Coach: Kelly Reynolds (second season, 7-8-1).
2018 record: 7-8-1, 2-5-1 (fourth place NJAC Freedom Division)
Key returnees: F Ali Stoner (3 goals, 4 assists), so.; D Molly VanStone, sr; MF Jackie Melone, sr.; F Taylor Berry, sr.; D Donna Merkel, so.; D Alexis Lake, sr.; F Abby Lazier, sr.; MF Grace Musilli, sr.
Key losses: F Katherine Leal (6 goals); F Tyra Wingle (11 goals, 12 assists); F Michaela Thiessen (9 goals); D Madison Cole.
Top newcomers: F Audrey Flannery, so.; MF Mia Librizzi, jr.; GK Cassandra Conklin, so.
Outlook: The Wildcats, who are housed in a tough section, won their first playoff game last season -- 1-0 in double overtime over Sparta before dropping a 6-1 decision to Hackettstown in the North 1, Group 2 quarterfinals. Offense, as was the case entering the 2018 season, will be the biggest question as most of last year's unit, which totaled 32 goals in 16 games, was lost to graduation (26 of those goals). Stoner and Berry will have to pick up most of the slack if this group is going to improve on last year's win total. Playing in a tough division with Hackettstown and Newton, and lacking turf on their home field, put the 'Cats at a disadvantage, but if the defense, which was pretty solid in '18, steps up, getting above the .500 mark seems a realistic goal.
Kittatinny Cougars
Coach: Emily Wisneski (second season, 2-17-1).
2018 record: 2-17-1, 2-6 (T-fourth place NJAC Colonial Division).
Key returnees: F-MF Nellie Choma, sr.; F Kate Sikora, sr.; MF-D Carly Rigby, sr.; D Tia Melvin, sr.; D Nicole Tomlinson, sr.; MF Madisen Dippel, jr.
Key losses: F Lexi Gray (4 goals); MF Jess Smalley (3 goals, 3 assists); F Kathryn Merrill; G Tara Douglas.
Outlook: The Cougars have gone 37-74-8 the past six seasons and posted just two wins in 2016, '17 and '18, following 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 66 the previous four seasons, including just 16 in 20 games '18. That again is an area of concern, with no player on the roster having scored more than two goals last season, along with a lack of varsity experience. Another program up against it having to play home games on grass, look for this group to put a few more wins on the board, if the defense, with a new goalie, can improve as the season wears on.
Lenape Valley Patriots
Coach: Jamie Smith (first season).
2018 record: 12-5-1, 8-0 (first place NJAC Colonial Division)
Key returnees: GK Saige Berkowicz (6 shutouts), sr.; F Julianna Gentilucci (14 goals, 3 assists), jr.; F Angie Falleni (8 goals, 5 assists), so.; F-MF Brielle Sarno (3 assists), jr.; MF-D Autumn Dachisen, sr.; F Olivia Hickey, jr.
Key losses: MF Lindsey Bicher (8 goals, 8 assists); MF Lauren Cooper (3 goals, 3 assists); MF Leah Gonzalez (7 goals, 3 assists); F Jessalyn McKenna (3 goals, 9 assists).
Top newcomers: MF-D Dara Pellinger, so.; MF Quinn Dachisen, so.; D An Nguyen, sr.; MF-D Brooke Proctor, so.
Outlook: Smith, who is the assistant softball coach at Sussex County Community College and previously coached field hockey at East Stroudsburg (Pa.) North High School, takes over for Lauren VanOrden, whose teams went 44-42-7 the previous five seasons, including its second division title under her in a breakout 2018 campaign. The Patriots had totaled 18 wins over three seasons prior to '18. This will most certainly be a rebuilding year. As with most teams in the county, offense will likely be an issue coming in with heavy graduation losses on that end -- losing 21 of the unit's 47 goals in 18 games. Gentilucci and Falleni benefited from a strong supporting cast, but they will have to be the leaders this season. Defensively, the unit six shutouts. Berkowicz has two full seasons of varsity experience in the cage and is one of the county's top keepers.
Newton Braves
Coach: Lisa Bechtel (30th season, 420-151-19)
2018 record: 15-6-1, 6-2 (second place NJAC Freedom Division)
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| Newton celebrates its N1, G1 sectional title in 2018. |
Key losses: F Lauren Barbato (5 goals, 8 assists); F Victoria Docherty (17 goals, 4 assists); MF Carly Delorio; D Jade Luciani (5 goals, 7 assists); MF Liliy Widgren.
Top newcomers: F Jess Vasquez, sr.; D Krista Leonardo, sr.; MF Sami Samilijan, sr.; F Naya Pereira, jr.
Outlook: Braves won their fourth North 1, Group 1 sectional title in five seasons with a thrilling 1-0 win in overtime against top-seeded Belvidere -- avenging a 2-1 overtime loss to the County Seaters in the 2017 quarterfinals -- before dropping a 3-1 decision to Shore Regional in the Group 1 semifinals. The defense, which will be led again by three-year starter Berkowitz, played a key role in last year's championship run as the offense struggled at times against the better teams on the schedule. Pavlishin and Melillo will be counted on to lead an offense that totaled 40 goals in 22 games. If the Braves, who lost three times to Hackettstown last season and will be the favorites to unseat the Tigers atop the division, can generate a little more offense, this experienced group will certainly make another sectional title run.
