But three years later, and tough losses in the sectional semifinals and final the last two years, Miller and her teammates are finally on the brink of fulfilling a championship march that many predicted for the Streaks this season.
Warren Hills (20-2), the top seed, goes for its 10th sectional title and first since '09 when it hosts No. 2 South Plainfield in the North 2, Group 3 championship game on Wednesday at 2 p.m. The Streaks, who have made the finals 14 times since 1976, are 4-0 all time against the Tigers (21-1-1) in the playoffs, including back-to-back wins in the 2001 and '02 sectional finals. Only 12 schools, including South Hunterdon (14) and Hunterdon Central (12), have won 10 or more sectional championships in state tournament history.
"We say it all the time that this is the team," said Miller, a senior captain and the school's career assists leader, as well as the single-season record holder in assists and points. "We feel it. It feels like it did my freshman year. We could go that far once again."
Despite being an extremely youthful team, Warren Hills is playing like a veteran group. Miller is leading the way with a team-high 24 goals and 26 assists on a potent forward line that includes talented sophomores Sydney Muntone (17 goals, 11 assists) and Nikki Profita (14, 14). Sophomore Jessica Nissen, who scored three goals in Monday's 6-3 win over Chatham in the semifinals, has 14 goals.
"It's nice playing with skilled young players," said Miller, who has 60 career goals and is three shy of Lindsey Schott's single-season mark of 27 in 2011. "They listen to you and respect you more [as a senior]. You tell them what to do and they'll do it. It's nice working with a young team that is so talented. We're cutting to the ball nicely and passing more. Everyone plays for the team and not for themselves as much."
Miller, who has gone without a goal or an assist in only three games this season, also sees a bright future for these sophomores in the coming years.
"In past years, there was maybe only one freshman playing varsity minutes," she said. "Last year, so many were playing and starting. By their senior year they'll know each other's strengths and weaknesses."
Warren Hills has been a major player in the postseason since its first trip to the Group 3 finals in 1996 under former coach Luanne Ferenci. Since 13-year coach Laurie Kerr, a 1987 Warren Hills graduate and former star player under Ferenci took over in 2000, the Streaks have gone 27-12 in postseason games with eight sectional finals appearances (five titles) and four trips to the Group 3 final.
If the Streaks are to make another deep run, the defense, which has allowed seven goals in the last three games, will have to tighten things up. Backs Amanda Crampton and Meghan Dempski help anchor the unit, along with senior goalie Katie Wintersteen, a three-year starter in the cage.
Wintersteen recently matched former standout goalie Marlene Oberly for the school record in career shutouts with 31.
"We need to think about staying to the left more and jabbing at the ball, rather than committing," Miller said of the defense. "We have a young defense. The girls work better under pressure."
Warren Hills is among three Skyland Conference teams playing in the finals.
Perennial Group 4 contender Bridgewater-Raritan, which has won all seven of its titles in a row since 2005, hosts Montgomery, last year's sectional runner-up, in the North 2, Group 4 title game.
Warren Hills is among three Skyland Conference teams playing in the finals.
Perennial Group 4 contender Bridgewater-Raritan, which has won all seven of its titles in a row since 2005, hosts Montgomery, last year's sectional runner-up, in the North 2, Group 4 title game.
Upset-minded High Point still dancing
The High Point Wildcats are the only other team left standing in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area.
The Sussex County school has the unenviable task of traveling to state power West Essex on Wednesday for the North 1, Group 2 final at 3 p.m. The fifth-seeded Wildcats have upset the Nos. 1 and 4 seeds to reach their third straight final after back-to-back losses in North 1, Group 3 the previous two seasons.
No. 3 West Essex (19-1), which hammered No. 2 seed and NJAC Freedom Division champion Parisppany, 8-2, in the semifinals, has won a state record 30 sectional titles.
High Point (18-3-1) has won five sectional titles in its history -- the last in 2002. No Sussex County school has won a championship since the 2006 Wallkill Valley Rangers.
Senior Darby Smith, a UConn recruit, is winding down a stellar career as High Point's all-time goals and points leader. She leads the 'Cats this season with 27 goals.
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