Field hockey: Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex rankings

Hackettstown's field hockey team is likely still basking in the glow of its history-making 1-0 win in overtime against perennial finalist Warren Hills on Saturday in the 10th annual Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament.

The medals awarded to the HWS finalists on Saturday.

The win at Newton's Palmer Field gave the Tigers their first HWS championship and the program's third county title overall since back-to-back Hunterdon-Warren crowns in 2004-05. Forward Ashley Zellars, one of seven starting seniors, scored the winning goal 1:52 into the 10-minute seven-a-side overtime period. The wild celebration that commenced shortly after helped wipe away 12 years of frustration against Warren Hills, which had won the previous 14 meetings since a 2-1 loss in 2006.

But with the North 1, Group 2 playoffs now looming, No. 2 seed Hackettstown needs to refocus to make a run at the program's first postseason championship. Should the Tigers reach that title game, a date with No. 1 West Essex, winner of a state-best 35 sectional championships, would likely stand in the way of another date with history.

"Hopefully this makes us better and keeps our heads up," Zellars said on Saturday, still overcome with emotion over what her team had just accomplished in winning the HWS title.

The win was extra sweet for veteran Hackettstown coach Stephen Speirs, a 1980 graduate of Warren Hills, who was 0-11 against his alma mater coming into Saturday -- easily the biggest win in his 10-year coaching tenure. After two .500 seasons and a rough 6-13 campaign in 2011, the Tigers got on track by finishing 12-8 in 2013 before posting 15 wins in 2014. They've won 60 games over the past four seasons with back-to-back losses in the North 2, Group 2 sectional finals the past two years.

"When I took over the program, we had good players," said Speirs, whose team can earn a fourth straight NJAC Freedom Division title with a win over Newton on Wednesday night on this same Palmer Field. "But there was a learning curve with new coaches. We were trying to build for this. This is a seasoned team."

With the sectional playoffs starting this week, here's the final regular-season set of area rankings:

Hackettstown celebrates its first HWS title.

1. Hackettstown (15-2-1) -- Tigers capped a 3-0 week with a 1-0 victory over Warren Hills in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament final -- the first title game to reach overtime in the tourney's 10-year history. Senior forward Ashley Zellars scored the game-winner and had a goal in the a 6-0 win over Wallkill Valley last Monday. Seniors Kayla Cichlar and Jessica Scheper each scored a pair of goals in that win, while Cichlar added two more in a 5-0 win over Vernon on Thursday.

Up next: at Newton on Wednesday; at High Point on Friday.

2. Warren Hills (14-5-1) -- Blue Streaks saw their seven-game win streak snapped with the 1-0 loss in OT against Hackettstown on Saturday -- just the third finals loss and second in three years for the program, which is 32-4 all-time in HWS games. Coach Josie Potter's team, which has yielded just four goals in its past eight games, will wrap up its regular-season slate against North Hunterdon on Tuesday before gearing up for another title run in the North 1, Group 3 playoffs.

Up next: at  North Hunterdon on Tuesday; Wayne Hills at home on Thursday in North 1, Group 3 quarterfinals.

3. Voorhees (14-5) -- Vikings, who have won 10 of their last 11 games since a 4-1 loss to Bernards on Sept. 22, secured the Skyland Conference Raritan Division title -- the program's 21st division championship overall and fifth in the last six seasons -- with a 5-2 victory over Ridge on Saturday. Junior forward Cassie Boyce added to her area-leading scoring total with a goal and two assists, while junior forward Brooke Hyland notched her-team leading 20th goal and recorded two assists in that win. Coach Shannon Hughes' team wraps up the regular season against Phillipsburg and is the No. 4 seed for the North 2, Group 2 playoffs.

Up next: at Phillipsburg today.

4. Belvidere (11-5-1) -- County Seaters capped a 2-1 week with a 3-1 win over Boonton on Saturday behind goals from senior forwards Maddie Call and Abby Bronico, and sophomore forward Olivia Zmyewski. Coach Beth Franceschino's team also scored a 7-0 win over North Plainfield last Monday to give the Warren County school (6-2-1 in the division) a chance to share the Skyland Conference Mountain Division title with South Hunterdon (7-2-1) if the Seaters can beat Somerville in their final division game. That matchup, which was postponed on Oct. 13, has yet to be rescheduled, according to Franceschino. Belvidere is the No. 2 seed for the North 1, Group 1 playoffs.

