Coach: Kelly Reynolds (first season).
2017 record: 7-8-3, 1-3-2 (third place NJAC Freedom Division)
Key returnees: MF Julianne Mangano, sr.; F Tyra Wingle (5 goals, 4 assists), sr.; F Michaela Thiessen (8 goals), sr.; D Madison Cole, sr.; F Katherine Leal, sr.; MF Molly VanStone, jr; MF Jackie Melone, jr.
Key losses: F Cassady Bruning; GK Brittany McKenna (5 shutouts); D Angelina Milazzo.
Top newcomers: F Taylor Berry, jr.; F Ali Stoner, fr.; D Donna Merkel, fr.; D Alexis Lake, jr.
Outlook: The Wildcats, who have nine seniors on the 22-person varsity roster, have a third coach in three years as Reynolds takes over for Amanda Miller, who stepped down after just one season. For a sixth straight year, the program's season ended with a loss to perennial state power West Essex -- 8-0 in the North 1, Group 2 quarterfinals. Offense continues to be the biggest question as last year's unit scored three or more goals just one time and produced 31 total goals, up one from its total in '17. If this group is going to improve on last year's win total it will need to play tight defense in order to have a chance in low-scoring games. As for many teams in the area, playing home games on grass makes it tough to compete with the likes of Hackettstown, which is a heavy favorite to win the new five-team division that includes Newton, Vernon and Wallkill Valley .
Kittatinny Cougars
Coach: Emily Wisneski (first season).
2017 record: 2-18, 0-6 (fourth place NJAC Colonial Division).
Key returnees: MF Jess Smalley (3 assists), sr.; F Kathryn Merrill, sr.
Key losses: F Francesca Perotti; MF Madison Mailloux; F Annie Moore; F Taylor Loevlie (3 goals); GK Tess Miller.
Outlook: Wisneski, a former standout goalie at Morris Knolls and Ramapo College, takes over a program that's gone 35-57-7 the past five seasons and posted just two wins in 2016 and '17 after a 15-win season and reaching a sectional final in '14. Offense has been a major weakness, as the unit went from 59 goals in '14 to a combined 50 the past three years, including just 10 in 20 games '17. That again is an area of concern, along with a lack of varsity experience. The Cougars will need to put the ball in the cage in order to be competitive in the new five-team Colonial Division, which includes Jefferson, Lenape Valley, North Warren and Sparta.
Lenape Valley Patriots
Coach: Lauren VanOrden (fifth season, 32-37-6)
2017 record: 6-11-2, 1-4-1 (fourth place NJAC Freedom Division)
Key returnees: MF Lindsey Bicher (3 goals, 6 assists), sr.; MF Lauren Cooper (5 goals), sr.; MF Leah Gonzalez (5 assists), sr.; F Jessalyn McKenna (6 goals), sr.; D Jayna Rode, sr.; GK Saige Berkowitz (4 shutouts), jr.; MF-D Autumn Dachisen, jr.; F-MF Brielle Sarno, so.
Key losses: D Lia Yohanan; F Gianna Acquavella (4 goals).
Top newcomers: MF Tara Charette, so.; F Olivia Hickey, so.; F Angelina Falleni, fr.; F Dara Pellinger, fr.
Outlook: The Patriots have totaled 18 wins over the past three seasons since going 14-6 and winning the Freedom Division title in VanOrden's first season at the helm in 2014. As with most teams in the county, offense will be key to success after scoring 27 goals the previous two campaigns, including a season-best four in a loss to High Point in '17. Defensively, the unit recorded just four shutouts and yielded 57 goals (three per game), so it will also need to tighten things up. Berkowitz has a full year of varsity experience in the cage and that should help. Now in the Colonial Division, look for this group to perhaps challenge Jefferson and Sparta for the top spot.
Newton Braves
Coach: Lisa Bechtel (29th season, 405-145-18)
2017 record: 9-8, 4-2 (second place NJAC Colonial Division)
Key returnees: F Lauren Barbato (7 goals, 8 assists), sr.; F Victoria Docherty (8 goals, 5 assists), sr.; MF Carly Delorio (4 assists), sr.; D Jade Luciani (3 goals, 3 assists), sr.; GK Abby Berkowitz (7 shutouts), jr.; MF Liliy Widgren, sr.; D Emily Pappas, jr.; F-MF Angela Melillo, jr.; MF Dominique Simeone, jr.
Key losses: F Morgan Mendel (7 goals, 5 assists); D April Seratelli; MF Emily Berkowitz; D Jenn Papis; F Rachel Sturchio; D Makaela Dionne.
Top newcomers: MF Taylor Goldschmiedt, sr.; MF Remington Smith, sr.; F Erin Fucito, jr.; F Aubrey White, jr.; MF Gemma Meade, jr.; F Mackenzi Miller, jr.; F Jess Vasquez, jr.; MF Kendall Goldschmiedt, jr.; D Krista Leonardo, jr.; MF Sami Samilijan, jr.; D Ivy Kate Nisler, jr.; F Autumn Kerr, so.; MF Olivia Ernst, so.; F Naya Pereira, so.; F Madison Latimer, so.; D Celia Reynolds, so.
Outlook: Braves' run of three straight North 1, Group 1 titles ended with a 2-1 loss in overtime to Belvidere in the quarterfinals last season. The offense, which feasted on some of the weaker teams early on, struggled down the stretch -- scoring a total of five goals in the final six games and was shut out three times. The defense, which is usually a strength of this program, benefits from the return of Abby Berkowitz in goal, who was solid during her first full-time season in '17. Now in the Freedom Division, Newton will have to jell quickly to challenge Hackettstown, Vernon and Wallkill Valley.
