"We'll be ready for revenge."
That's been the mantra all season for the Blue Streaks, who have waited nearly one year for their shot at redemption. Warren Hills (24-2), which has won 19 in a row, will take on Moorestown at 10 a.m. on Saturday for the state championship at Bordentown Regional High School.
The Streaks, who are seeking their third title in four seasons after knocking off Ocean City in 2014 and '15, will face Moorestown for only the second time ever, dropping a 2-1 decision in overtime in the 2003 Group 3 final at The College of New Jersey. Warren Hills, making its sixth straight finals appearance, had previously faced Ocean City in the past five title games and eight times overall.
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| Warren Hills, which has won 15 sectional titles, eyes a third state championship. |
"We're excited to play them," said first-year head coach Josie Potter, who was a player on the 1996 (Warren Hills' first-ever appearance) and '99 runner-up teams and an assistant coach under Laurie Kerr when the 2009, '12, '13 and '14 teams went to the championship game.
"I'm confident we'll show up ready to play. It's very rare to have that large of a goal differential in a state final. That doesn't normally happen. They are determined to avenge last year."
Moorestown (16-3), making its first finals appearance since 2011, is seeking its 17th title overall and first since a 1-0 victory over Voorhees in the 2006 Group 3 final at Toms River East, the Vikings' last appearance in a state final. Coach Ali Collins' Quakers, who were ousted in the Group 3 semifinals by Ocean City (2012, 2014-16), have been on a major roll, winning eight of their last nine, including a 2-1 victory over West Essex on Oct. 12. By comparison, the Streaks dropped a 6-1 decision to West Essex on Sept. 15.
Moorestown followed that win up with a 3-2 loss to perennial Group 4 champion Eastern just two days later. The Quakers, who have outscored their four postseason opponents, 22-2, also lost 3-0 to Rumson-Fair Haven, which is playing for the Group 2 title on Saturday, and 2-1 to defending Group 1 champion Haddonfield earlier this season.
Juniors Kayla Frank (16 goals), Delaney Lawler (15 goals, 8 assists) and Colleen Craven (13 goals, 5 assists) lead the Moorestown offense, which is averaging 4.2 goals per game.
Warren Hills is battle-tested as well with a 2-1 win over Bridgewater-Raritan, which is making its 13th straight appearance in the Group 4 final vs. Eastern on Saturday, on Oct. 3, as well as a tough 1-0 loss to Madison, which will play for the Group 1 title, on Sept. 20. The Blue Streaks also faced Rumson-Fair Haven in a preseason scrimmage.
Warren Hills, which is 2-9 all-time in state finals, enjoyed a record-setting night on Wednesday in a 10-1 rout of Colts Neck in the Group 3 semifinals. Senior forward Rebecca Sigman established program single-game records with five goals (33 on the season) and 13 points (she also had three assists). Sigman, who ranks fourth on the school's all-time goals list with 71 (one behind Lindsey Schott) and second in points scored in a season (81), joined Dani Profita (41 in 2015) as the only Blue Streaks to hit the 30-goal plateau. Sigman needs eight points to rank in the top four on that career list.
"If you try to shut [Sigman] down, we have other scorers," Potter said.
Senior forward Alyssa Appleby (19 goals), senior midfielder Tali Popinko (18 goals, 14 assists), sophomore forward Samantha Dugan (19 goals, 13 assists) and Mikayla Dugan (13 goals, 10 asssists) are all part of a balanced offensive attack. Senior Rebecca Lezon also is a threat in the midfield for an offense averaging 4.5 goals per game. Popinko needs one goal to surpass her sister Toni, now the head coach at Phillipsburg, who also logged 39 career goals for Warren Hills from 2006-09. They share 12th place on the school's all-time list with Kate Alleger (1993-96).
Defense has been the biggest key for Warren Hills, which has yielded just eight goals during the current win streak. Senior back Sydney Moskal helps anchor a stingy unit, along with talented freshman Ashley Moskal, sophomore Jess DeSanto and sophomore sweeper Kate Fenner. That group helps keep the heat off senior goalie Maggie Titus, who has faced just five shots in four postseason games. Warren Hills hasn't trailed any opponent since the first half of a 2-1 win at Voorhees on Sept. 22.
Warren Hills has the honor of playing in the opening state final and will begin their title journey bright and early on Saturday.
"We'll leave [Washington] around 6:45 a.m., so we'll get down there with plenty of time to spare," Potter said. "This could be an awesome championship game for us."
State finals matchups
(Games to be played Saturday at Bordentown)
Group 3
Warren Hills vs. Moorestown, 10 a.m.
Group 4
Bridgewater-Raritan vs. Eastern, noon
Group 1
Madison vs. Haddonfield, 2 p.m.
Non-Public
Oak Knoll vs. Bishop Eustace, 4 p.m.
Group 2
Rumson-Fair Haven vs. Seneca, 6 p.m.
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