Coach: Beth Franceschino (fourth season of second stint, 35-18-5).
2016 record: 13-3-2, 7-1-2 (first place Skyland Conference Mountain Division).
Key returnees: F Maddie Call (6 goals, 4 assists), jr.; F Abby Bronico (9 goals, 6 assists), jr.; F Angie Santini (8 goals), jr.; MF-D Sam Bittenbender (5 goals), sr.; MF-D Alex Navarra, sr.; MF-D Mallory Keenan, jr.; GK Anya Logan (10 shutouts), jr.
Key losses: F Kara Tipton; D Erin Bronico; D Rachel Dultz; MF Traci Kieffer.
Top newcomers: MF Melanie Clark, jr.; D Sam Dultz, jr.; F Olivia Zmyewski, fr.; MF Kinsey Lockard, fr.; MF Jackie Richardson, jr.; F Allison Deisenroth, jr.; MF Isabella Serra, so.; MF Hailey Rowe, so.; D Marietta McCray, sr.
Outlook: The County Seaters are coming off three straight winning seasons, winning the division in 2014 and '16, and back-to-back runs to the North 1, Group 1 semifinals where last season ended with a tough 1-0 loss to Mountain Lakes. The defense, which was solid last year, returns Logan in the cage, but the losses of Bronico and Dultz are huge for a unit that yielded only 15 goals (six to Hunterdon Central in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex quarters) last season and two or fewer in 17 contests. The offense should be a strength with the return of leading scorer Abby Bronico. If this team can hold tight on the defensive end, it should make another deep run in the postseason.
Delaware Valley Terriers
Coach: Stephanie Rifflard (seventh season, 49-56-6).
2016 record: 10-6-1, 6-3-1 (second place Skyland Conference Valley Division).
Key returnees: F Megan Donnelly (4 goals), jr.; F Sarah Babcock (6 goals, 5 assists), sr.; MF Rachel Orrico, sr.; F-MF Madeline Bill, so.; MF Jillian Ethern, sr.; GK Ellis Stanton, sr.
Key losses: MF Ann Bill (10 goals, 5 assists); D Jeanne Harabedian (5 goals); F Riley Ferrara (6 goals, 8 assists); GK Jillian DePinto (8 shutouts).
Top newcomers: F Kelsey O'Connor, jr.; D Clare Nugent, jr.; F-MF Madison Scott, jr.; D Megan Bill, jr.
Outlook: The Terriers, who posted three straight nine-win campaigns before upping that total by one and reaching the North 2, Group 2 quarterfinals last season, will have to replace some heavy losses on the offensive side, where 22 of their 36 goals from last season have graduated. Babcock and Donnelly will have to anchor that group. Defensively is where the biggest challenge lies this season, though Stanton did see time in the cage in 2016. This team should challenge for the division title, but defense against the stronger opponents will be key to pushing past the .500 mark.
Hackettstown Tigers
Coach: Stephen Speirs (eighth season, 80-51-3).
2016 record: 16-5, 6-0 (first place NJAC Freedom Division).
Key returnees: F Jordan Vandermark (19 goals), jr.; MF Madison Hoskins (10 goals, 11 assists), jr.; F Kayla Cichlar (10 goals), jr.; F Ashley Zellars (10 goals), jr.; MF Kayla Nicholls, sr.; D Megan Baker, jr.; D Sierra Castiglia, jr.; MF Jessica Scheper, jr.; MF Lexie Castellano, sr.; F Kyleigh Dawson, jr.; GK Bridget Kenny (11 shutouts), jr.; D Jodie Pryslak, jr.; MF Madison Trotter, so.
Key losses: MF Molly Gorczyca (8 goals); D Nicole Jerome.
Top newcomers: F Madison Billows, so.; MF Malanie Luke, so.; F Sydney Smith, so.; F Megan Doyle, fr.
Outlook: Tigers are coming off four straight seasons over .500, winning back-to-back division titles and dropping a 1-0 decision to Voorhees in the North 1, Group 2 final, the program's first title game since 2007. This bulk of last year's team returns, including most of a balanced offense that saw Gorczyca's goals total dip from a program-record 31 in 2015 to just eight in '16. Vandermark, Hoskins, Zellars and Cichar were the team's top four scorers last year. Castiglia and Baker, both all-conference selections, will anchor a defense that yielded 17 goals last season, including seven in the first four games. Only Warren Hills, which scored four, put up more than three on the Tigers in 2016. This is a talented group that should make another deep run in the playoffs and is a heavy favorite for a third division title.
Hunterdon Central Red Devils
Coach: Jenn Sponzo (19th season, 256-128-16).
2016 record: 15-7, 9-5 (second place Skyland Conference Delaware Division).