Pope John Lions
Coach: Erin Ashton (third season, 5-28-4).
2017 record: 4-13-3, 2-5-1 (fourth place NJAC American Division)
Key returnees: F Katherine Yarussi (11 goals, 6 assists), jr.; F-MF Katie Publik, sr.; D Selah Cronin, sr.; F Erin Befumo, jr.; GK Erin Callahan (4 shutouts), sr.; GK Ciera Smith, jr.; F-MF Ashley Czermak, jr.; F-MF Catie Lovett, so.; D Taylor Hanley, so.; D Abby Walsh, so.
Key losses: D Adriana Purcell; F Cameron Sacco (7 goals); D Maggie Walsh.
Top newcomers: F Tori Brennan, sr.; F Josephine Buccino (transfer from Jefferson), so.; MF Allie Cutler, so.; D Madison McGuire, fr.; D Gabbi Brennan, fr.
Outlook: After back-to-back one-win seasons, the Lions added a few more victories a year ago, including two against Morris Hills, which joins Pope John in the new-look National Division. Ashton, a former player at Wallkill Valley, seems optimistic heading into her third season. The offense made major strides a year ago by scoring 23 goals after totaling just 10 and 11, respectively, in 2015 and '16. Nearly half of last year's total came against Morris Hills, and the offense was shut out nine times, so this group will need to be better against the top teams on the schedule in order to improve again on the wins total.
Sparta Spartans
Coach: Kristin Lindsley (seventh season, 55-57-5)
2017 record: 5-13-2, 3-3-2 (third place NJAC American Division)
Key returnees: F Isabella Tracy (6 goals), sr.; F Lucie Wolfson (6 goals), sr.; D Caroline Kepler, sr.; F-MF Allie McGuire (3 goals), jr.; F-MF Lauren Groff, jr.; MF Audrey Krajieck, jr.; MF Stephanie Villar, jr.; MF-D Taylor Canfield, jr.; F-MF Kenzie Merwin, jr.; F-MF Delaney Forziati, jr.; D Ashley Nyhan, jr.
Key losses: F Hope Nafis (3 goals, 8 assists); F Alexis Gudenkauf; GK Angela Elzind (4 shutouts).
Top newcomers: F-MF Sophie Mase, sr.; D Lexie Piacentino, sr.
Outlook: The Spartans, who went 8-56-2 from 2009-12, have gotten on track with 50 wins the past five seasons. But heavy graduation losses last season resulted in a sub-.500 campaign. The climb back starts on the offensive end as the unit scored a total of 23 goals last season, including a season-high four in a win over Kittatinny. Tracy and Wolfson combined for nearly half of the team's goals in 2017, so they will be counted on heavily on the front line. Defense was also a question mark last year and will need to be better with loss of two-year starter Elzind in the cage. After finishing third in the American Division in '17, the new-look Colonial Division figures to be wide open, so this group figures to challenge for the top spot.
Vernon Vikings
Coach: Kieran Killeen (third season, 15-19-3).
2017 record: 10-6-3, 2-1-3 (second place NJAC Freedom Division)
Key returnees: F Carlie Van Tassel (7 goals, 8 assists), jr.; MF Emilee Hamler (10 goals), sr.; MF Haley DeBonta, jr.; D Tori Waschek (6 goals, 3 assists), sr.; F Hailey Minter (7 goals, 3 assists), jr.; GK Emma Cahill (9 shutouts), sr.; MF Alicia Mihalko, so.; D Aleah Germinario, so.; D Emily Demarest, sr.; F Mia Annunziata, so.
Key losses: D Caitlyn Kowalski; MF Keirra Doyle.
Top newcomers: D Rebecca Bogdewicz, so.; F Nadine Yamout, so.; MF Hannah Van Blarcom, jr.; F Alyssa Van Dalinda, so.; D Alicja Wesloke, sr.; D Madison Hordych, so.
Outlook: Vikings, who went 53-74-5 from 2009-15, made major strides last season by doubling their wins total from two years ago and finishing second in the division, scoring a 1-0 win on the road against champion Hackettstown after a 5-0 loss to the Tigers in the first meeting in '17. Most of last year's team returns, as the offense will be in good shape with Van Tassel, Hamler, Waschek and Minter combining for 30 of the team's 35 goals. Defensively, Cahill was solid in the cage with nine shutouts. Take away the five it allowed in a loss to Wallkill Valley, and the unit gave up just four goals in eight of the final nine games in '17. Hackettstown is again the division favorite, but keep an eye on this team.
Coach: Irene Chernati (33rd season, 402-215-12)
2017 record: 21-3, 6-0 (first place NJAC Colonial Division)
Key returnees: F Emily Mizeski (5 goals), so.; MF Francesca Ciasullo (3 assists), sr.; D Emma McGuire, sr.; MF Brianna Millier, sr.; F Jamie Struble, jr.; MF Caroline Kim, sr.; D Monica McWilliams, sr.; D Elizabeth Lindquist, jr.
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| Wallkill Valley celebrates its first sectional title since 2006. |
Outlook: Rangers are coming off one of their finest seasons in recent years, winning the Colonial Division title and their first sectional championship since 2006 -- after five straight losses in the quarters with a 3-1 over Boonton in the North 1, Group 1 final -- before having their 10-game win streak snapped with a 9-0 loss to powerhouse Madison in the Group 1 semifinals. With significant graduation losses, this figures to be a bit of a rebuilding season, though Chernati is one of the top coaches in area. Offensively, they'll need to replace the loss of 70 goals as Mizeski scored the other five last season. The defense will feature a first-year goalie so putting the ball in the cage will be a top priority if this team is to have success this season in a tough Freedom Division.