Up next: Westwood or Pequannock at home on Saturday in North 1, Group 1 quarterfinals.

5. Hunterdon Central (12-3-1) -- Red Devils, who secured second place in the Skyland Conference Delaware Division race, went 3-0 last week with a pair of wins over Pingry (3-1 on Thursday and 2-1 on Saturday) after opening with a 6-2 victory at Hillsborough on Tuesday. Coach Jenn Sponzo's team drew the No. 2 seed in North 2, Group 4 behind defending champ Bridgewater-Raritan. Junior Sammy Freeman, who had three goals last week, had her season-long streak of at least one goal or an assist snapped on Saturday. Freeman leads Central in scoring with 13 goals and 12 assists.

Up next: North Hunterdon or Montgomery at home on Friday in North 2, Group 4 quarterfinals.

6. Delaware Valley (10-5) -- Terriers scored a 7-0 win over Franklin on Wednesday in their only contest last week. Sophomore forward Kristen Bill scored two goals and added an assist, while seniors Madeline and Megan Bill and Megan Donnelly scored goals in that victory. Coach Stephanie Rifflard's team is the No. 5 seed in North 2, Group 1.

Up next: New Egypt at home on Tuesday in North 2, Group 1 quarterfinals; Bernards at home on Thursday.

7. South Hunterdon (8-4-1) -- Eagles split a pair of games last week -- dropping a 3-0 decision to Bernards on Wednesday and scoring a 3-0 win over Mount St. Mary on Thursday to finish 7-2-1 in the Skyland Conference Mountain Division race and securing at least a share of the title. A Belvidere loss to Somerville (date TBA) would give South the outright title.

Up next: Glen Ridge at home on Tuesday in North 1, Group 1 playoffs.

8. Newton (11-4-1) -- Braves ran their winning streak to three in a row with a 2-1 victory over High Point on Thursday, following a 1-0 win over Vernon in an NJAC Freedom Division clash on Tuesday. Senior forward Victoria Docherty scored a goal against High Point and has two goals and two assists in the team's past three contests. Coach Lisa Bechtel's team, which can secure at least a share of the division title with a win over Hackettstown, seeks the program's fourth sectional title in five seasons as the No. 4 seed in North 1, Group 1.

Up next: North Warren at home on Tuesday in North 1, Group 1 playoffs; Hackettstown at home on Wednesday; Lenape Valley or Butler at home on Saturday (with a win over North Warren) in the North 1, Group 1 quarterfinals.

9. Phillipsburg (5-12) -- Stateliners drew the No. 5 seed and will travel to No. 4 Ridge for their opening-round game in North 1, Group 4. P'burg has dropped a pair of one-goal games against the Red Devils, including a 1-0 loss on Thursday. Coach Toni Popinko's team has played some of the tougher teams on the schedule close this season, including a 1-0 loss to Hackettstown in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament.

Up next: Voorhees at home on Tuesday; Montgomery at home on Wednesday; at Ridge on Friday in North 1, Group 4 quarterfinals.

10. High Point (5-6-1) -- Wildcats have played just four games in October, including a 5-1 win over Kittatinny on Saturday to cap a 1-1-1 week, that included a tough 2-1 loss to Newton in an NJAC Freedom Division matchup. Senior forward and leading scorer Tyra Wingle recorded two goals and two assists in the victory. A win over Sparta would set up a quarterfinal meeting with Hackettstown in the North 1, Group 2 playoffs.

On the bubble: Lenape Valley (11-4-1) -- Patriots secured the NJAC Colonial Division title with a 7-0 win over Kittatinny on Thursday and finished 8-0 in division play with a 1-0 victory vs. Jefferson on Saturday. Leah Gonzalez scored a goal and added two assists in those wins, while Angie Falleni had two goals and an assist.