High Point Wildcats
Coach: Kelly Reynolds (third season, 13-21-1).2019 record: 6-13, 0-8 (fifth place NJAC Freedom Division).
Key returnees: F Ali Stoner (6 goals, 4 assists), jr.; D-MF Donna Merkel, jr.; F Audrey Flannery (6 goals), jr.; GK Cassandra Conklin, jr.; MF Dominique Thiessen, jr.; D Rachel King, sr.; F Caeley Shorr (injured in 2019), sr.
Key losses: D Molly VanStone; MF Jackie Melone; F Taylor Berry (7 goals); D Alexis Lake; F Abby Lazier; MF Grace Musilli.
Congratulations to this year’s Team Captains: Rachel King, Caeley Shorr, and Donna Merkel! ✌🏻❤️🏑 @HPRwildcats @JonTallamy @coachcdexter
— High Point Field Hockey (@field_point) September 29, 2020
Top newcomers: D Hope Margarum, jr.; F Jenna Brinck, so.; MF-D Brianna Post, so.
Outlook: The Wildcats, who are eyeing the program's first winning season since 2017, won their first playoff game last season -- 2-1 in double-overtime over Jefferson before dropping a 4-1 decision to Vernon in the North 1, Group 2 quarterfinals. The 'Cats were no strangers to close games last season -- playing in 12 decided by one goal or fewer (eight of those were losses including the first five to open the 2019 campaign). Offense, as was the case the previous two seasons, will be the biggest question as the unit totaled 30 goals in 18 games in 2019. Stoner and Berry led that charge a year ago, but others will have to pick up the slack if this group is going to improve on last season's win total. Playing in a tough division with Hackettstown and Newton, and lacking turf on their home field, puts the 'Cats, with a relatively young roster, at a disadvantage. But if the defense, which struggled last season, steps up, getting above the .500 mark is a realistic goal.
Kittatinny Cougars
Coach: Emily Wisneski (third season, 6-31-2).
2019 record: 4-14-1, 2-5-1 (fourth place NJAC Colonial Division).
Key returnees: MF Madisen Dippel (3 goals), sr.; D Katie Schreiber, sr.; F-MF Allie Molfetto, sr.; F Jordyn Librizzi (3 goals), sr.; GK Emily Hotz, jr.; F Rachel Loevlie, jr.; MF Delaney Campanella, jr.
Key losses: F-MF Nellie Choma (6 goals); F Kate Sikora; MF-D Carly Rigby; D Tia Melvin; D Nicole Tomlinson; F Abby Roggenkamp.
Outlook: The Cougars went 41-88-9 over the previous seven seasons following a 15-win campaign and reaching a sectional final in 2014. The good news is they doubled their win total in 2019 after three consecutive seasons with just two victories. Lack of offense has been a major weakness, but the unit did improve by four goals on its overall total from two seasons ago. That again is an area of concern, with no player on the roster having scored more than three goals last season. This is another program up against it having to play home games on grass, but look for this group to put a few more wins on the board as the defense should be improved with Hotz in her second season in the cage.
Lenape Valley Patriots
Coach: Isabelle Becker (first season).
2019 record: 6-11-1, 5-3 (T-second place NJAC Colonial Division).
Outlook: No information was made available.
Newton Braves
Coach: Lisa Bechtel (31st season, 435-155-19).
2019 record: 15-4, 7-1 (T-first place NJAC Freedom Division).
Key returnees: F Elissar Abou-Jaoude (10 goals, 5 assists), sr.; MF Sammie Delorio, sr.; F Julia Fitt (11 goals, 7 assists), jr.; F Bridget Kerrick (7 goals), jr.; F Sidney Pavlishin (9 goals, 5 assists), jr.; F Julia Decker (5 goals), jr.
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| Newton eyes its fifth sectional title since 2015. |
Key losses: GK Abby Berkowitz (9 shutouts); D Emily Pappas; MF Dominique Simeone; D Aubrey White; MF-D Erin Fucito; MF Sami Samilijan.
Top newcomers: MF Naya Pereira, sr.; D Kate McDade, sr.; D Madison Freda, jr.; MF Kelly Perez, sr.; GK Erin McLean, jr.; GK Alyssa Payne-Parris, so.; D Abby Nicholas, jr.; MF Syd Cotter, jr.; D Syd Harding, jr.; F Aaliyah Payne-Parris, jr.; MF Gianna Carchia, so.; F Ally Neill, so.; MF Rose Steinberg, jr.; D Sam Wechtler, jr.
Outlook: Braves should be plenty hungry after being denied in their bid for a fifth North 1, Group 1 sectional title in six seasons with a 1-0 loss to Pequannock in last year's semifinals. The defense will be challenged by the loss of Berkowitz (a four-year starter in the cage and instrumental in the program's sectional title run in 2018) as well as a few other solid contributors on that end. Bechtel's teams. which are always well coached, should be able to rely on a potent offense that totaled 50 goals (up 10 from 2018) in 19 games behind a breakout campaign from Fitt and the emergence of Abou-Jaoude. Expect the Braves to make another sectional title run.
Pope John Lions
Coach: Brett Douglas (first season).
2019 record: 1-14, 0-8 (fifth place NJAC National Division).
Key returnees: MF Josephine Buccino, sr.; MF Madison McGuire, jr.; F Ava Vozza, jr.; F-MF Maggie Schleer, jr.; D Maika Batchelor, jr.; MF Ryleigh Manning, so.; GK Emily Glory, sr.
Key losses: D Erin Befumo; GK Ciera Smith; F Delia Drace.
