Coach: Amanda Miller (first season).
2016 record: 11-8-3, 2-2-2 (T-second place NJAC Freedom Division)
Key returnees: F Cassady Bruning (6 goals), sr.; GK Brittany McKenna (11 shutouts), sr.; MF Julianne Mangano, jr.; F Tyra Wingle (9 goals), jr.; MF-F Michaela Thiessen, jr.
Key losses: F Kelsey Little (5 goals); MF Jordyn Martin; MF Marissa Sinacore; MF Melissa Way.
Top newcomers: F Jackie Melone, so.; MF Molly VanStone, so.; D Alisa Posner, sr.; F Angelina Milazzo, sr.; MF Cassidy Preste, sr.
Outlook: The Wildcats bounced back from a rare sub-.500 campaign two years ago in reaching the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex and North 1, Group 2 semifinals, where their season ended for a fourth straight year at the hands of Group 2 champion West Essex in an 8-0 loss. Longtime coach Bev Keur has retired after a stellar career (368 wins), but there is returning talent for Miller to work with this season. Offense has the biggest question in recent seasons as last year's unit scored three or more goals just three times and produced 31 total goals, up from the 24 goals in '15. If this group is going to improve on last year's win total it will need the defense to help lead the way. The 'Cats will need to play tight, low-scoring games to be successful as the rest of the division chases favorite Hackettstown.
Kittatinny Cougars
Coach: Emily Murray (fifth season, 33-39-7).
2016 record: 2-15-2, 1-4-1 (third place NJAC Colonial Division).
Key returnees: F Francesca Perotti (4 goals), sr.; MF Madison Mailloux, sr.; MF Jess Smalley, jr.; F Annie Moore, sr.
Key losses: F Hailee Lolk; F Erin Douglas; GK Rikki Pavlick.
Top newcomers: F Taylor Loevlie, sr.; D Kylah Ogar, sr.
Outlook: After a 15-win season and reaching a sectional final in 2014, the Cougars, who lost seven of their last eight games to close 2016, have struggled the past two seasons. Offense has been a major weakness, as the unit went from 59 goals in '14 to just 28 in '15 and only 12 in 19 games last year. That is an area of concern again, along with a lack of varsity experience.
Lenape Valley Patriots
Coach: Lauren VanOrden (fourth season, 26-26-4)
2016 record: 5-10-2, 2-4 (T-second place NJAC Freedom Division)
Key returnees: MF Lindsey Bicher, jr.; D Lia Yohanan, sr.; F Lauren Cooper, jr.
Key losses: GK Kaylee Gentilucci; MF Kristen Rafferty (6 goals); MF Bridget Togno; F Bailey Connery (4 goals); D Sarah Canfield; F Jillian Amato; F Cara Lindner; F Gina Scalfani.
Top newcomers: GK Saige Berkowitz, so.; MF Thalia Johnson, jr.; F Jessalyn McKenna, jr.; F Gianna Acquavella, sr.; F Julianna Gentilucci, fr.; F Leah Gonzalez, jr.; D Jayna Rode, jr.; F Brielle Sarno, fr.; D Natalie Stiner, sr.; D Monet Vala, fr.
Outlook: The Patriots posted nearly the same record last year as the previous season, with two fewer wins in 2016. As is the case with most teams in the county, offense will be a major question mark coming into this season after scoring 27 goals a year ago, including eight in a win over North Warren. Defensively, Gentilucci, now playing at Johnson & Wales University, is the biggest loss that this year's team has to overcome. as she recorded 31 shutouts in a four-year career. Figure this to be another rebuilding year.
Newton Braves
Coach: Lisa Bechtel (28th season, 396-137-18)
2016 record: 17-4, 6-0 (first place NJAC Colonial Division)
Key returnees: F Lauren Barbato, jr.; F Morgan Mendel (13 goals), sr.; F Victoria Docherty (6 goals), jr.; D Jade Luciani, jr.; D April Seratelli, sr.; GK Abby Berkowitz (8 shutouts), so.
Key losses: F Natalie Rivas (23 goals, 19 assists); F Kate Barbato (8 goals, 7 assists); F Brittany Schumann (11 assists); D-MF Emma Orabone; D Becky Powers; F-MF Nikki Rizzo (10 goals, 18 assists); D Jasmine Luciani; D-MF Katy Van Orden; GK Emily Kurnides.
Top newcomers: D Makaela Dionne, sr.; MF Taylor Goldschmiedt, jr.; F Liliy Widgren, jr.; MF Carly Delorio, jr.; F Kate Lazar, jr.; F Dominique Simeone, so.; F Angela Melillo, so.; MF Emily Berkowitz, sr.; D Jen Papis, sr.; F Rachel Sturchio, sr.; MF Remy Smith, jr.; F Erin Fucito, so.; MF-D Emily Pappas, so.; F Aubrey White, so.; MF Gemma Meade, so.; F Mackenzi Miller, so.; MF Jess Vasquez, so.
Outlook: Can the Braves make it a 4-peat in North 1, Group 1? Coming off back-to-back-to-back sectional titles -- the first three under Bechtel who needs four wins to hit 400 -- the Braves will have to overcome some heavy graduation losses, especially on the offensive end. Rivas, the program's leading scorer the past three seasons, will be tough to replace as she led the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area in scoring with 23 goals and 19 assists. In fact, the unit lost members who accounted for 49 of last year's 75 goals. The defense, which is usually a strength of this program, benefits from the return of Abby Berkowitz in goal, who shared time in the cage last season. Hackettstown appears to be the favorite to wrestle away the division title, but don't sleep on the Braves.