Key returnees: F Brittany Bill (9 goals, 16 assists), sr.; F Emily Brandt (7 goals), sr.; F Kali Huck (4 goals), sr.; D Lauren Howarth, sr.; MF Nikki Peppe, sr.; F Colleen Barrett (4 goals), sr.; MF Alexa Zubalake, sr.
Key losses: MF Nikki Freeman (17 goals); F Liza Higley (11 goals); D Dayna DeVincentz (4 goals, 5 assists); GK Elizabeth O'Brien (8 shutouts).
Top newcomers: F Rachel Stone, jr.; MF Emily Bill, jr.; D Sadie Strober, sr.; GK Gabby Puskas, jr.; D Jenna Dugan, jr.; D Lauren Nawrotzki, jr.; D Brooke Riedy, sr.; F Alyssa Magliaro, jr.; F Sammy Freeman, fr.
Outlook: Red Devils, after winning back-to-back North 2, Group 4 titles in 2012 and '13, have ended the last three campaigns with losses to nemesis Bridgewater in the sectional finals. Another rematch at season's end seems likely. Central opened its season with a tie against Phillipsburg after a 5-0 blowout win against the Stateliners a year ago. Offensively, this team should be in good shape with Bill and Barrett, while Brandt scored seven goals off the bench in 2016. Defensively, Puskas takes over full-time duties in the cage after spot action as a sophomore. Central, which won the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex title last year, is always well coached, so expect this team to improve as the season wears on.
North Hunterdon Lions
Coach: Maria Bachert (first season).
2016 record: 1-17-1, 1-13-1 (fourth place Skyland Conference Raritan Division).
Key returnees: MF Lexi Poniatowski, sr.; D Lauren Wagner, sr.; GK Caroline Petrie, jr.; F Caroline Witte, jr.
Key losses: F Courtney Nealon; MF Nicole Perez; D Jenn Sroka; F Hannah Palahnuk; GK Wesley Taylor.
Outlook: Lions have gone 41-140-5 over the last nine seasons, and they are coming off back-to-back one-win campaigns. Bachert, a former head coach at Watchung Hills, inherits a program that went 7-65-3 under Suzanne Toke the past four seasons. The rebuilding, as always, will start with offense, as last year's unit scored just nine goals in 19 games for the second straight year. That makes it tough to win. Defensively, Petrie saw limited varsity action in the cage in 2016. This unit will look to improve as well after yielding 76 goals in 19 games.
North Warren Patriots
Coach: Brian Gravatt (third season, 10-25-2).
2016 record: 5-12-1, 0-5-1 (fourth place NJAC Colonial Division).
Key returnees: F Julia Wetzel, sr.; F Sydney Janerio, sr.; MF Dani Towey, jr.; MF Lauren Cooke, jr.; F Drew Benzaia, jr.; MF Kat Grogan, so; MF Jules Metzgar, so.
Key losses: GK Jenna Sagan (6 shutouts); MF Sydney MacDonough; F Kassandra DePaolis; F Danielle Pergola; D Elinor Dowd; D Sophia Hinchman; D Moira Love.
Top newcomers: MF Maddie Allen, so.; MF Alexis Ashton, so.; MF Paige Smedira, so.; MF Felicia Ahlers, so.
Outlook: After going 10-9-1 in 2014, the program's first winning season in recent memory, the Patriots are coming off back-to-back five-win seasons. The loss of Sagan, one of seven starters to graduate and a three-year starter in the cage, hurts a defense that struggled to contain the tougher teams on the schedule last season. The offense is a question after scoring just seven goals in 18 games a year ago, down from a total 17 in '15. If the offense can step up, finishing near the .500 mark would be a reasonable goal.
Phillipsburg Stateliners
Coach: Toni Popinko (first season).
2016 record: 4-14-2, 2-10-2 (fourth place Skyland Conference Raritan Division).
Key returnees: F Abby Evans, sr.; MF Gabby Dudek (9 goals, 4 assists), jr.; F Emily Yanes, jr.; GK Lauren Viscione, sr.; F Melissa Kosar, sr.; D Allison Yanes, sr.; D Carsen Drake, so.; D Michelle Moss, sr.
Outlook: Stateliners, who have a new coach for the first time in seven years, have been up-and-down the past four years, going from two wins in 2013 to 11 in '15. Popinko, a former assistant coach for the 'Liners and a star player at Warren Hills, takes over the head coaching duties after a tough four-win season in '16. Finding consistency on the offensive side will be the major challenge after the goals totals dropped from 44 in '15 to 24 in '16. Evans, who scored three after a 10-goal sophomore season, and Dudek will lead that unit, while Viscione takes over full-time duties in the cage. If this team can put the ball in the cage on a regular basis, it could surprise this season, much like it did with a tie against Hunterdon Central in the season opener.
