Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Field hockey: Area powers eye playoffs (HWS ranks)

This has certainly been a field hockey season like no other, but several Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area teams are looking to close with postseason championships, including four of New Jersey's top clubs.

Voorhees (10-1-1) is one of those squads with title aspirations as the Vikings drew the No. 1 seed in Central West Region A. Third-year coach Shannon Hughes' team, which is set to close out the regular season against Randolph at home on Thursday, will open the revamped region playoffs (which weren't constructed solely by power points and school size as in previous years) against either Robbinsville or Hopewell Valley on Monday. 

The Vikes captured the program's last and seventh sectional championship overall in 2016, which was followed by three straight semifinal losses -- two to state powers Rumson-Fair Haven (2017 and '18) and Madison, 2-1, in North 2, Group 2 a year ago.

Voorhees is 62-43 all-time in postseason games.

"This year, I'm really excited. A lot of teams have a chance at [winning titles], said Hughes, a former star player at South Plainfield whose teams are 2-2 overall in postseason games during her tenure. "Mount St. Mary [the No. 3 seed] is very good and South Hunterdon [No. 4 seed] is doing really well."

Voorhees, which won its first 10 games and averaged just over six goals in each, is eager for its final regular-season tune-up against Morris County power Randolph, which won a division title in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference. In dropping down to play in the smaller school Skyland Conference Valley Division, the Vikes haven't faced the accustomed amount of strong competition as independent games against West Essex and Warren Hills were knocked off a schedule that was reduced to just division and crossover opponents due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"This season was all about getting the seniors to play," Hughes said. "Next year will be a different story."

Senior forward Katie McLean, an athletic player who signed a letter of intent on Wednesday to play lacrosse at the University of Colorado, leads Voorhees' offense with 16 goals and 13 assists, while center forward Kate Cookson, one of two freshmen starters, along with left midfielder Alexa Barkman, is among the team's assists leaders with eight.

"We had a handful of seniors starting who didn't get a lot of playing time [last season]," said Hughes, whose team has gotten major offensive contributions from senior Tess Rodenburger (10 goals) and junior forward Leigha Schultze (nine goals). "They've really stepped up."

Junior Sadie Eichlin, one of the area's best defenders last season, made a smooth transition to the center midfield spot and has eight goals and 12 assists, while senior Grace Schiavo, one of the area's top players the past two seasons, anchors a staunch defense that has yielded just seven goals. Senior keeper Noelle Gabrish has recorded seven shutouts.

"[Sadie] is so well-rounded. She's awesome on defense, but she can generate offense," Hughes said. "She's our striker on [penalty] corners. Gracie is one of our top defenders."

Eyes on the prize

North Hunterdon (10-2), which has one final tune-up against Warren Hills at home on Friday, is the top seed in Central West Region B and is looking to capture the program's first postseason title since 1993. The Lions reached the championship game in North 2, Group 4 last year -- their first finals appearance in 26 years.

Hunterdon Central (8-3), which won the North 2, Group 4 title in 2019, is coming on of late which is a hallmark of coach Jenn Sponzo's teams. The Red Devils, a No. 4 seed who have won three straight and six of their last seven, are looking to avenge a 3-0 loss to North Hunterdon on Oct. 8.

Warren Hills (11-0), the biggest postseason favorite in the HWS area, is eyeing a ninth straight title as the Blue Streaks drew the No. 1 seed in Northwest Region C. 

Warren Hills has won 17 sectional titles overall.

In Sussex County, Vernon (10-0) is a No. 1 seed in Northwest Region B, while Belvidere (6-3-1) is the No. 2 seed in Northwest Region A as the County Seaters seek the program's first title since 1996.

Now, onto the final regular-season edition of our area rankings:

1. Warren Hills (11-0) -- Blue Streaks clinched the Skyland Conference Raritan Division title for the second straight year with a 5-2 win over Ridge at home on Tuesday. Senior right wing and Hofstra commit Simryn Desai logged a career-best four assists, while leading scorer and junior Maddie Summitt scored two goals -- her career-high 14th and 15th.

Up next: at North Hunterdon on Friday; Wayne Hills at home on Tuesday in Northwest C Region playoffs.

