After a slow start in the first half, the fourth-seeded Blue Streaks took control early in the second half as junior Samantha Dugan's goal off a rebound was the difference in a 1-0 win over No. 1 Northern Highlands on Tuesday afternoon in the North 1, Group 3 semifinals.
Warren Hills (17-5-1), which has won six consecutive sectional titles and 15 overall, advances to the program's 20th championship game at No. 2 West Morris (15-3-2) -- a 2-1 winner over Wayne Valley in the other semifinal -- on Thursday. The teams will meet for a third straight year in the final, with the Streaks winning, 1-0 at home in 2017, and 2-1 on the road in '16.
"There's more pressure this year than there has been because it's expected of us," said Dugan, who broke a 0-0 tie with her 11th goal of the season at the 11:14 mark in the second half. "Our goal from the beginning was to make the finals."
Northern Highlands (21-2) saw its stellar season end for a fourth time in five years with a loss to Warren Hills -- including the Group 3 semifinals in 2013 (9-0) and '14 (6-1) and last year's sectional semifinals (4-0). Veteran coach Rich Smith's team was seeking the school's ninth sectional title and first since 2014.
"We had two losses by one goal," said the classy Smith, whose program won a school record 21 games for just the third time in its history and graduates just three starting seniors. "This stings a little bit, but I can't say we didn't play well. It was just a little breakdown here or there. I'm not saying we win a matchup against Warren Hills, but I think we get past this round next year."
Warren Hills' winning goal was set up by sophomore Sarah Korczukowski, whose initial shot off the pads of Northern Highlands goalie Taylor Bechtel kicked over to Dugan, who directed the ball into the cage for her second postseason goal after scoring in the team's 3-0 win over Wayne Hills in the quarterfinals. The Streaks, despite 14 penalty corners and numerous tips in the circle, just could not punch one in earlier, scoring just one goal for the fourth time in their last eight games. Korczukowski had another shot go off the pads on a corner earlier in the half and sent another shot just over the top of the cage about seven minutes in.
"We definitely needed it," said Dugan, who also had three shots go off the pads. "That picked us back up. I just reacted to [the ball]. It would've been great whoever wound up with the goal."
Clinging to that 1-0 lead, Warren Hills needed one last push to advance as Northern Highlands was awarded a penalty corner with 22 seconds left on the clock. After a quick timeout, the Highlanders looked to force overtime, but Streaks sophomore Kylie Compton, who was strong on defense the entire way, cleared the ball out to the sideline as the final seconds ticked off the clock.
"We really wanted this [win]," Compton said. "Our warmups were intense. We go one game at a time. We had to win this [to get to the final]. Now, our focus shifts to West Morris."
But Scrivanich was hit with a yellow card for not being five yards back on defense in the final 15 seconds before halftime and she was forced to sit as the Highlanders were a player down for the first 1:45 of the second half. That's when the tide turned in Warren Hills' favor for essentially the rest of the game. Northern Highlands, which held a 4-2 edge in shots-on-goal in the first half, were held to zero in the second half as Scrivanich watched the final 1:22 from the sideline after drawing a second card for not being five yards.
"When they came into the second half a [player] down, even though it was only a minute, they saw that as an opportunity," said second-year Streaks coach Josie Potter, now 6-1 in postseason games. "The one thing we've focused on all season is finding an opportunity. We got a good offensive push right away and I think that sent a message. [Northern Highlands] is a very talented team. This was a total team effort."
The defense, which was also anchored by backs Kate Fenner and Emily Dvorsky, definitely had to be on its game as Scrivanich was looking to become the first at her school to hit 100 points. She entered the game with 97 and a season-best 39 goals.
"She was really fast and we had to communicate where she was and mark her," Compton said. "I had to make sure I kept moving my feet, so I didn't get beat."
"We didn't want the season to be over," Dugan said. "We had a really good talk at halftime and we came out to win."
Northern Highlands (21-2) 0 0 -- 0
Scoring
Second half -- WH, Samantha Dugan, 11th, 11:14.
Shots -- Warren Hills 10; Northern Highlands 4.
Saves -- Julia Webber 4 (WH); Taylor Bechtel 9 (NH).
Penalty corners -- Warren Hills 14; Northern Highlands 8.
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