As promised earlier this season, the Open Mike area rankings continue to shuffle from six through 10.
Lenape Valley at No. 6 is particularly stunning, but the Patriots (6-1-1) are enjoying success after several frustrating seasons. The Sussex County school went a combined 5-28-2 in third-year coach Kate Rothman's first two seasons, so hats off to the Pats.
Looking forward to Thursday's showdown between Voorhees and Warren Hills, as the bitter rivals meet for the second time this season and the 54th overall dating to 1975. There's no other series in the area that compares to this one, as the schools have gone into overtime in four of the last 10 meetings since 2009. In addition, 14 of the last 25 games dating to 2003 have been decided by one goal, while three ended in 1-1 ties.
Voorhees (7-2) holds a commanding 30-17-6 edge in the all-time series, including a 2-0 win in last year's Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex semifinals and a 2-1 win in overtime this season on Sept. 17. Warren Hills won both regular-season matchups in 2012 en route to the Skyland Conference Raritan Division title.
"Both schools are very strong and well respected, and have winning teams," said third-year Vikings coach Taylor Webb after the win on Sept. 17 that evened her record to 3-3 against Warren Hills. "It means a lot to beat the other team. It says a lot about your team and you take a lot of pride in winning."
The fifth annual Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament got underway on Saturday with two play-in games. Wallkill Valley earned a 1-0 win over North Hunterdon in a 7-10 matchup, while North Warren advanced for just the second time in tournament history with a thrilling 2-1 win in overtime against Pope John in an 8-9 battle.
First-round matchups are on tap for this Saturday. No. 7 Phillipsburg at No. 2 Sparta, along with No. 5 Hackettstown at No. 4 Vernon are intriguing matchups.
Check back here on Friday for a preview of all the first-round matchups. Seeds and pairings are also posted on Open Mike.
Now on to this week's rankings:
1. Hunterdon Central (7-1) -- Red Devils still holding down the top spot after going 2-0 last week -- beating Watchung Hills (5-1 on Tuesday) and Hillsborough (2-0 on Thursday) in a pair of Skyland Conference Delaware Division matchups. Coach Jenn Sponzo's team has allowed just two goals in its last four contests. Junior forward Taylor Barrett scored three goals last week, including two against Watchung. Junior forward Kendall Nickel also scored twice against the Warriors. Junior goalie Hannah Cechini made 11 saves in the shutout of the Raiders. Chance for Central to avenge its lone loss on Tuesday.
Up next: at Ridge on Tuesday; Bridgewater-Raritan at home on Thursday; Newton at home on Saturday in HWS.
2. South Hunterdon (8-1) -- Eagles took their first loss last week, dropping a 3-2 decision to Bernards in a battle of the top teams in the Skyland Conference Valley Division. The Hunterdon County school rebounded with a 3-0 win over Franklin on Thursday, as midfielder Amber Dey scored a pair of goals in the victory. Dey also scored a goal in the loss to Bernards.
Up next: Belvidere at home on Tuesday; North Plainfield at home on Thursday; North Warren at home on Saturday in HWS.
3. Voorhees (7-2) -- Vikings posted wins in their only games last week -- 3-0 over Phillipsburg and 2-1 over Montgomery in Skyland Conference Raritan Division clashes. Coach Taylor Webb's team is 7-0 in the division and can take a big step toward claiming the title with a win on Thursday at archrival Warren Hills. I will have more on this later, but the conference realignment for 2014-15 has these teams in different divisions, so this could be the last year they meet twice. It's a travesty that the best rivalry in the tri-county area will likely have one less game next year. Sophomore forward Kathryn Roncoroni scored a total of four goals last week, raising her team-leading total to 17.
Up next: Somerville at home on Tuesday; at Warren Hills on Thursday; Wallkill Valley at home on Saturday in HWS.
4. Warren Hills (6-3-1) -- Blue Streaks rebounded from a bit of a slow start with a 3-0 week, capped by Saturday's 1-0 independent win over Peddie. Coach Laurie Kerr's troops also posted Skyland Conference Raritan Division wins over Montgomery (2-0 on Tuesday) and Delaware Valley (6-0 on Thursday). Junior forward Sydney Muntone collected three more goals in the wins, while junior midfielder Nikki Profita scored twice and added an assist in the win over Del Val. Goalie Taylor Austin posted three shutouts. Chance for the Warren County school to avenge a 2-1 loss in overtime on Sept. 17 to No. 3 Voorhees this coming Thursday.
