When it comes to scoring, forwards Kathryn Roncoroni of Voorhees and Sydney Muntone of Warren Hills just seem to have a nose for the cage.
As a result, both teams will play for sectional titles -- Warren Hills in North 2, Group 3 on Friday and Voorhees in North 2, Group 2 on Saturday. In all, five teams from the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area are still alive in the postseason.
Hunterdon Central will take on nemesis Bridgewater in the North 2, Group 4 final on Friday, while Newton hosts Kittatinny in an All-Sussex matchup in North 1, Group 1, assuring the county of its first sectional championship since 2006.
Let's take a closer look at all four matchups:
2-Warren Hills (20-3) at 1-Mendham (16-2), 2 p.m. on Friday -- Muntone, who has one goal or one assist in all but four games this season, enters this meeting with a team-high 27 goals, tying her with Lindsey Schott for the Blue Streaks' single-season mark. The Drexel-bound Muntone, who switched from the left to the right side this season, already owns the program records for career goals (75) and points (204), and is four assists shy of passing Niki Miller (57) for that mark. Senior midfielder Nikki Profita (18 goals, 12 assists) and sophomore forward Dani Profita (20 goals, 14 assists) also aid a potent attack that's produced 132 goals (5.7 per game). Defensively, backs Amanda Crampton, Allie Brouhard, Rachel Phillips and Amanda Oberly have helped to produce 17 shutouts. On the other side, Mendham is led by senior Elizabeth Tolley (14 goals, 18 assists) and junior Ally Chapis (13 goals). The teams have a loss to one common opponent in Madison, which beat Mendham, 3-0, on Oct. 18 and Warren Hills, 1-0, on Oct. 13. Both have defeated High Point -- Mendham twice, 2-1 and 2-0, while Warren Hills beat the 'Cats, 8-0. On a side note, the Blue Streaks are sitting on 598 wins as a program.
Sectional titles -- Warren Hills 11 titles (1984, '96, '97, '99, 2000, '01, '02, '03, '09, '12, '13); Mendham 2 titles (1975, '93).
Pick: Warren Hills, 4-1.
3-Summit (13-8-1) vs. 1-Voorhees (19-2-2), 2 p.m. on Saturday at North Hunterdon -- Voorhees advanced to its first final since 2010 with a 2-0 win over Delaware Valley in Wednesday's semifinals. Roncoroni continued her stellar season by scoring both goals, raising her single-season record total to 44. With another year to go, Roncoroni already holds the school's single-season and career points marks with 104 and 203, while owning the career goals mark at 89. Colleen Boyce previously held the school's career marks with 67 goals and 184 points. Fourth-year coach Taylor Webb, who amassed 160 points in her fine career from 1999-2002, still owns the Vikes' all-time assists mark with 58. Senior forward Hannah Ryan (13 goals) and sophomore midfielder Isabelle Houser (12 assists) are also key pieces on offense. Defensively, senior goalie Lauren Pianucci has helped the unit to produce 16 shutouts, including 1-0 and 2-0 wins over Somerville and Del Val in the playoffs. Summit is led by junior Sophie Pollinger (20 goals, 11 assists), and seniors Kendall Codey (15 goals) and Megan Ophel (11 goals, 28 assists). Teams have one common opponent in West Essex, which beat Summit, 6-0, on Oct. 23 and tied Voorhees, 1-1, on Sept. 6.
Sectional titles -- Voorhees 6 (1993, '96, '99, 2000, '02, '06); Summit 1 (2009).
Pick: Voorhees, 3-1.
3-Hunterdon Central (16-6) at 1-Bridgewater-Raritan (21-2), 10 a.m. on Friday -- Central is hoping the third time will be the charm after a pair of losses -- 7-2 on Oct. 7 and 8-2 on Oct. 28 -- to the Panthers in Skyland Conference Delaware Division clashes. This series has been a fierce one during Red Devils coach Jenn Sponzo's 16 seasons. Sponzo's teams are 8-17-2 overall against the Somerset County powerhouse dating to 1999, including a 4-0 loss in last year's sectional semifinals. Bridgewater, which has floated between North 1 and North 2 in recent years, is seeking its 10th straight sectional title, while Central is aiming for its 14th overall and third in four years. Senior forwards Kendall Nickel (21 goals) and Taylor Barrett (10 goals), along with senior midfielder Kailey Dalgauer (15 goals, 10 assists) and junior forward Maddie Freeman (14 goals) lead Central's offense, while the defense has yielded eight goals in the last nine games, sans the eight allowed to the Panthers on Oct. 28. Bridgewater features seniors Emily Howarth (32 goals, 24 assists), Samantha Giordano (31 goals), Emily Miller (26 goals, 25 assists) and Lindsay Alvarez (36 assists).
Sectional titles -- Hunterdon Central 13 (1992, '93, '94, '96, '97, '98, 2001, '02, '03, '04, '07, '11, '13); Bridgewater-Raritan 9 (2005, '06, '07, '08, '09, '10, '11, '12, '13).
Pick: Bridgewater-Raritan, 5-2.
3-Kittatinny (15-6-1) at 1-Newton (12-5-5), 3 p.m. on Saturday -- Sussex County is guaranteed to get its first sectional title in eight years, while one of these programs will end a long title drought. The Cougars have won four overall, but none since 1995, while the Braves are seeking their first since 1986 and first under veteran coach Lisa Bechtel. Kittatinny is enjoying an offensive surge of late, scoring 22 goals in its last four games, including an 8-2 win over Pequannock in the quarters and a 2-1 victory over No. 2 Lenape Valley on a late goal by junior forward Holly Reznik (18 goals), who has scored nine in her last four games. Senior forward Alexis Ambrosino (20 goals, 13 assists, 135 career points) is the offensive leader. Second-year coach Emily Murray's team should have plenty of confidence heading into the final after avenging a 2-0 loss to Lenape Valley in addition to a pair of regular-season wins over Newton (2-0 on Sept. 12 and 3-1 on Oct. 22) to secure the program's first NJAC Colonial Division title. Meanwhile, the Braves rely more on a strong defense, which has produced 10 shutouts and has allowed 25 goals, and is anchored by senior goalie Jenna Zawislak. Offensively, sophomore midfielder Natalie Rivas (10 goals, 6 assists) and sophomore forward Brittany Schumann (9 assists) are talented young players.
Sectional titles -- Kittatinny 4 (1978, '79, '94, '95); Newton 8 (1976, '79, '81, '82, '83, '84, '85, '86).
Pick: Kittatinny, 2-1.
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