After earning their seventh straight trip to the Group 3 final with a tough 3-2 win in double overtime against Millburn in Wednesday's semifinals, the Blue Streaks earned a championship rematch against favorite Moorestown at noon on Saturday at Bordentown Regional High School.
"That's awesome," Potter said of the program's finals streak, which began with the first of seven consecutive sectional titles in 2012. "I'm super proud of these girls."
Warren Hills (19-5-1), which has won five in a row and 12 of its last 13 games, faces its biggest challenge in what's been a bit of a tough season with injuries to several key starters, including sophomore back Ashley Moskal, who suffered a season-ending knee injury on Sept. 8.
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| Warren Hills seeks its first Group 3 title since going back-to-back in 2014-15. |
"The majority of our team has not been [to the finals at Bordentown] as a player. They haven't felt that kind of excitement," Potter said.
As it did a year ago, Warren Hills, which is 2-10 all-time in state finals, will embark on the nearly two-hour trek to South Jersey early enough to get to the school and get in a good warmup session. The departure time from Washington won't be quite as early this year with a noon start as opposed to playing in the 10 a.m. opener in 2017. The Streaks are also used to bus rides after playing on the road in all but the opening game in the North 1, Group 3 sectional playoffs this postseason -- including wins at Northern Highlands and West Morris.
"We got a good warmup [before the Group 3 semifinal on Wednesday at West Essex] and got the bus ride out of our legs," Potter said. "I've found that's been key for us."
A great sign for Warren Hills coming into the Group 3 final has been the resurgence of the offense, which has scored a total of 10 goals in four postseason games, including at least three goals in three of those contests. After scoring 15 goals in the first four games of the regular season, the Streaks averaged just 1.7 per game over their next 17 contests.
Speedy sophomore forward Simryn Desai, who has been a postseason hero with game-winning goals in overtime in the previous two games -- West Morris and Millburn -- as Warren Hills improved to 5-2-1 in OT this season and 84-42 overall in the postseason. Desai, who leads the team with 18 goals (six game-winners) on the year, looks to become just the 12th player in program history to notch 20 in a season. Not too shabby for a player who saw limited action as a freshman -- finishing her rookie season with one goal and one assist.
"She's extremely fast and reads plays really well," Potter said. "The second half of this season, she's really come into her own. She has great stick work and a nose for positioning. She's flawless right now."
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| Warren Hills celebrates winning its 16th sectional title on Nov. 1. |
In addition, Dugan and Fenner have come up big in clutch moments.
Fenner, an outstanding defensive player who has made a smooth transition to the center midfield spot, started the winning drives in the sectional final win over West Morris and the Group 3 semifinal. Dugan, who has 12 goals on the season, has scored three goals and assisted on one this postseason. Both had a hand in Desai's winner against Millburn off a penalty corner.
Sophomore Sarah Korczukowski switched positions with Fenner, and she has done a nice job at sweeper, while sophomore Kylie Compton and freshman Emily Dvorsky are strong backs. Junior goalie Julia Webber, who plays an aggressive style in front of the cage, has been solid all season.
Warren Hills' defense will be put to the test against Moorestown (21-1-1), which returns 10 starters (nine seniors) from last year's title team -- the program's first championship since 2006. The Quakers' 17 state titles are tied with West Essex for the second-most in New Jersey history behind Eastern's 21.
Senior midfielder Delaney Lawler (19 goals, 13 assists), an Ohio State recruit who scored two goals in last year's Group 3 final, is Moorestown's top player and the niece of Eastern coach Danyle Heilig, who has guided the South Jersey power to 19 consecutive Group 4 titles. The Quakers feature a well-balanced attack with senior forwards Kayla Frank (33 goals) and Colleen Craven (8 goals, 13 assists), along with seniors Catherine Dare (15 goals, 13 assists) and Madison Sever (14 goals, 9 assists).
Coach Ali Collins' team won its first 13 games this season before playing to a 2-2 tie with 2017 Group 2 champion Rumson-Fair Haven on Oct. 8. Five days later, Moorestown suffered its only loss -- 2-1 to Eastern -- before bouncing back with a 3-1 win over West Essex, which will face Seneca for the Group 2 title on Saturday at 10 a.m. The Quakers, who have yielded just 12 goals all season, also waxed Group 4 finalist Bridgewater-Raritan, 7-1, earlier this year. Warren Hills fell, 2-1 in OT, to the Panthers on Sept. 15.
Moorestown, which has won an amazing 28 sectional titles in its history, has been tough on Open Mike area teams in state championship games. The Quakers scored a 1-0 win over Voorhees in the 2006 Group 3 final at Toms River East High School, and they handed Warren Hills a 2-1 loss in overtime in the 2003 title game at The College of New Jersey.
State finals matchups
(Games to be played Saturday at Bordentown)
Group 2
West Essex (19-2-1) vs. Seneca (16-6), 10 a.m.
Group 3
Warren Hills (19-5-1) vs. Moorestown (21-1-1), noon
Group 4
Bridgewater-Raritan (19-4-1) vs. Eastern (24-0), 2 p.m.
Group 1
Shore (21-3) vs. Haddonfield (19-2-2), 4 p.m.
Non-Public
Oak Knoll (22-1) vs. Bishop Eustace (16-2-2), 6 p.m.
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