Pope John Lions
Coach: Alexis Ambrosino (first season).
2018 record: 5-11, 2-6 (fourth place NJAC National Division)
Key returnees: D Erin Befumo, sr.; GK Ciera Smith, sr.; F Taylor Hanley, jr.; MF Josephine Buccino, so.; MF-D Madison McGuire, so.; MF Olivia Ingoglia, so.; MF Ashlee Beck, so.; F Ava Vozza, so.; F Delia Drace, sr.; F-MF Maggie Schleer, so.; MF-D Maika Batchelor, so.
Key losses: F Katherine Yarussi (11 goals, 6 assists); F-MF Katie Publik (3 goals); GK Erin Callahan.
Top newcomers: D Ryleigh Manning, fr.; F Ashley Ingoglia, fr.
Outlook: Ambrosino, a former standout forward at Kittatinny and recent Montclair graduate, takes over a struggling program from Erin Ashton, who guided the Lions to a 10-39-4 mark the previous three seasons, with half of those wins coming in 2018. The steady improvement in recent years stems from the offensive production -- 23 goals in '17 and 24 in '18, after just 10 and 11, respectively, in 2015 and '16. However, a lot of those goals came against sub-.500 teams, so more consistency on that end and tighter defensive play will be crucial to winning against some of the better clubs on the schedule. Smith, who split time with Callahan last season, returns in the cage so that should help.
Sparta Spartans
Coach: Corinne Bright (first season).
2018 record: 9-8-1, 4-3-1 (second place NJAC Colonial Division)
Key returnees: MF Allie McGuire (3 goals), sr.; F Lauren Groff, sr.; MF Audrey Krajicek, sr.; MF Stephanie Villar, sr.; D Taylor Canfield, sr.; F-D Kenzie Merwin, sr.
Key losses: F Isabella Tracy (10 goals, 3 assists); F Lucie Wolfson (6 goals, 9 assists); D Caroline Kepler.
Top newcomers: F Kayla Collinson, jr.; D Claire Siipola, jr.
Outlook: Bright inherits a program that rose from the ashes under Kristin Lindsley, who guided the Spartans to a 64-65-6 the previous seven season. The Spartans had gone 8-56-2 from 2009-12 before Lindsley, who stepped down to spend more time with her 15-month-old daughter, took over. After a sub-.500 campaign, the Spartans rebounded with nine wins after slow 3-4 start a year ago. If Sparta is to stay above .500, the offense will be key after scoring a total of 23 and 27 goals the previous two seasons -- 11 of those 27 last year coming in wins over Kittatinny and North Warren. Tracy and Wolfson combined for about half of the team's goals in 2017 and '18, so McGuire, Groff and Krajicek will need to anchor the front line. The defense, though improved last season, will be counted on even more this year.
Vernon Vikings
Coach: Kieran Killeen (fourth season, 23-28-5).
2018 record: 8-9-2, 3-5 (third place NJAC Freedom Division)
Key returnees: F Carlie Van Tassel (14 goals, 7 assists), sr.; MF Haley DeBonta, sr.; F Hailey Minter (6 goals, 4 assists), sr.; MF Alicia Mihalko (4 assists), jr.; D Aleah Germinario, jr.; F Mia Annunziata, jr.; D Rebecca Bogdewicz, jr.; MF Hannah Van Blarcom, sr.; F Alyssa Van Dalinda, jr.; D Madison Hordych, jr.
Key losses: MF Emilee Hamler; D Tori Waschek (5 assists); GK Emma Cahill (5 shutouts).
Top newcomers: F Julia Gregory, so.; GK Alice Beutel, sr.
Outlook: Vikings, who went just 53-74-5 from 2009-15, have gotten back to respectability in recent seasons. Most of last year's team, which won a playoff game, returns, and the offense should be in good shape with the return of leading scorer Van Tassel, who scored 14 of the Vikes' 29 goals in 2018, and Minter, along with Mihalko and DeBonta. Defensively, the loss of Cahill is a blow, but Beutel did see some time in the cage in '18. Take away the 11 allowed in two losses to Hackettstown, and the unit gave up 20 goals in the other 17 games. Newton is the division favorite, but second place is clearly up for grabs.
Coach: Irene Chernati (34th season, 408-229-13)
2018 record: 6-14-1, 0-7-1 (fifth place NJAC Freedom Division)
Key returnees: F Emily Mizeski (5 goals), jr.; F Jamie Struble (8 goals, 4 assists), sr.; F Elizabeth Lindquist, sr.; GK Jade Lally (3 shutouts), sr.; D Stephanie Hutnick, jr.
Outlook: Rangers, as expected, took a step back last season coming off winning the Colonial Division title and the program's first sectional championship since 2006 in '17. Offensively, it was a struggle as the unit produced just 25 goals in 21 games, including five in a win over Boonton in the North 1, Group 1 playoffs. Mizeski is coming off back-to-back five-goal seasons and Struble led the team a year ago. Lally has a year of experience in the cage and the defense will need to step up if the offense struggles again this fall. The division appears to be wide open behind Newton so look for this group to get over the .500 mark this season.
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