What: Ninth annual Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament championship.
When: Saturday, 3 p.m.
Where: Morrison Field, Hackettstown High School.
Records: Warren Hills 17-2; Hunterdon Central 12-5-1.
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| Hunterdon Central celebrates its first HWS title in 2016. |
Coaches: Josie Potter (1st season, 17-2); Jennifer Sponzo (19th season, 268-133-17).
Series history: Warren Hills, which owns a 41-29-10 edge dating to 1967, including a 4-1 victory at home on Sept. 9, had won 11 straight meetings before a 2-1 loss to Hunterdon Central in last year's title game. It was the Red Devils' first win in the series since a 1-0 decision at home in 2007, and they hold a 6-3 edge in county tournament matchups dating to the former Hunterdon-Warren event. Blue Streaks prevailed 2-1 in the 2015 final. This is the third meeting on a neutral field.
Previous champions: Newton/Warren Hills co-champs in 2009 (final was never played); Voorhees in 2010 and '12; Warren Hills in 2011, '13, '14 and '15; Hunterdon Central in '16.
Note: Here's a closer look at both teams with probable starting lineups:
Warren Hills Blue Streaks
How they got here: Beat Lenape Valley, 11-0, in first round; Voorhees, 2-1, in quarterfinals; Delaware Valley, 4-0, in semifinals.
Previous tournament history: Beat Delaware Valley, 8-2, in 2009 first round, Beat High Point, 4-0, in 2009 quarterfinals, Beat Pope John, 3-0 in 2009 semifinals; Beat Sparta, 6-0, in 2010 first round, Beat Wallkill Valley, 4-1, in 2010 quarterfinals, Beat Newton, 2-1 in overtime, in 2010 semifinals, Lost to Voorhees, 1-0, in 2010 championship game; Beat North Warren, 9-0, in 2011 first round, Beat Newton, 5-0, in 2011 quarterfinals, Beat Wallkill Valley, 8-1, in 2011 semifinals, Beat High Point, 3-1, in 2011 championship game; Beat Lenape Valley, 5-1, in 2012 first round, Beat Pope John, 8-0, in 2012 quarterfinals, Lost to Voorhees, 2-0, in 2012 semifinals; Beat Kittatinny, 6-0, in 2013 first round, Beat High Point, 3-0, in 2013 quarterfinals, Beat Voorhees, 2-1, in 2013 semifinals, Beat Hackettstown, 1-0, in 2013 final; Beat Wallkill Valley, 6-0, in 2014 first round; Beat Hackettstown, 3-0, in 2014 quarterfinals; Beat High Point, 8-0, in 2014 semifinals; Beat Voorhees, 5-0, in 2014 final; Beat Phillipsburg, 4-0, in 2015 quarterfinals; Beat Voorhees, 2-1, on strokes in 2015 semifinals; Beat Hunterdon Central, 2-1, in 2015 final; Beat Newton, 1-0, in 2016 quarterfinals; Beat High Point, 3-2, in 2016 semifinals; Lost to Hunterdon Central, 2-1, in 2016 final. Overall HWS record: 30-3.
Probable starting lineup: Sr. F Rebecca Sigman (22 goals-11 assists-55 points); So. F Samantha Dugan (16-8-40); Sr. F Alyssa Appleby (10-5-25); Sr. MF Tali Popinko (13-9-35); Sr. MF Mikayla Dugan (9-9-27); Sr. MF Rebecca Lezon (1-2-4); Fr. D Ashley Moskal (2-4-8); Sr. D Sydney Moskal (0-1-1); So. D Kate Fenner (0-0-0); D So. Jess DeSanto (0-0-0); Sr. GK Maggie Titus (77 saves, 9 shutouts, .846 save percentage, 0.78 goals against).
Hunterdon Central Red Devils
How they got here: Beat Pope John, 5-1, in first round; Wallkill Valley, 5-2, in quarterfinals; Hackettstown, 3-2, in overtime in semifinals.
Previous tournament history: Lost to High Point, 2-1, in 2009 first round; Lost to Newton, 2-1, in 2010 first round; Lost to Wallkill Valley, 5-1 in 2011 first round; Beat Sparta, 4-1, in 2012 first round; Beat Phillipsburg, 2-1, in 2012 quarterfinals; Lost to High Point, 1-0, in 2012 semifinals; Beat Newton, 6-0, in 2013 first round; Beat Sparta, 2-1, in 2013 quarterfinals; Lost to Hackettstown, 4-3 in overtime, in 2013 semifinals; Beat Pope John, 5-1, in 2014 first round; Beat Lenape Valley, 2-1 in overtime, in 2014 quarterfinals; Lost to Voorhees, 1-0, in 2014 semifinals; Beat North Hunterdon, 6-0, in 2015 preliminary round; Beat Wallkill Valley, 3-0, in 2015 first round; Beat Newton, 2-0, in 2015 quarterfinals; Beat Hackettstown, 1-0, in 2015 semifinals; Lost to Warren Hills, 2-1, in 2015 final; Beat Belvidere, 6-0, in 2016 quarterfinals; Beat Voorhees, 2-1 on strokes, in 2016 semifinals; Beat Warren Hills, 2-1, in 2016 final. Overall HWS record: 18-7.
Probable starting lineup: Sr. F Brittany Bill (12 goals-20 assists-44 points); Sr. F Colleen Barrett (10-4-24); Jr. F Rachel Stone (7-3-17); Sr. F Kali Huck (6-1-13); Jr. MF Emily Brandt (11-1-23); Sr. MF Nikki Peppe (2-0-4); Sr. MF Alexa Zubalake (2-0-4); Sr. D Lauren Howarth (0-0-0); Sr. D Brooke Riedy (0-0-0); Sr. D Sadie Strober (0-0-0); Jr. GK Gabby Puskas (127 saves, 5 shutouts, .789 save percentage, 1.89 goals against).
Analysis: Warren Hills, which is the No. 3 seed, is making a tournament-record eighth finals appearance and fifth in a row since losing in the 2012 semifinals. The Blue Streaks, a tournament-best 30-3 overall in tri-county games, are red-hot right now, having won 12 in a row since a 1-0 loss to Madison on Sept. 20 and clinching at least a share of the Skyland Conference Raritan Division title with a 7-0 win over North Hunterdon on Tuesday. During the current win streak, the Streaks have outscored their opponents, 53-6, while posting six shutouts. Sigman, who has given the program a 20-goal scorer for the 13th time in its 53-year history and has at least one goal in 11 of her last 12 games, while Popinko, a Temple recruit, has notched at least one goal or an assist nine of the last 10 games. Hunterdon Central, which is the fifth seed, is playing in the program's third straight tri-county title game after three consecutive losses in the semifinals in 2012-14. The Red Devils, who are making back-to-back-to-back appearances in a county final since the program's three straight trips to the Hunterdon-Warren title games in 1996-98, have never won consecutive county championships. Central, which won five H-W crowns, notched its first title in either tournament since 2003 a year ago. Defense, which is giving up nearly two goals per game, will be key again in order for Central to pull off another championship. That won't be an easy task against a Warren Hills offense that likes to spread the ball around and is averaging just over four goals per game (81 total goals in 19 games) and has been held to just one goal or fewer twice this season. For the Streaks, shutting down Bill -- Central's biggest offensive threat who didn't play in the loss to Hills earlier this season -- will be a priority. Central is always well coached and you can expect this team to be ready for the challenge. The rematch will be much closer, but Warren Hills is playing its best hockey of the season. It's likely a one-goal margin until the Streaks pop one in late to seal it.
Pick: Warren Hills, 3-1.
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