Field hockey: Streaks look to hit 'home' run in final

Athletes and coaches can be a superstitious bunch by nature. Warren Hills' field hockey team certainly falls into that category, though you roll with whatever works.

The Blue Streaks (13-0), in the midst of the program's second-best run to open a season since going 17-0 in 2019, look to secure another postseason title when they host West Morris at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the Northwest Region C title game. Watch the live action at Warren Hills School District Stadium.

Warren Hills' 10 seniors (9 starters) on the roster.

Getting to a 10th straight sectional/regional final wasn't easy. Top-seeded Warren Hills needed an overtime goal by junior Emily Dvorsky to eliminate No. 4 Chatham, 2-1, in Thursday's semifinals. It was the first overtime contest of the season for the Streaks, who had gone 37 straight games dating to the end of 2018 without needing OT to determine a winner.

'We did seven-on-seven in [Wednesday's] practice on half of the field," Potter said, "and wouldn't you know it, [Thursday's] game goes into overtime. Against Montgomery [during the regular season], we had practiced strokes the day before and we had one called against us. We won't be practicing strokes again."

Warren Hills, which entered this season having won eight consecutive sectional championships, was able to avoid its earliest postseason exit since falling to Hopewell Valley on penalty strokes in the North 2, Group 3 semifinals in 2010 (Potter was an assistant on Laurie Kerr's staff). The Streaks dropped a 3-2 decision at Freehold Boro in the title game a year later before starting their sectional title run.

West Morris (9-4-1), which graduated nine starting seniors from last year's team, is no postseason stranger having faced and lost to Warren Hills in the previous four sectional title games. The Wolfpack, a No. 10 seed who advanced with a 1-0 win over No. 3 Randolph on Thursday, is 0-5 all-time in playoff games against the Streaks, including a 6-4 defeat in the Group 3 semifinals in 2012. 

Senior Sophia Prata (6 goals, 7 assists) and junior Julia Carbon (3 goals, 3 assists) are the two returning starters from 2019 and lead an offense that has produced just 25 goals in 14 games.

"We know West Morris will give us a run for our money. They always do," said Potter whose 2019 team posted a 3-1 win in last year's North 1, Group 3 final en route to a state runner-up finish. "They have a strong program and I don't think the record reflects it."

Outstanding midfielder and Rutgers University recruit Sarah Korczukowski, who gave Warren Hills a 1-0 lead against Chatham by converting a penalty stroke in the second quarter, is among nine starting seniors who are looking to end their careers on a high note. The group has gone 79-11-1 (44-5 at home) over the last four seasons and is riding a 27-game home win streak (21-0 the last two seasons) since a 4-2 loss to Voorhees on Oct. 2, 2018.

"Every game we play, the mentality this season is that it could be our last," said Korczukowski, who has 77 career points (27 goals, 23 assists). "We're not underestimating any team. This group of seniors is very special and we're looking to end with a win. We take pride [in the home record] but stats don't matter when you take the field. West Morris is an extremely tough and strong-willed team."

Offensively, Warren Hills likes to share the wealth as junior left wing and leading scorer Maddie Summitt (15 goals, 11 assists), senior left inner Juliana Valli (13 goals, Ithaca College), senior right inner Jenna Wyckoff (11 goals, Ball State University) and senior right wing Simryn Desai (Hoftsra University), who ranks ninth on the school's career goals (48) and points (121) lists, are all capable of disrupting opposing defenses. Senior Angela Pawloski (Susquehanna University) is one of the top subs, while seniors Ashley Moskal (East Stroudsburg University) and Olivia Chomut round out a solid midfield.

Dvorsky, a three-year starter at left back, helps anchor a superb defense that includes right back Liz Schlaffer (Widener University) and center back Kylie Compton (Montclair State) in front of senior Emily Schlessinger (Fairleigh Dickinson), who has done a stellar job in her first season as a starting goalie. The group has produced eight shutouts.

Warren Hills is coming off its first real test of the season -- having won all of its regular-season games by at least three goals (including two wins over Ridge and North Hunterdon) and by average margin of 5.6. The Streaks, who won their second straight Skyland Conference Raritan Division title, should be plenty ready for the final task as these seniors look to finish unbeaten on their home turf with no state championship games this season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"It's been a super weird season," Potter said. "Hopefully we'll play our best and it goes in our favor. I just want them to play like they have been playing."