HWS championship preview info

Who: High Point Wildcats vs. Warren Hills Blue Streaks.

What: Third annual Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Field Hockey Tournament final.

Where: Vernon Township High School, Vernon, N.J.

When: Saturday, 4 p.m.

Records: High Point 15-0; Warren Hills 16-1.

Coaches: Bev Keur (306-111-14 in three stints over 21 seasons); Laurie Kerr (191-59-11 in 12 seasons).

Tournament history: High Point 6-2 (first finals appearance); Warren Hills 9-1 (2009 co-champ, 2010 runner-up).

Probable starting lineups:

High Point -- F Nikki Hull, sr. (14 goals-11 assists-39 points); F Darby Smith, jr. (19-5-33); F Brittany Papa, sr. (11-3-25); F Maureen Gill, jr. (6-5-17); MF Sashal Hagan, sr. (3-8-14); MF Sarah Clark, sr. (2-4-8); D Bea Cannavale, sr. (8-6-22); D Shannon Havens, sr. (0-0-0); D Kelsey Fleury, sr. (0-0-0); D Michaela Macken, jr. (0-0-0); GK Kelsey Stoll, sr. (7 shutouts, 63 saves, 8 goals allowed, 0.89 save percentage).

Warren Hills -- F Lindsey Schott, sr. (21 goals-12 assists-54 points); F Kayla Grater, sr. (11-0-22); F Sarah Detrick, sr. (2-5-9); MF Whitney Kowski, sr. (6-6-18); MF Niki Miller, jr. (15-8-38); MF Nikki Schott, so. (6-5-17); D Jamie Miller, sr. (0-1-1); D Jen Hylkema, sr. (1-4-6); D Amanda Crampton, fr. (1-3-5); D Caitlin Clark, sr. (0-1-1); GK Katie Wintersteen, jr. (11 shutouts, 55 saves, 11 goals allowed, 0.83 save percentage).

Notes: High Point is making its first-ever finals appearance after falling 1-0 to eventual champion Voorhees in last year's semifinals. Coach Bev Keur is 2-3 all-time against Warren Hills, including four meetings in the Group 3 semifinals (1996, '97, 2000, '02). High Point defeated North Hunterdon, 3-1, in the first round and South Hunterdon, 2-0, in the quarterfinals before Wednesday's 5-1 win over Belvidere in the semis. ... Forwards Nikki Hull and Darby Smith are among some elite company in program history. Nikki Hull and Darby Smith are both chasing High Point's career points mark held by Lesley Dube (112 from 1994-97). Hull enters the final with 35 goals and 28 assists in her career for 98 points, while Smith has 42 goals and 12 assists for 96 points. Dube holds the single-season (31 in '97) and career (50) goals records for the Wantage school. ... Warren Hills has advanced to seven county finals in its history, going 0-5 in games actually contested. The 2009 team was declared co-champion with Newton after the final game was never played due to scheduling conflicts. The Blue Streaks lost, 1-0, to Voorhees in the 2010 title game at Hackettstown. It is the only loss to date in HWS play for coach Laurie Kerr's team. Warren Hills defeated North Warren, 9-0, in the first round and beat Newton, 5-0, in the quarterfinals before Thursday's 8-1 win over Wallkill Valley in the semis. ... Forward Lindsey Schott is Warren Hills' all-time leader in goals (66), assists (42) and points (174). With a team-high 21 goals this season, she is five shy of tying Kate Alleger (26 in 1996) for the single-season mark and six points from tying Alleger (60 in 1996) for the single-season points mark. Schott also is six shy of matching Lauren Cuff (18 assists in 2002) for the school's single-season best in that category. Schott has recorded two of the program's six 20-goal seasons after notching 21 a year ago. ... Lindsey and Nikki Schott are among two pairs of sisters on the Warren Hills roster, along with junior midfielder Niki Miller and senior back Jamie Miller.

Breakdown: Battle of the two No. 1 seeds in the tourney. Both teams feature strong forward lines and stingy defenses. This one has all the makings for a classic final and it's a matchup that's been anticipated all season. Neither team has any common opponents. High Point, which plays its home games on grass, is built for turf and is 2-0 on Vernon's field this season. Hull and Smith pace an offense that is averaging 4.5 goals per game. Warren Hills features an abundance of skilled passers and is the deeper team off the bench. I think this game may come down to the goalkeepers, who both haven't been tested much this season. I anticipate a high-scoring affair.

The pick: Warren Hills 3-2.