NJSIAA: Red Devils ready for their title shot

Hunterdon Central's field hockey team has absolutely nothing to lose heading into its championship showdown on Monday.

However, the Red Devils will be looking for exactly the opposite outcome when sixth-seeded Central travels to No. 1 seed Montgomery in a battle between Skyland Conference rivals for the North 2, Group 4 sectional crown.

Hunterdon Central (13-9) is back in the title game for the first time since 2008 and is seeking the program's first sectional championship since winning the last of its 11 titles in 2007. Coach Jenn Sponzo's team won three games a year ago, scoring a total of 11 goals in 16 games. It was the program's lowest win total since 1986.

Senior Kim Engelhart (18 goals) has been at the forefront of an offensive resurgence for the Hunterdon County school, which has scored 45 goals this season. Engelhart failed to score in 10 games this season and the Red Devils lost six of those contests.

However, Central has been getting it done of late on the defensive side with two 1-0 wins in its first two playoff games before a 2-1 triumph over West Windsor-North in the semifinals.

Junior goalie Fran Orella and junior back Chloe Maurice have helped anchor a defense that's produced seven shutouts this season.

Montgomery (15-4-1) features the best player on the field in senior midfielder Shari Jones, the team's leading scorer with 15 goals and 10 assists. Junior forward Erica Hrudowsky also has 15 goals for the coach Tiffany Trockenbrod's Cougars, who advanced to the title game with a 2-1 win in overtime against Middletown North.

Because the teams play in different divisions of the Skyland Conference, they did not meet during the regular season.

Skinny: The teams have a number of common opponents this season, but that really doesn't mean a whole lot at this time of year. Central has been on fire in the second half, winning eight of its last 10 games. The offense hasn't gotten much going with five goals in the last six games, so the Red Devils will need to get that corrected in this one. In games like this I tend to go with the team that has the best player and that would be the host with Jones. She's that good.

Pick: Montgomery, 2-1.