With another field hockey season in the books, here are the final rankings for the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area. Hunterdon Central (North 2, Group 4) and Warren Hills (North 2, Group 3) represented the area well by claiming sectional championships -- the 13th and 11th, respectively, in those schools' history.
Thanks to all coaches and players for making this season a great one and to the many faithful readers of this blog, which hit record viewership numbers. See you all next fall.
1. Warren Hills (22-4-1) -- Blue Streaks came up short in the Group 3 final for the second straight year against Ocean City, dropping a 1-0 decision in double overtime to snap a 19-game win streak. With the loss of only three senior starters, expect coach Laurie Kerr's 2014 squad to challenge once again for that elusive state title. Junior forward Sydney Muntone totaled 19 goals for the second straight year and ranks tied for fourth place on the Streaks' all-time list with 48. Lindsey Schott set the record with 72 from 2008-11. Junior midfielder Nikki Profita led the team with 20 goals to go with 13 assists. Muntone led with 17 assists. Program sits at 578 wins overall in 49 seasons.
2. Voorhees (16-5) -- Vikings, who shared the Skyland Conference Raritan Division title with rival Warren Hills, ran into a very good Parsippany squad in the North 1, Group 2 semifinals -- falling, 4-2, to cap a 16-win season. The Hunterdon County school has had only three losing seasons in its history since the school opened in 1975. Sophomore forward Kathryn Roncoroni scored both goals in the loss to give her 33 -- second in the HWS area -- to match Colleen Boyce (2010) for the school's single-season record. Coach Taylor Webb returns a strong core in 2014, including goalie Lauren Pianucci, and will once again be a force at the county and state level.
3. Hunterdon Central (18-7) -- Red Devils claimed their 13th sectional title with a 1-0 win over Montgomery, the second time in three seasons that Central defeated the Cougars in the North 2, Group 4 final. Junior forward Kendall Nickel scored the winning goal and added two more in a 4-2 loss to nemesis Bridgewater in the Group 4 semifinals -- bringing her team-leading total to 17. Junior forward Taylor Barrett posted 15 goals and 10 assists for coach Jenn Sponzo, who won her seventh sectional title in 15 seasons. Senior forward Sarah Pulkowski was next on the list with 13 for Central, which dropped two of three meetings with Bridgewater, beating the Panthers (2-1 on Sept. 10) for the first time since 2007.
4. South Hunterdon (16-5) -- Eagles capped a fine bounce-back season with a 2-1 loss in overtime to Skyland Conference Valley Division rival Bernards in the North 2, Group 1 quarterfinals. The teams split a pair of regular-season meetings and shared the division title. Senior forward Kaycee Zelkovsky led the tri-county area with 36 goals and 83 points. South, which has won an HWS record 14 sectional titles and its last in 2002, loses eight seniors to graduation, but does return sophomore forward Ashley Eick (14 goals) in 2014.
5. Hackettstown (12-8) -- Tigers closed out the season with tough losses in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex final (1-0 to Warren Hills) and the North 1, Group 2 playoffs (2-0 to Voorhees). Senior forward Kalie Thies led the offense with 13 goals and 12 assists, while senior forwards Sierramarie Fitzgerald (10 goals, 11 assists) and Michelle Carlson (11 goals) were key contributors all season. Several junior starters, along with sophomore goalie Rose Bishop, who was big in that run to the HWS final that included two thrilling overtime wins along with way, will be counted on next season by coach Stephen Speirs.
6. High Point (16-2-3) -- Wildcats' bid for a fourth straight sectional finals appearance ended with an 8-0 loss to North 1, Group 2 champion West Essex in the semifinals. Junior forward Alexis Ambrosino, who scored a goal in the team's 2-0 win over Ramsey to open the playoffs, finished with a team-high 21 goals to go with nine assists. Senior forward Carly Satter led the 'Cats and the tri-county area with 20 assists. Forward Brittany DeLima, one of five senior starters, totaled 16 goals. Junior goalie Autumn Smith (14 shutouts) will among the key returnees next fall as coach Bev Keur's program bids for a fourth straight NJAC American Division title (54-game division unbeaten streak).
7. Lenape Valley (15-6-1) -- Patriots were the surprise team in Sussex County this season coming off a two-win campaign. Coach Kate Rothman's squad won a postseason game -- 1-0 over Boonton -- before being eliminated with a 1-0 loss to champion Mountain Lakes in the North 1, Group 1 semifinals. Lenape was bidding for its first title since 1990. Junior midfielder and captain Sally Olson was the catalyst with seven goals and 10 assists. Junior fowards Alyssa Falleni (eight goals, nine assists) and leading scorer Kassidy Forik (15 goals) enjoyed breakout seasons on offense. Keep an eye on this group in 2014.
8. Sparta (11-8-1) -- Talk about your turnarounds, how about a program that went winless in 2011 and scored a total of two goals. Second-year coach Kristin Savasta and her staff have done remarkable job in a short time, as the Spartans won a county game -- 2-1 over Phillipsburg -- and went 9-4-1 in the NJAC American Division. The season ended with a 2-0 loss to Wayne Valley in the North 1, Group 3 playoffs. Sophomore forward Rhett Curran led the offense with 16 goals, including one in a 1-1 tie at home against High Point on Oct. 21. Senior goalie Julia Keenan and back Liz Anderson will be huge losses.
9. Kittatinny (8-8-3) -- Cougars had rough ending to a solid season, dropping three of their last five, including a 2-0 loss to finalist Whippany Park in the North 1, Group 1 quarterfinals. First-year coach Emily Murray brought the program to respectability this season, as evidenced by a 0-0 tie at High Point on Oct. 11. Sophomore forward Maureen Douglas led the offense with four goals, as the Sussex County school scored only a total of 14 in 19 games. The defensive-minded team also defeated Newton twice for the first time in recent memory in NJAC Freedom Division matchups.
10. Delaware Valley (9-10-1) -- Terriers, who went 6-2 in one-goal contests this season, came on strong late with wins in four of their last five contests, including a 2-1 win in overtime against county rival Hunterdon Central on Oct. 24. Coach Stephanie Cirino's team followed with 2-1 wins over Hillsborough and Somerville, the latter in the opening round of the North 2, Group 2 playoffs. Junior back Brianna Skripko scored a goal in the playoff victory. Skripko and senior forward Robyn Case shared the team lead with five goals.
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