2. North Hunterdon (10-2) -- Lions capped a big week with a 7-1 win over Montgomery on Thursday after snapping a 41-game skid against Voorhees on Nov. 2. Sophomore forward Lauren Masters scored two goals -- giving her an area-best 23 -- while junior forward Ryan Anderson added three assists as she went over the 100-point mark after Masters did it earlier this season.

Up next: Warren Hills at home on Friday; Hightstown or Notre Dame at home on Monday in Central West B Region playoffs.

3. Voorhees (10-1-1) -- Vikes played to a 0-0 draw with Ridge on Thursday following a 3-0 loss to North Hunterdon on Nov. 2, as senior forward and leading scorer Kathrine McLean was held without a goal or an assist for just the third time this season. It's the first time the program was blanked in back-to-back games since 2005 -- 1-0 loss to Hunterdon Central on Oct. 29 and a 0-0 tie with Bridgewater Raritan on Nov. 1.

Up next: Randolph at home on Thursday; Robbinsville or Hopewell Valley at home on Monday in Central West A Region playoffs.

4. Hunterdon Central (8-3) -- Red Devils, who had won five of their last six games entering this week, pitched consecutive shutouts last week as senior Jordan Sponzo had a goal and two assists and junior forward Jennifer Tokash scored three goals in the team's 4-0 win over Bernards last Tuesday. On Tuesday, Central rolled to a 4-1 win at Hillsborough to move closer to clinching the Skyland Conference Delaware Division title.

Up next: Pingry at home on Thursday; Ridge at home on Monday in Central West B Region playoffs.

5. Phillipsburg (6-4) -- Stateliners jump up a few spots coming off a 2-1 win over Ridge last Tuesday, which was the final game of the season for coach Toni Popinko's team due to coronavirus exposure and a mandatory 14-day quarantine. Sophomore forward Brooke Hunter led the 'Liners with six goals, including four in the final three games -- all victories.

6. South Hunterdon (10-3) -- Eagles won their third straight game -- 1-0 in overtime at Belvidere -- on Saturday to avenge a 1-0 loss to the County Seaters on Oct. 1. Senior midfielder Rebecca Phillips, who recorded the winning goal and scored twice in a 6-0 win over North Plainfield last Wednesday, added two more goals and an assist in a 3-1 win over Mount St. Mary on Tuesday that secured the Skyland Conference Mountain Division title.

Up next: Delaware Valley at home on Monday in Central West A Region playoffs.

7. Belvidere (6-3-1) -- County Seaters ended last week with back-to-back losses -- 2-1 at Mount St. Mary and 1-0 in overtime to South Hunterdon last Thursday. Senior forward Olivia Zmyewski logged her team-leading eighth goal against Skyland Conference Mountain Division leader Mount St. Mary. Coach Beth Franceschino's team had two games scheduled this week, including a rematch with Voorhees, but both were canceled.

Up next: Kittatinny or Whippany Park at home on Tuesday in Northwest A Region playoffs.

8. Delaware Valley (5-6) -- Terriers dropped their third in a row to close out last week, including losses to Belvidere (1-0 in overtime) and South Hunterdon (2-1 last Thursday), as junior Annabelle Niebuhr scored the lone goal against the Eagles, her second of the season.

Up next: at South Hunterdon on Monday in Central West A Region playoffs.

9. Vernon (10-0) -- Vikings secured an NJAC division title for the second straight season with a 2-0 victory over High Point last Friday behind goals from senior forward Alyssa Van Dalinda (team-leading 12th overall) and senior midfielder Alicia Mihalko. Coach Kieran Killeen's team, which is a top seed for next week's playoffs, rolled to a 4-0 win over Kittatinny on Tuesday as Van Dalinda registered her 13th goal.

Up next: High Point or Jefferson at home on Tuesday in Northwest B Region playoffs.

10. Hackettstown (4-2-1) -- Tigers, who have not played since an 8-1 win over Kittatinny on Oct. 27 after the school halted fall sports due to coronavirus exposure, will return to action this weekend and drew the No. 4 seed for next week's regional playoffs. Senior forward Megan Doyle is the team scoring leader with seven goals and seven assists.

Up next: Lenape Valley at home on Saturday; Sparta at home on Tuesday in Northwest B Region playoffs.

Posted by Mike Weilamann at 7:04 PM

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