Pope John Lions
Coach: Erin Ashton (second season, 1-15-1).
2016 record: 1-15-1, 1-6-1 (fourth place NJAC American Division)
Key returnees: D Adriana Purcell, sr.; D Danielle Reilly, sr.; F Cameron Sacco, sr.; D Maggie Walsh, sr.; F Katie Publik, jr.; F Katherine Yarussi (3 goals), so.; MF Alexis Ippolito, sr.; F Jordan Gulick, jr.; D Antonia Ippolito, sr.; D Selah Cronin, jr.; F Sophia Felix, so.; F Ryan Wagner, sr.; D Erin Befumo, so.; GK Erin Callahan, jr.
Key loss: F Ali Sturchio (4 goals).
Top newcomers: F Catie Lovett, fr.; MF Sierra Benson, so.; Fr. Taylor Hanley, fr.
Outlook: After changing coaches three times the last three years, Ashton, a former player at Wallkill Valley, seems optimistic heading into her second season. The biggest challenge will be improving an offense that scored just 10 and 11 goals, respectively, the last two campaigns. Most of last year's total came in a 7-3 win over Morris Hills in the third game, so the Lions totaled just four goals the rest of the way and were shut out in nine straight following their lone win. The good news is the returning numbers are way up from 2016. Expect this team -- coming off back-to-back one-win seasons -- to show marked improvement as the season wears on.
Sparta Spartans
Coach: Kristin Lindsley (sixth season, 50-44-3)
2016 record: 9-10, 5-3 (second place NJAC American Division)
Key returnees: F Isabella Tracy (5 goals), jr.; F-MF Hope Nafis (9 goals), sr.; F Alexis Gudenkauf, sr.; GK Angela Elzind, sr.; MF Lucie Wolfson, jr.; D Maria Strongilos, sr.; F Jillian VanFleet, sr.; MF Caroline Kepler, jr.; F Lauren Groff, so.; F Kenzie Merwin, so.
Key losses: F Jacqui Hallack (11 goals); MF-D Isabella Candeloro; MF Isabel Passerini; MF Kelly Martin.
Top newcomers: GK Delaney Forziati, so.; F-MF Allie McGuire, so.; D Lauren Zanetakos, sr.; D Taylor Canfield, so.; F-MF Stephanie Villar, so.; F-MF Audrey Krajieck, so.
Outlook: After going a 8-56-2 from 2009-12, the Spartans have earned respect after reeling off 45 wins the last four seasons. This year's team will have to overcome some key graduation losses, including 15 of last year's 32 goals. Nafis is coming off a fine junior season and will help anchor the offense, along with Tracy. Elzind returning in the cage is a plus for the defense, which struggled at times in 2016, yielding 39 goals in 19 games.
Vernon Vikings
Coach: Kieran Killeen (second season, 5-13).
2016 record: 5-13-2, 0-6 (fourth place NJAC Freedom Division)
Key returnees: F Carlie Van Tassel, so.; D Caitlyn Kowalski, sr.; MF Keirra Doyle, sr.; MF Haley DeBonta, so.; MF Madelynn Leggour, jr.; MF Tori Waschek, jr.; F Hailey Minter, so.
Key losses: D McKenzie Alter; MF-D Brenna DelBagno; MF Brianna White; GK Kaitlyn Gallaugher.
Top newcomers: GK Emma Cahill, jr.; F Emilee Hamler, jr.; D Alicia Mihalko, fr.; D Aleah Germinario, fr.
Outlook: Vikings, who went 53-74-5 the previous seven seasons. upped their win total by one from 2015 a year ago. The losses of DelBagno (now at Kean University) and White, both all-conference players a year ago, will be tough to overcome as they provided tremendous leadership for a young group in '16. Replacing Gallaugher, who started every game in the cage the previous two seasons, will also be a challenge.
Coach: Irene Chernati (32nd season, 381-212-12)
2016 record: 9-9, 4-2 (second place NJAC Colonial Division)
Key returnees: F Morgan Carr (21 goals), sr.; F Fiona Blake (7 goals), sr.; MF Caitlyn Mizeski (7 assists), sr.; D Angelique Wygonowski, sr.; F Tara Brody, sr.; MF Francesca Ciasullo, jr.
Key losses: F Legend Hicks; GK Sam Hutnick (6 shutouts); D Alexis DeOliveira.
Top newcomers: D Hope Inglis, sr.; GK Kristina Yakkey, sr.; D Emma McGuire, jr.; MF Kristine Krumpfer, jr.; MF Caroline Kim, jr.; D Monica McWilliams, jr.; MF Mia Kronski, so.; D Vanessa Kula, so.; GK Jade Lally, so.; MF Riley Oostdyk, so.; F Jamie Struble, so.; F Sophia Spector, so.; Emily Mizeski, fr.
Outlook: Rangers have made five straight appearances in the sectional quarterfinals, dropping a 3-0 decision to Lenape Valley in North 1, Group 1 last season. Offense has been a huge question mark in recent seasons, but Carr has emerged as one of the area's top scorers, and forms a nice 1-2 punch with Blake as they combined for 28 of the team's 34 goals in 2016. Defense, which yielded 29 goals last season, may be an area of concern with inexperience in the cage. If that shakes out, expect this group to challenge for the division title.
No comments:
Post a Comment