Up next: at Phillipsburg on Tuesday; Voorhees at home on Thursday; Kittatinny at home on Saturday in HWS.
5. High Point (7-0-1) -- Wildcats keep rolling following a 3-0 week, capping it with a 4-1 win over Montville on Friday that extended the Sussex County school's NJAC American Division win streak to 46 dating to 2010. That run will be tested on Tuesday against Morris Knolls in a battle for first place. Senior forward Carly Satter scored a goal and added two assists in the win. Coach Bev Keur's team also beat Pope John (6-0 on Monday) and Sparta (1-0 on Wednesday). Junior forward Alexis Ambrosino scored three goals against the Lions.
Up next: at Morris Knolls on Tuesday; at Vernon on Thursday; Delaware Valley at home on Saturday in HWS.
6. Lenape Valley (6-1-1) -- The surprise team of the season moves up another spot after a 3-0 week. Coach Kate Rothman's Patriots posted wins over Jefferson (4-0 on Tuesday), North Warren (2-0 on Thursday) and No. 9 Belvidere (4-0 on Saturday). The Pats have shut out their last six opponents as freshman goalie Kaylee Gentilucci stopped 12 shots in the win over North Warren. Junior forward Kassidy Forik is red-hot on offense, scoring eight of her team-leading 10 goals last week, including three each in the wins over Jefferson and Belvidere.
Up next: Wallkill Valley at home on Monday; Parsippany at home on Wednesday; Belvidere at home on Saturday in HWS.
7. Hackettstown (5-2) -- Tigers move up a spot following a 1-1 week. Coach Stephen Speirs' team dropped a tough 4-3 decision to Parsippany last Tuesday in a key NJAC Freedom Division clash before rebounding with a 2-0 win over Wallkill Valley on Thursday. Senior forward Kalie Thies continues to fuel the offense, scoring a goal in each of those contests. She leads the team with eight goals overall. Be interesting to see how the Tigers, who drew a No. 5 seed, fare in the HWS tourney.
Up next: at Kittatinny on Monday; at Newton on Wednesday; at Vernon on Saturday in the HWS.
8. Kittatinny (3-3-1) -- Cougars enter here following a 3-1 win over previously-ranked Newton last Tuesday in an NJAC American Division clash. First-year coach Emily Murray's team closed the week with a 1-0 win over Jefferson. Sophomore forward/midfielder Maureen Douglas scored a goal in each of the victories. Junior goalie Julie Pevarnik made two saves in the shutout of the Falcons. Huge week on tap for the Sussex County school facing three ranked clubs.
Up next: Hackettstown at home on Monday; Wallkill Valley at home on Wednesday; at Warren Hills on Saturday in HWS.
9. Belvidere (3-5-1) -- County Seaters drop three spots following Saturday's 4-0 independent loss to Lenape Valley, which was ranked one spot behind the Warren County school last week. The teams will do it again this Saturday in the opening round of the HWS tourney. Coach Kristin Gaitan's team also dropped a 4-0 decision to Bernards last Thursday and lost 2-1 to Mount St. Mary last Tuesday in Skyland Conference Valley Division clashes. Midfielder Liz Dalrymple scored the Seaters' lone goal.
Up next: at South Hunterdon on Tuesday; Franklin at home on Thursday; at Lenape Valley on Saturday in HWS.
10. Wallkill Valley (5-5) -- Rangers are back in after a 2-1 week and an earlier win over No. 8 Kittatinny carries weight in this topsy-turvy season. Coach Irene Chernati's team opened the week with a 4-0 win over North Warren on Tuesday before dropping a 2-0 decision to No. 7 Hackettstown on Thursday in a pair of NJAC Freedom Division clashes. The Sussex County school closed with a 1-0 win over North Hunterdon in an HWS play-in game on Saturday. Sophomore forward Leah Struble had the game-winning goal.
Up next: at Lenape Valley on Monday; at Kittatinny on Wednesday; at Voorhees on Saturday in HWS.
On the bubble: Newton (3-4); Sparta (4-3); Vernon (5-3).
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