With the pairings and seeds for the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament slated to be released on Thursday, this is shaping up to be one of the most interesting events in the tournament's 10-year history.
Warren Hills (5-2-1), which is seeking a seventh championship and its fifth in six years, has a pair of huge tests on tap against Hunterdon Central (on Wednesday) and Hackettstown (on Saturday) this week. All three teams figure to challenge for the HWS title.
The Blue Streaks have gone 3-2-1 since losing sophomore back Ashley Moskal (the tournament MVP in 2017) with a season-ending knee injury and have scored just one goal in their last four games. With a talented but young lineup, the Warren County program should not be overlooked moving forward as it gains more big-game experience.
Hackettstown (6-1-1) has a golden opportunity to move up in the rankings this week. The Tigers, who are coming off an impressive 6-2 win over Belvidere on Saturday, have won six of seven since a 3-1 loss to Madison in their season opener, with a 0-0 tie at West Morris in the rain this past Monday.
It should be a great matchup at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Warren Hills, which will have its senior recognition prior to the game. The Streaks own a 41-4-3 edge in the all-time series, including a 3-0 win last year on the road. In fact, they've won 13 in a row since a 2-1 loss at Hackettstown in 2006 and have outscored the Tigers, 18-0, in the past six matchups and, 42-2, in the 11 games since '08.
On the Sussex side, Newton, High Point and Lenape Valley lead what looks like a pretty balanced county, at least at the top. Newton beat High Point, 2-1, on Thursday, and played to a 0-0 tie with Lenape Valley, while High Point scored a 4-0 victory over Lenape Valley on Sept. 4.
Now, onto this week's rankings:
1. Warren Hills (5-2-1) -- Blue Streaks went 1-1-1 on the road this past week, scoring a 1-0 win over Pingry on Thursday on junior forward Samantha Dugan's goal before taking a 2-1 loss at Madison on Friday. Coach Josie Potter's team opened last week with a 1-1 tie at Ridge. Sophomore forward Simryn Desai scored the goal in that one and leads the team with five. The Streaks own a 42-29-10 series edge against Hunterdon Central, which snapped an 11-game skid in the series with a 2-1 win in the 2016 HWS final. Warren Hills won both meetings last year, including a 1-0 victory in the HWS title game.
Up next: Montgomery at home on Tuesday; Hunterdon Central at home on Wednesday; Hackettstown at home on Saturday.
2. Voorhees (4-4) -- Vikings went 0-2 this past week with losses to Bridgewater-Raritan (1-0 on Thursday) and Bernards (4-1 on Saturday) -- both leaders in the Skyland Conference Delaware and Valley divisional races. Junior Stephanie Fabbroni scored the goal against Bernards. Coach Shannon Hughes' team will look to bounce back against rival North Hunterdon on Tuesday as part of a two-game week ahead of the anticipated rematch against Warren Hills on Tuesday, Oct. 2.
Up next: North Hunterdon at home on Tuesday; Pingry at home on Thursday.
3. Hunterdon Central (6-1) -- Red Devils have been rolling along with three more wins this past week, including a 1-0 victory at Phillipsburg on Saturday. Senior forward Rachel Stone scored the decisive goal with an assist from junior forward Sammy Freeman. Coach Jenn Sponzo's team opened last week with wins over Hillsborough (3-0 on Monday) and North Hunterdon (5-1 on Thursday). Stone also scored a goal against North, while Freeman had one goal and three assists in that one.
Up next: at Pingry on Tuesday; at Warren Hills on Wednesday.
4. Hackettstown (6-1-1) -- Tigers, who eagerly await Saturday's showdown with Warren Hills, went 2-0-1 this past week with wins over Vernon (6-0 on Thursday) and Belvidere (6-2 on Saturday). It was another big offensive week for senior midfielder Madison Hoskins, who totaled three goals and three assists in the two victories. Senior forward Ashley Zellars had a four-goal week, including a hat trick against Belvidere, for an offense averaging 4.6 goals per game. The win over Vernon was coach Stephen Speirs' 100th in his nine seasons at the helm.
Up next: at Newton on Tuesday; at Warren Hills on Saturday.
5. Belvidere (4-3) -- County Seaters went 2-1 last week with wins over Mount St. Mary (9-0 on Tuesday) and Delaware Valley (1-0 on Thursday) before a tough 6-2 loss at Hackettstown on Saturday. Senior midfielder Mallory Keenan scored three goals and assisted on one, while senior forward Maddie Call had two goals and one assists in the rout of Mount St. Mary. They also had goals against Hackettstown, while senior midfielder Melanie Clark scored the winning goal against Del Val.
Up next: at North Plainfield on Tuesday; at Franklin on Thursday.
6. Delaware Valley (5-2) -- Terriers saw their four-game winning streak snapped with a 1-0 loss at Belvidere on Thursday. Coach Stephanie Rifflard's team bounced back with a 2-0 win over Johnson on Saturday, behind goals from senior forward Kelsey O'Connor and junior midfielder Kaleigh Higgins. Del Val opened last week with a 5-0 win over Somerville in a Skyland Conference Valley Division matchup behind three goals and one assist from junior midfielder Madeline Bill.
Up next: Bernards at home on Tuesday; at North Plainfield on Thursday.
7. South Hunterdon (4-1) -- Eagles cruised to a pair of wins last week -- 7-0 over Franklin on Thursday and 6-0 at North Plainfield on Friday. Sophomore midfielder Rebecca Phillips led the offense with three goals and two assists, including a pair of goals against North Plainfield. Sophomore forward Chandler Storcella also scored three goals, including two against Franklin, while junior midfielder Alana Catanzareti had two goals vs. North Plainfield in her three-goal week.
Up next: Mount St. Mary on Tuesday; Somerville at home on Thursday.
8. Newton (5-1-1) -- Braves jump up two spots following wins over Vernon (1-0 on Tuesday) and High Point (2-1 on Thursday). Coach Lisa Bechtel's team ended the week with a 3-0 loss at home against Johnson. Junior forward-midfielder Angela Melillo sparked the offense with three goals, raising her team-leading total to four, including the winner against Vernon. Freshman forward Sydney Pavlishin is making an impact as well, scoring a goal in the win over High Point.
Up next: Hackettstown at home on Tuesday; at Montville on Thursday.
9. High Point (4-4) -- Wildcats enter the rankings for the first time following wins against Wallkill Valley (5-0 on Wednesday) and Vernon (2-1 on Saturday). In between, coach Kelly Reynolds' team dropped a tough 2-1 decision to Newton. Senior forward Tyra Wingle has been the offensive catalyst with a team-high seven goals, including Nos. 6 and 7 last week, while adding two assists in the wins. Senior forward Michaela Thiessen scored three goals against Wallkill.
Up next: Sparta at home on Thursday.
10. Lenape Valley (5-1-1) -- Patriots also jump in here as they extending their winning streak to four games after a 4-2 victory over Wallkill Valley on Saturday. Freshman forward Angelina Falleni had a big week with two goals and four assists, including a pair of goals against Wallkill. Senior forward Jessalyn McKenna had five assists last week, while sophomore Julianna Gentilucci, the team's leading scorer, notched six goals and two assists, including a four-goal game in Thursday's 5-3 win against Kittatinny.
Up next: Randolph at home on Wednesday; at Jefferson on Thursday.
On the bubble: Phillipsburg, Vernon, Sparta.
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