Top newcomers: F Abby Walsh, sr.; Kaitlin Brennan, fr.; Leah Catlyn, so.; Kira Conn, so.; Gianna Dicunto, fr,; Sabrina Dispenziere, fr.; Cameron Embleton, so.; Carolina Gonzalez-Konesny, jr.; Julia Homentosky, fr.; Sarya Hubble, jr.; Danielle Kelly, so.; Ashlee Lisa, fr.; Juliana Riccardi, jr.; Kylie Squier, so.; Melanie Waitz, jr.; Rachel Walker, so.
Outlook: Lions have a third coach in three seasons as Douglas inherits a program that has fallen on hard times and managed just one victory in 2019 after going 10-39-4 the previous three seasons. Being able to put the ball in the cage is priority one as last year's unit totaled just four in 15 games. McGuire is the only returning player with offensive stats (two assists), though Walsh is back on the roster after scoring a goal as a freshman. On defense, Glory did a solid job in the cage in a split role and she'll have the job to herself this fall. Expect this group to earn a few more wins this season.
Sparta Spartans
Coach: Corinne Bright (second season, 9-10-1).
2019 record: 9-10-1, 5-3 (T-second place NJAC Colonial Division).
Key returnees: F Kayla Collinson (8 goals), sr.; MF Maya Tomko, sr.; D Grace Russo, sr.; GK Morgan Denmead (6 shutouts), sr.
Key losses: MF Allie McGuire (4 assists); F Lauren Groff (3 goals); MF Audrey Krajicek; MF Stephanie Villar (5 goals); D Taylor Canfield; F-D Kenzie Merwin; F Haley Capeci (3 goals, 4 assists).
Top newcomers: F Casey Coleman, jr.; MF-D Norah Monaghan, jr.; MF Allison Hollywood, jr.; MF Lucy Partin, jr.; MF Rachel Leitner, jr.; D Sofia DiStefano, jr.; F-MF Sophia Candeloro, fr.; D Madison Campisi, fr.
Outlook: Spartans, who are coming off back-to-back nine-win campaigns after overcoming slow starts in both seasons, were hit hard by graduation, particularly on the offensive end. Collinson, who led the team in scoring, will be counted on even more this season after the unit produced 28 goals in 2019. The defense, which was much improved last season, should benefit from the return of Denmead in the cage, though keeping the tougher teams on the schedule at bay -- Hunterdon Central, Newton and Voorhees were the only opponents to score three or more goals -- will be the key to getting over .500.
Vernon Vikings
Coach: Kieran Killeen (fifth season, 39-31-5).
2019 record: 16-3, 7-1 (T-first place NJAC Freedom Division).
Key returnees: MF Alicia Mihalko (7 assists), sr.; D Aleah Germinario, sr.; F Mia Annunziata (6 goals), sr.; D Rebecca Bogdewicz (5 assists), sr.; F Alyssa Van Dalinda (6 goals, 5 assists), sr.; MF Madison Hordych, sr.; F Julia Gregory (18 goals, 6 assists), jr.; MF Kayla Barca, sr.; D Anna Casper, sr.; D Madison Gary, sr.; F Natalie Hasert, jr.; MF Megan Westdyke, jr.
Key losses: F Carlie Van Tassel (23 goals, 10 assists); MF Haley DeBonta (4 goals); MF Hannah Van Blarcom; GK Alice Beutel (6 shutouts).
Top newcomers: D Lauren Waschek, so.; MF Sidney Van Tassel, fr.; F Zoe Burns, jr.; GK Caitlin Witters, jr.
Outlook: Vikings, who went just 53-74-5 from 2009-15, have returned to respectability and are coming off one of their best seasons in a decade. Most of last year's team, which won its first division title in 23 years made a sectional title game appearance for the first time since 2010, returns, and the offense should be in good shape once again despite the loss of leading scorer Carlie Van Tassel, who scored 37 goals over the previous two years and led the county in scoring in 2019. Gregory is coming off a breakout campaign and Mihalko is a steady force in the middle. Defensively, the loss of Beutel hurts so the backs, which are an experienced group, will be counted on to keep the pressure off Witters in her first season as a starter in the cage. Take away the eight goals allowed in the North 1, Group 2 final loss to West Essex, and the unit gave up 20 goals in the other 18 games. There's no reason to think this group won't make another postseason run.Divisional champs. 1st field hockey title since 1996! pic.twitter.com/i3kNX1kiTe
— VTHS Field Hockey (@VTHS_FH) October 19, 2019
Coach: Irene Chernati (35th season, 414-238-16)
2019 record: 6-9-3, 2-6 (fourth place NJAC Freedom Division)
Key returnees: MF Emily Mizeski (4 goals), sr.; D Stephanie Hutnick, sr.; D Saige Slater, jr.; MF Julie Murphy, jr.; F Gianna Sienkiewicz (5 goals), jr.; D Natalie Armstrong, jr.; F Danielle Berry, jr.; MF Sarah Philback, so.; F Jen Roth, so.; F Kelly Roth, so.
Key losses: F Jamie Struble (6 assists); F Elizabeth Lindquist; GK Jade Lally (6 shutouts).
Outlook: Rangers are coming off consecutive six-win seasons following their Colonial Division title run and the program's first sectional championship since 2006 in '17. Offensively, it's been a struggle as the unit produced just 18 goals in as many games, which led to an early exit in the North 1, Group 1 playoffs. Mizeski (14 career goals) and Sienkiewicz led the team a year ago. The defense should be solid, though Fried will need time to adjust as a first-year starter. If the offense comes along, look for this group to get over the .500 mark this season.
