Field hockey: Streaks' stout defense set for G3 semis

It's easy to get caught up in impressive offensive numbers, but make no mistake, Warren Hills' stout field hockey defense may hold the key to another title run.

Warren Hills has won 17 sectional titles overall.

The Blue Streaks (22-1), who have won five in a row, have yielded just four goals over their past 11 games, including a workmanlike 3-1 victory against West Morris in the North 1, Group 3 final on Friday -- the program's eighth straight sectional championship.

Junior left back Liz Schlaffer and junior sweeper Kylie Compton, along with sophomore right back Emily Dvorsky, form what third-year coach Josie Potter calls her "defensive wall," in front of senior goalie Julia Webber, who has helped the unit log 14 shutouts this season.

"Last year, we wanted to run the [3-4-3] lineup we run now," Potter said, "but we weren't ready as a team, and we used a center back. Liz, Em, Kylie, overlap and shift across the field. They are my wall."

That group will need to be on point again at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, when Warren Hills squares off with Middletown South, the North 2 sectional champion, in a Group 3 semifinal matchup. The winner will meet Burlington Township or Clearview in the Group 3 state championship game at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Bordentown Regional High School.

"Our defense is insane," said junior midfielder Sarah Korczukowski, who scored a pair of goals in the win over West Morris. "Webber is just amazing. She is so composed back there, even on corners."

Warren Hills eyes its 8th straight G3 finals appearance.

The Streaks, who won their only state titles in 2014 and '15, were outscored, 18-1, in three straight return trips, including a 7-0 loss to Moorestown in last year's final, a trend that this season's senior group is determined to end. But first, Warren Hills (13-3 all-time in state semifinals) must get past Middletown South (18-3-1), which captured its fourth sectional title and first since 1995 with a 1-0 win over Chatham on Friday, in the first meeting between the schools.

"Every year is a new game," Korczukowski said. "We like that underdog mentality."

Korczukowski has really emerged as a force this season, earning the Most Valuable Player Award in the Streaks' 2-0 victory over Voorhees in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament championship game. Senior star Kate Fenner, who is heading to Fairfield University, keeps everything flowing in the center of the field, while senior Paulina Georgoutsos and junior Olivia Chomut round out a solid group.

"We moved Sarah to right midfielder and she's really owned that spot," Potter said. "When Sarah is on, the team is on."

Senior forward Samantha Dugan capped the win over West Morris with her team-leading 20th goal, becoming just the 12th player in program history to reach that mark in a season. Dugan, who has 57 career goals, is four shy of tying former star midfielder and Wagner College head coach Niki Miller for sixth place on the school's all-time list.

"[Miller] taught me my reverse chip," said Dugan, who will join her sister, Mikyala, a sophomore on that 2015 state title team for the Streaks, at Quinnipiac this spring.

Warren Hills' forward line, which includes junior left wing Simryn Desai (19 goals) and inner Jenna Wyckoff (seven goals, six assists) is a very unselfish group that really spread things around.

"It's great to see all of the names [on the all-time scoring list], but at the end of the day, it doesn't matter who is scoring as long as we're winning."

Winning sectional titles is almost expected for the Blue Streaks, whose current run of eight in a row matches South Hunterdon (1984-91) as tops in the HWS area. Statewide, only Eastern (21 from 1999-2019) has a longer active streak, while Bridgewater-Raritan (14 from 2005-18) and West Essex (nine from 1990-98) are the only other schools to win more than eight in a row. Oak Knoll will bid for its eighth consecutive Non-Public North championship on Wednesday.

Middletown South, which is 0-3 in state semifinal matchups and has won five straight since a 2-0 loss to Southern on Oct. 15, is led by junior forwards Madison Cigolini (17 goals), Lia Simoniello (15 goals, 11 assists) and Kayla Freibott (15 goals), along with senior midfielder Kelsey O'Keefe (11 goals, 10 assists). Junior goalie Lauren Palmadesso has logged 13 shutouts.

Public state semifinal matchups

Group 4

Ridge (16-5-1) vs. Hunterdon Central (12-9-2), 4 p.m. at Boonton High School
Lenape (16-6) vs. Eastern (21-2), 6 p.m. at Hightstown High School

Group 3

Warren Hills (22-1) vs. Middletown South (18-3-1), 6 p.m. at A.L. Johnson High School
Burlington Township (16-4-1) vs. Clearview (19-2-1), 6 p.m. at Egg Harbor Township High School

Group 2

West Essex (21-1-1) vs. Rumson-Fair Haven (17-4), 6 p.m. at Boonton High School
Seneca (15-7) vs. West Deptford (20-3), 4 p.m. at Hightstown High School

Group 1

Pequannock (17-3) vs. Shore (23-2), 4 p.m. at A.L. Johnson High School
Haddonfield (19-3) vs. Woodstown (20-3-1), 4 p.m. at Egg Harbor Township High School

Non-Public sectional final matchups

(Games to be played on Wednesday)

North

2-Morristown-Beard (15-3) at 1-Oak Knoll (22-0)

South

3-Moorestown Friends (19-1) at 1-Camden Catholic (18-2)

State championship schedule

(Saturday at Bordentown Regional High School)

Non Public, 10 a.m.
Group 2, noon
Group 3, 2 p.m.
Group 4, 4 p.m.
Group 1, 6 p.m.