Friday, October 24, 2014

Field hockey: HWS starting lineups, facts, prediction

Who: Voorhees Vikings vs. Warren Hills Blue Streaks.

What: Sixth annual Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament.

When: Saturday, 2 p.m.

Where: Morrison Field, Hackettstown High School.

Records: Voorhees 16-1-2; Warren Hills 16-3.

Coaches: Taylor Webb (fourth season, 59-15-3); Laurie Kerr (15th season, 257-70-12).

Series history: Voorhees owns a 30-19-6 edge dating to 1975, but has dropped four of the last six meetings, including a 2-1 loss at home in the last meeting between these rivals in the 2013 HWS semifinals. Warren Hills is 9-17-3 against its nemesis during Kerr's tenure. The Blue Streaks are 2-5 all-time against the Vikes in county tournament matchups.

Previous Champions: Newton/Warren Hills co-champs in 2009 (final was never played); Voorhees in 2010 and '12; Warren Hills in 2011 and '13.

Note: Here's a closer look at both teams with probable starting lineups:

Voorhees Vikings

How they got here: Beat North Hunterdon, 5-0, in first round; Newton, 4-0, in quarterfinals; Hunterdon Central, 1-0, in semifinals.

Previous tournament history: Beat Kittatinny, 3-0, in 2009 first round, Beat Hackettstown, 3-0, in 2009 quarterfinals; Lost to Newton, 2-1 in double overtime, in 2009 semifinals; Beat Delaware Valley, 3-0, in 2010 first round, Beat North Hunterdon, 1-0, in 2010 quarterfinals, Beat High Point, 1-0, in 2010 semifinals, Beat Warren Hills, 1-0, in 2010 final; Beat Kittatinny, 2-0, in 2011 first round, Lost to Wallkill Valley, 1-0, in 2011 quarterfinals; Beat Kittatinny, 2-0, in 2012 first round, Beat Wallkill Valley, 3-0, in 2012 quarterfinals, Beat Warren Hills, 2-0, in 2012 semifinals, Beat High Point, 1-0, in 2012 final; Beat Wallkill Valley, 3-0, in 2013 first round, Beat Lenape Valley, 3-2 in overtime, in 2013 quarterfinals, Lost to Warren Hills, 2-1, in 2013 semifinals. Overall HWS record: 16-3.

Probable starting lineup: Jr. F Kathryn Roncoroni (39 goals-14 assists-92 points); Sr. F Hannah Ryan (12-4-28); Sr. F Abby Flagler (3-8-14); Jr. F Jenna Smego (5-2-12); So. MF Hannah Schiavo (7-6-20); So. MF Isabelle Houser (2-10-14); Jr. MF-D Samantha Nicol (1-2-4); Jr. D Morgan McCord (0-1-1); Jr. D Hannah Parnham (0-0-0); Jr. D Gillian Panreck (0-0-0); Sr. GK Lauren Pianucci (56 saves, 6 1/2 shutouts, .918 save percentage, 0.26 goals against); Sr. GK Charlee Wood (14 saves, 6 1/2 shutouts, .737 save percentage, 0.29 goals against).

Warren Hills Blue Streaks

How they got here: Beat Wallkill Valley, 6-0, in first round; Hackettstown, 3-0, in quarterfinals; High Point, 8-0, in semifinals.

Previous tournament history: Beat Delaware Valley, 8-2, in 2009 first round, Beat High Point, 4-0, in 2009 quarterfinals, Beat Pope John, 3-0 in 2009 semifinals; Beat Sparta, 6-0, in 2010 first round, Beat Wallkill Valley, 4-1, in 2010 quarterfinals, Beat Newton, 2-1 in overtime, in 2010 semifinals, Lost to Voorhees, 1-0, in 2010 championship game; Beat North Warren, 9-0, in 2011 first round, Beat Newton, 5-0, in 2011 quarterfinals, Beat Wallkill Valley, 8-1, in 2011 semifinals, Beat High Point, 3-1, in 2011 championship game; Beat Lenape Valley, 5-1, in 2012 first round, Beat Pope John, 8-0, in 2012 quarterfinals, Lost to Voorhees, 2-0, in 2012 semifinals; Beat Kittatinny, 6-0, in 2013 first round, Beat High Point, 3-0, in 2013 quarterfinals, Beat Voorhees, 2-1, in 2013 semifinals, Beat Hackettstown, 1-0, in 2013 final. Overall HWS record: 19-2.

Probable starting lineup: Sr. F Sydney Muntone (24 goals-17 assists-65 points); So. F Dani Profita (16-13-45); Sr. F Jessica Nissen (15-5-35); Sr. MF Nikki Profita (13-10-36); Jr. MF Katie Thompson (4-11-19); Jr. MF Julie DeSanto (0-1-1); Sr. D Amanda Crampton (8-12-28); Sr. D Allie Brouhard (8-4-20); Jr. D Rachel Phillips (2-1-5); Sr. D Amanda Oberly (0-0-0); So. GK Jackie de Raismes (54 saves, 13 shutouts, .771 save percentage, 0.98 goals against).

Analysis: Finally the matchup we've been waiting for all season. These bitter rivals cruised to the championship game with neither squad yielding a goal in getting here. This game will boil down to whether Voorhees' stout defense can keep Warren Hills' high-powered offense in check. The Blue Streaks, who just claimed their fourth straight Skyland Conference division title on Thursday, have scored an impressive 109 goals this season for an average of 5.7 per contest. Leading the way is Muntone, a Drexel commit, who sports a team-high 24 goals (three shy of the school's single-season mark) and 17 assists. She enters this one tied with Lindsey Schott as the school's all-time record holders in goals and points with 72 and 198, respectively, and is three assists shy of matching Niki Miller for that all-time mark. Senior center midfielder Nikki Profita (Rutgers), along with Crampton (East Stroudsburg) and Brouhard (Sacred Heart) are also Division I recruits. Profita was the MVP of last year's title game, while junior forward Megan Thompson has scored 11 goals off the bench this season. Warren Hills' defense is also very strong, having allowed just three goals in the last nine games, just like its tri-county final opponent. Voorhees also can put the ball in the cage, as junior forward Kathryn Roncoroni has shattered the school's single-season goals mark of 33 that she shared with Colleen Boyce by scoring 39 to date. But it's defensively where the Vikes usually make their living and this year is no exception as the unit has yielded just nine goals all season while producing 13 shutouts in 19 games. Karma usually goes a long way in this rivalry so consider that both of Voorhees' tri-county titles were won on this field. This one should be another classic!

Pick: Warren Hills, 2-1 OT.

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