Monday, October 26, 2020

Field hockey: Streaks make statement (HWS ranks)

There are still a few weeks left in the regular season but Warren Hills' field hockey team looked to be in postseason form in an impressive 3-0 win over upset-minded North Hunterdon on Thursday in a key Skyland Conference Raritan Division matchup in Washington Township.

The Blue Streaks (8-0), who have won their first eight games for the third time in program history since going 10-0 to open 2011 and 17-0 last season, looked crisp on both ends of the field against the Lions (7-1), who were seeking their first win in the series since 2009.

"We've been working hard. We've struggled to put together a full 60 minutes," said fourth-year coach Josie Potter, whose team had outscored its opponents, 45-2, entering this week. "We had a little bit of a letdown against opponents not as skilled [as North Hunterdon]. If you don't play 60 full minutes against North Hunterdon, which is so fast and so talented, they'll make you pay."

Warren Hills never allowed that to happen and seized total control of the game following a scoreless first two quarters. The Streaks never let up off the gas pedal the final 30 minutes, as senior right wing and Hofstra commit Simryn Desai connected for her eighth goal of the season during a scrum in front of the cage with 4:52 left in the third quarter. Senior right inner and Ball State recruit Jenna Wyckoff recorded the final two goals, raising her season total to nine, including one with time out on the field at the end of the third quarter.

Warren Hills has 10 seniors on its roster.

Potter opted to change things up on the forward line this season -- moving Desai to the right side and inserting junior Maddie Summitt, who seemed out of sync as a midfielder last season, to the left wing spot. The move has paid major dividends as Summitt entered the week leading this versatile and potent offense with 12 goals to go with eight assists, while senior left inner Julianna Valli had eight goals in as many games. The four forwards ranked in the top eight among all Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex scoring leaders entering this week.

"[Summitt] has a hunger that you can't teach and when she gets in the circle, she's taking that shot," Potter said. "She's developed a great chemistry with Julianna and she's left-handed so her reverse-stick skills are phenomenal. Last year, we were carrying the ball on the left side of the field and dominating that line. Now, we are carrying the ball all over the field."

As expected, the Streaks' defense has been just as special -- keeping North sophomore forward Lauren Masters off the board for the second straight meeting -- as Potter would have one of her backs drop back a bit on one side to help contend with the Lions' speed and an offense that is averaging five goals per game and had not been shut out for a span of 14 straight contests since a 1-0 loss to Warren Hills on Oct. 10, 2019. 

Senior midfielder and Rutgers commit Sarah Korczukowski is one of the top players around, along with steady seniors Olivia Chomut and Ashley Moskal, who moved up from the backfield this season. Backs Emily Dvorsky, a junior and three-year starter, and senior stallwarts Kylie Compton and Liz Schlaffer are as good as it gets in front of senior goalie Emily Schlessinger, who has excelled in a starting role after patiently waiting in the wings the previous two seasons.

"Schlessinger had a phenomenal game [career-high 12 saves against North Hunterdon]," Potter said.

With the regular-season cutoff fast approaching on Nov. 2, Warren Hills has pretty much cemented the top seed in North 1, Group 3 as the program seeks its ninth straight championship.

Now, onto this week's rankings:

1. Warren Hills (8-0) -- Blue Streaks cruised to a pair of shutouts victories starting with a 5-0 waxing of Watchung Hills last Tuesday (senior Julianna Valli matched her career high with three goals) before taking a big step toward capturing their second straight Skyland Conference Raritan Division title with Thursday's win over North Hunterdon -- their 16th straight in the series. Senior Simryn Desai was honored prior to the game for recently becoming the 16th player in program history to reach 100 career points.

Up next: Hunterdon Central at home on Tuesday.

2. North Hunterdon (7-1) -- Lions opened last week with a 7-1 win at Bridgewater-Raritan behind three goals from sophomore forward Lauren Masters, who entered this week with an area-best 18 goals on the season. Masters was held without a goal or an assist for just the first time this season and the eighth time in 31 career games in Thursday's 3-0 loss at Warren Hills.

Up next: Pingry at home on Tuesday; at Ridge on Thursday.

3. Voorhees (8-0) -- Vikes pulled out a 1-0 victory at Belvidere last Wednesday as senior forward Tess Rodenburger, who logged one goal or an assist in six of the team's last seven games, connected for her ninth goal of the season with an assist by freshman Kate Cookson. It was the program's 16th straight win over the County Seaters and its first since 2015. Voorhees, which had scored 53 goals over its first seven contests, owns a 31-12-5 edge overall dating to 1975.

Up next: South Hunterdon at home on Tuesday; Bernards at home on Thursday.

4. Hunterdon Central (5-2) -- Red Devils scored a 2-1 victory at Pingry on Thursday in their only action last week as senior midfielder Sarah Woods logged her team-leading fifth goal, while junior forward Sarah DeStefano scored her first of the season. Senior forward Tessa Brunetti and senior back Rebecca Woods had the assists.

Up next: at Warren Hills on Tuesday; at Watchung Hills on Thursday.

5. Belvidere (4-1-1) -- County Seaters bounced back from a tough 1-0 loss to Voorhees at home on Wednesday with a 7-0 waxing of North Plainfield on Thursday in a Skyland Conference Mountain Division matchup. Senior forward and Pace University commit Olivia Zmyewski and freshman Emerson LaBar each scored a pair of goals. Key division clash with South Hunterdon at home this week as the Seaters scored a 1-0 win over the Eagles in their opener on Oct. 1.

Up next: at Somerville on Tuesday; South Hunterdon at home on Thursday.

6. South Hunterdon (7-2) -- Eagles scored a pair of independent wins last week starting with a 4-1 victory over Pennington on Thursday as junior Zoe Horan connected for a pair of goals -- her fifth and sixth of the season. On Saturday, sophomore forward Sarah Faherty scored her seventh goal in a 1-0 win over Stuart Country Day.

Up next: at Voorhees on Tuesday; at Belvidere on Thursday.

7. Phillipsburg (3-4) -- Stateliners had last week off following a 3-1 loss to North Hunterdon at home on Oct. 15. Senior midfielder Morgan Cherry (five goals, four assists in 2019) recently announced that she will be playing at the collegiate level next fall.

Up next: Montgomery at home on Thursday.

8. Delaware Valley (4-3) -- Terriers enter this week riding a four-game win streak as seniors Ava Dougherty and Emily Norgard logged goals in a 2-1 victory in overtime against upstart Mount St. Mary on Thursday. Sophomore Natalie Heiser struck for two goals in a 2-0 win over Bernards last Tuesday.

Up next: Somerville at home on Thursday.

9. Vernon (6-0) -- Vikings are off to a 6-0 start for the second straight season as junior forward Julia Gregory and senior midfielder Alicia Mihalko found the back of the cage in a 2-1 win in overtime against Wallkill Valley on Saturday. Coach Kieran Killeen's team opened last week with a 4-0 win against High Point and followed that up with a 2-0 victory against Newton -- behind two goals from senior forward Alyssa Van Dalinda -- in a key divisional matchup.

Up next: at Jefferson on Tuesday; at High Point on Thursday; at Kittatinny on Saturday.

10. Newton (4-1) -- Braves bounced back from a 2-0 loss at Vernon with a win at home against High Point on Saturday.

Up next: at High Point on Tuesday; at Kittatinny on Thursday.

Posted by Mike Weilamann at 6:17 PM

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