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| The HWS championship trophy. |
Warren Hills (17-0), which is two victories shy of matching the program's longest winning streak, seeks a record seventh title, while Voorhees (14-3) bids for its third championship and first since beating High Point, 1-0, in the 2012 title tilt. Interestingly, Voorhees is 4-1 against Warren Hills in games played at a neutral site and owns a 34-27-6 edge overall since 1975.
It's a big week for coach Josie Potter's Blue Streaks, who can clinch the Skyland Conference Raritan Division title with a win at Ridge on Tuesday. With Monday's cutoff looming, Warren Hills, which has won seven consecutive sectional titles, will also be the top seed in North 1, Group 3 as the official pairings for the sectional tournaments are slated to be released later this week.
Voorhees, which should be the No. 1 seed in North 2, Group 2, has lost twice to Warren Hills this season -- 2-0 on Sept. 3 and 2-1 in a thriller at home on Oct. 1. The Vikes, who once dominated this series, have lost seven of the last eight meetings dating to 2017 -- losing all three meetings for the first time in series history that year, including a 2-1 setback in the HWS quarterfinals.
Check back here later in the week for a full preview of Saturday's title matchup.
State scene
We know where Warren Hills and Voorhees stand for the sectional playoffs, but keep an eye on North Hunterdon in North 2, Group 4.
The Lions (11-6), who are in the midst of their first winning season since 2009, will be the No. 1 seed as they seek the program's third sectional title overall and first since 1993. Hunterdon Central and 14-time defending champion Bridgewater-Raritan are also in this section, but North will be the odds-on favorite with wins over both teams this season.
Newton (11-3), which has won four of the last five titles in North 1, Group 1, is looking like the No. 3 seed this season as it goes for back-to-back championships and the program's 13th overall -- a Sussex County record.
Now, onto the final rankings before the postseason commences on Monday, Oct. 21.
1. Warren Hills (17-0) -- Blue Streaks stayed tough on local rivals last week, opening with a 5-0 victory over Phillipsburg to run its win streak against the Stateliners to 25 straight dating to 2008, followed by a heart-stopping 1-0 victory over North Hunterdon on Thursday. Sophomore Maddie Summitt scored the game-winning goal and the defense, which has allowed just six goals all season made it stand. Junior Simryn Desai, along with seniors Samantha Dugan and Kate Fenner scored goals in the team's 3-0 win over Hunterdon Central on Saturday -- running its series advantage to 44-30-10 overall since 1967.
Up next: at Ridge on Tuesday; Montgomery at home on Thursday; Voorhees on Saturday in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament final at Hackettstown.
2. Voorhees (14-3) -- Vikes have righted the ship since that loss to Warren Hills on Oct. 1 -- winning five in a row, including a 3-1 win over upset-minded North Hunterdon in the HWS semifinals on Saturday -- the program's 40th straight victory in a series it leads 51-16-7 dating to 1992. Senior forward Brooke Hyland stayed red-hot with a goal in that one and three in the team's 6-1 rout of Ridge on Thursday. Coach Shannon Hughes' team needed that win to keep the pressure on the Streaks in the Skyland Conference Raritan Division title chase.
Up next: at Phillipsburg on Tuesday; North Hunterdon at home on Thursday; Warren Hills on Saturday in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament final at Hackettstown.
3. North Hunterdon (11-6) -- Lions reached their first HWS semifinal with a 5-0 rout of Delaware Valley on Tuesday and dropped a 3-1 decision to Voorhees, which hasn't loss to North since 1990, on Saturday in their first county semifinal meeting since 1990. Coach Maria Bachert's team also battled Warren Hills to the wire in a 1-0 loss on Thursday in a Skyland Conference Raritan Division clash -- having the potential tying goal waved off as it crossed the line just after time expired. Sophomore Ryan Anderson leads all area scorers in assists with 17.
Up next: at Montgomery on Tuesday; at Voorhees on Thursday.
