belvidere out in the first round a year ago, 2-1, on penalty strokes. In 2009, the Seaters lost a tough 2-1 decision to Mountain Lakes, the No. 3 seed in this year's bracket.

Senior forward Tiffany McKenna has been the offensive catalyst this season with a team-high 23 goals. McKenna has been battling a quad injury and hasn't scored in the team's last four games, including a 5-1 loss to High Point in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex semifinals.

Senior center midfielder Kasey Keenan (6 goals, 9 assists) and junior forward Nicole DeHerde (8 goals, 8 assists) are also having fine seasons. Senior goalie Josee Ritter has anchored a defense that's produced 11 shutouts.

"[Kasey] is a big player for us," said Gaitan, whose teams are 39-16-2 overall following Monday's 2-0 win over Delaware Valley.

Gaitan guided Belvidere to its first-ever HWS semifinal and despite the loss, was honored to play against a quality team like High Point and welcomed the stiff competition.

"It was a lesson," said Gaitan, a former star player at Newton under coach Lisa Bechtel in the early 1990s. "We needed [that game]. I tried to pick up some of the better teams [in the Skyland Conference]. We play [independent games against] North Hunterdon and Phillipsburg."

Now, Belvidere will look to recapture some its past glory and its first state victory under Gaitan.

In all, Belvidere has won seven sectional titles and two Group 1 titles in its history. The Seaters have also reached the Group 1 final seven times, the last appearance in 1996, all under former coach Sally Ueberroth.