South Hunterdon Eagles
Coach: Stephanie Davis (fourth season, 29-26-2).
2016 record: 9-7-2, 6-3-1 (second place Skyland Conference Mountain Division).
Key returnees: F Julia Kreider (5 goals, 4 assists), sr.; F Brooke Tumler, sr.; D Claire Greenwood, sr.; MF Alana Cantanzareti, so.; GK Kerry Coleman, jr.; D Nicole Costantini, jr.; F Jada Kauth, jr.; F Ashley Lucarini, so.; MF Sophia Petrucci, jr.
Key losses: F Carly Leary (10 goals, 6 assists); F Kate Shaffer (5 goals); GK Giovanna Rubino (6 shutouts); D Kendall Storcella; D Emily Carrier; MF Mae Dienes; MF Rebecca Godown (7 goals).
Top newcomers: F Chandler Storcella, fr.; MF Rebecca Phillips, fr.; GK Brenna McCloughan, jr.
Outlook: The Eagles are coming off-back-to-back winning seasons, but they will have to overcome heavy graduation losses to make another run at the Mountain Division title. Kreider and Tumler are back on the forward line for an offensive unit that produced 29 goals (22 have graduated) last season, down from 37 in 2015. Defensively, the loss of Rubino, a three-year starter in the cage, may be the toughest to overcome.
Voorhees Vikings
Coach: Taylor Webb (seventh season, 98-26-4).
2016 record: 18-4-1, 14-1 (first place Skyland Conference Raritan Division).
Key returnees: D Sarah Matyas (4 goals, 5 assists), sr.; MF Laura Chen (4 goals, 6 assists), sr.; MF Lauren Kokoskie, so.; F Brooke Hyland (17 goals), so.; F Cassie Boyce (9 goals), so.; MF Madison Ogorzalek, so.
Key losses: MF Hannah Schiavo (9 goals), sr.; GK Annie Weiler (11 goals); D Danika Berman.
Top newcomers: GK Courtney Wellet, so.; D Ryleigh Cameron, so.; F Erin Shaw, sr.; D Grace Schiavo, fr.
Outlook: Vikings made the successful transition back to the Skyland Conference Raritan Division, winning their third straight division title, while avenging consecutive losses in the North 2, Group 2 sectional final with a 1-0 win in overtime against Hackettstown in last year's title game. The offense should be in very good shape with Hyland, last year's leading scorer, and Boyce, who saw spot action as a starter in 2016, but should be a major contributor this fall. Defense is always the glue, but the loss of Weiller, a two-year starter, means a new face in the cage. Expect this group to get better each game and challenge for division, county and sectional titles. Speaking of the section, it got a whole lot tougher with the addition of state powerhouse Rumson-Fair Haven, which was in Central Jersey, Group 2 in '16.
Warren Hills Blue Streaks
Coach: Josie Potter (first season).
2016 record: 20-5, 12-3 (second place Skyland Conference Raritan Division).
Key returnees: MF Tali Popinko (13 goals, 9 assists), sr.; F Rebecca Sigman (17 goals, 10 assists), sr.; MF-D Mikayla Dugan (6 goals, 4 assists), sr.; D Sydney Moskal, sr.; F Alyssa Appleby (14 goals), sr.; MF Rebecca Lezon, sr.; F-MF Samantha Dugan (6 goals), so.; D Kate Fenner, so.; GK Maggie Titus, sr.
Key losses: F Dani Profita (14 goals); D Caroline Cotte (11 goals); D Brie Schwab (7 assists); GK Jackie de Raismes (14 shutouts).
Top newcomers: D Ashley Moskal, fr.; D Liz Schlaffer, fr.; F-MF Sarah Korczukowski, fr.; F Paulina Georgoutsos, so.; D Jess DeSanto, so.; GK Julia Webber, so.
Outlook: For the second time in three years, the Blue Streaks, who were denied a sixth straight division title and dropped a tough 5-0 decision to Ocean City in the Group 3 final after back-to-back state championships for the first time in program history, have a new coach in Potter, a former star player and assistant coach at the school. Solid returning core with Popinko, a four-year starter, along with Sigman and Appleby, who will lead the offense. Mikayla Dugan was solid in the midfield last season, while sister, Sam, saw starting action as a freshman. Fenner is another talented young player, who shifts from the forward line to defense. Ashley Moskal is one to watch as well, a blue-chip freshman who many felt would have been a varsity starter last year as an eighth-grader. Defense was an issue at times last season, especially vs. Ocean City. Titus, who saw spot action last year, takes over the full-time duties in the cage. The talent is there once again to challenge for championships.
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