4. Hunterdon Central (7-9-2) -- Red Devils opened last week by handing Vernon its first loss of the season -- 3-0 in the HWS quarterfinals -- before dropping a 3-0 decision to top-seeded Warren Hills in Saturday's semifinals. It was Central's second shutout loss to the Blue Streaks this season and 15th in the last 17 meetings dating to 2008, dropping Central to 18-10 all-time in HWS play. Coach Jenn Sponzo's team is looking like the No. 3 or 4 seed in North 2, Group 4.
Up next: Hillsborough at home on Tuesday; at Pingry on Thursday.
5. Delaware Valley (12-4) -- Terriers rebounded from a 5-0 loss to North Hunterdon in the HWS quarterfinals on Tuesday with a 2-0 victory over Franklin on Thursday to inch closer to securing the Skyland Conference Valley Division title, which coach Stephanie Rifflard's team can do with a win over Somerville on Tuesday. Sophomore forward Samantha Snowden continued her breakout season with her team-leading 17th goal in the win over Franklin. Del Val looks like it will be a No. 3 or 4 seed in North 2, Group 1.
Up next: Somerville at home on Tuesday; at Belvidere on Thursday.
6. South Hunterdon (14-2) -- Eagles wrapped up the Skyland Conference Mountain Division title with a hard-fourth 1-0 win over Belvidere on Thursday. Junior midfielder Rebecca Phillips assisted on the game-winning goal by senior forward Alana Catanzareti, who also scored in the team's 4-0 independent win over Pennington on Saturday. Phillips added two assists, while sophomore forward Natalia Oprzadek scored two goals. South will likely be a No. 5 or 6 seed in North 2, Group 1.
Up next: at North Plainfield on Monday.
7. Belvidere (7-7-1) -- County Seaters followed up a 6-0 loss to Warren Hills in the HWS quarters with a tough 1-0 loss to South Hunterdon, which ended the Warren County school's hopes of sharing the Skyland Conference Mountain Division title. Coach Beth Franceschino's Seaters, who were sectional runners-up last season, are looking like a dangerous No. 7 seed in North 1, Group 1.
Up next: North Warren at home on Monday; at Mount St. Mary on Tuesday; Delaware Valley at home on Thursday.
8. Newton (11-3) -- Braves kept their NJAC Freedom Division title hopes alive with a last-second 2-1 victory over Vernon on Thursday, followed by a 3-2 win in double-overtime against Mendham on Saturday. Sophomore forward Julia Fitt scored goals in both victories, while recording an assist on the winning goal by junior forward Elissar Abou-Jaoude against Vernon. Coach Lisa Becthel's team (6-1 division) can clinch at least a share of the title with a win against High Point or a Vernon loss to Hackettstown on Wednesday.
Up next: at Randolph on Monday; High Point at home on Wednesday; Sparta at home on Saturday.
9. Vernon (12-2) -- Vikings drop one spot in the rankings following a 2-1 loss to Newton that spoiled their bid to win the NJAC Freedom Division title outright. Sophomore forward Julia Gregory got the assist on the goal by junior forward Alyssa Van Dalinda, her sixth of the season. Coach Kieran Killeen's team, which should be the No. 2 seed in North 1, Group 2, needs a win over Hackettstown on Wednesday to gain at least a share of the division title.
Up next: Morris Hills at home on Monday; Hackettstown at home on Wednesday.
10. Hackettstown (6-7-1) -- Tigers snapped a four-game winless skid with a 4-0 victory over Morris Knolls on Saturday. Junior forward Megan Doyle logged her first three-goal game of the season in that one after scoring a pair of goals in the team's 2-2 tie with Mendham on Thursday. Doyle enters the week with a team-best 10 goals. Coach Rachael Gorski's Tigers will likely be a No. 5 or 6 seed in North 1, Group 2 -- a big difference with state power West Essex in the upper bracket as the top seed.
Up next: Lenape Valley at home on Monday; at Vernon on Wednesday.
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