Who: Warren Hills Blue Streaks vs. North Hunterdon Lions.
What: 12th Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament championship.When: Saturday, 11 a.m.
Where: Palmer Field, Newton High School.
Records: Warren Hills 12-3; North Hunterdon 12-1.
Coaches: Josie Potter (5th season, 92-14-1, 7-1 vs. NH); Geoff Chrisman (1st season, 12-1, 1-0 vs. WH).
Series history: Warren Hills, which owns a 53-31-11 edge since 1965 (when it was Washington High School), had won 16 in a row dating to 2009, until a 3-2 loss in overtime at on Sept. 30 -- the first at home since 1995. North had lost 25 straight from 1998-2008 before snapping that skid with a 3-2 win in OT at home on Sept. 11, 2009. This is the sixth meeting in a county tournament game (WH went 4-1 against North in the former Hunterdon-Warren event) and first finals meeting. The Lions went 18-7-9 in the series from 1965-85, including a 1-0 win in the H-W semifinals in '85, en route to winning the first of back-to-back county championships in 1985-86.
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| First county final meeting between WH and NH. |
Previous champions: Newton/Warren Hills co-champs in 2009 (final was never played); Voorhees in 2010 and '12; Warren Hills in 2011, '13, '14, '15 and '17; Hunterdon Central in '16; Hackettstown in '18; Warren Hills in '19. No tournament was held due to the pandemic in 2020.
Note: Here's a closer look at both teams with probable starting lineups:
Warren Hills Blue Streaks
How they got here: Beat Phillipsburg, 2-1, in quarterfinals; Vernon, 1-0, in semifinals.
Previous tournament history: Beat Delaware Valley, 8-2, in 2009 first round, Beat High Point, 4-0, in 2009 quarterfinals, Beat Pope John, 3-0 in 2009 semifinals; Beat Sparta, 6-0, in 2010 first round, Beat Wallkill Valley, 4-1, in 2010 quarterfinals, Beat Newton, 2-1 in overtime, in 2010 semifinals, Lost to Voorhees, 1-0, in 2010 championship game; Beat North Warren, 9-0, in 2011 first round, Beat Newton, 5-0, in 2011 quarterfinals, Beat Wallkill Valley, 8-1, in 2011 semifinals, Beat High Point, 3-1, in 2011 championship game; Beat Lenape Valley, 5-1, in 2012 first round, Beat Pope John, 8-0, in 2012 quarterfinals, Lost to Voorhees, 2-0, in 2012 semifinals; Beat Kittatinny, 6-0, in 2013 first round, Beat High Point, 3-0, in 2013 quarterfinals, Beat Voorhees, 2-1, in 2013 semifinals, Beat Hackettstown, 1-0, in 2013 final; Beat Wallkill Valley, 6-0, in 2014 first round; Beat Hackettstown, 3-0, in 2014 quarterfinals; Beat High Point, 8-0, in 2014 semifinals; Beat Voorhees, 5-0, in 2014 final; Beat Phillipsburg, 4-0, in 2015 quarterfinals; Beat Voorhees, 2-1, on strokes in 2015 semifinals; Beat Hunterdon Central, 2-1, in 2015 final; Beat Newton, 1-0, in 2016 quarterfinals; Beat High Point, 3-2, in 2016 semifinals; Lost to Hunterdon Central, 2-1, in 2016 final; Beat Lenape Valley, 11-0, in 2017 first round; Beat Voorhees, 2-1, in 2017 quarterfinals; Beat Delaware Valley, 4-0, in 2017 semifinals; Beat Hunterdon Central, 1-0, in 2017 championship game; Beat Wallkill Valley, 2-0, in 2018 second round; Beat Vernon, 3-1, in 2018 quarterfinals; Beat Voorhees, 1-0 in overtime, in 2018 semifinals; Lost to Hackettstown, 1-0 in overtime, in 2018 championship game; Beat Belvidere, 6-0, in quarterfinals; Beat Hunterdon Central, 3-0, in semifinals; Beat Voorhees, 2-0, in 2019 championship game. Overall HWS record: 37-4.
Probable starting lineup: Sr. F Dimitra Georgoutsos (1 goal-2 assists-4 points); Sr. F Maddie Summitt (16-4-36); Jr. F Gabby Fama (0-0-0); So. F Jess Pawloski (0-1-1); MF Sr. Ryleigh Reagan (0-0-0); So. MF Hailey Hoffman (0-2-2); So. MF Sarah Salameh (12-6-30); Fr. D Shivya Desai (0-0-0); Jr. D Maddie Moreno (0-0-0); Sr. D Holly Ort (0-1-1); So. GK Sydney White (106 saves, 4 1/2 shutouts, .731 save percentage, 1.92 goals against).
North Hunterdon Lions
How they got here: Beat Newton, 6-0, in quarterfinals; Lenape Valley, 7-0, in semifinals.
Previous tournament history: Beat Vernon, 3-0, in 2009 first round, Lost to Pope John, 3-2 (OT-strokes), in 2009 quarterfinals; Beat Vernon, 4-1, in 2010 first round; Lost to Voorhees, 1-0, in 2010 quarterfinals; Lost to High Point, 3-1, in 2011 first round; Lost to Lenape Valley, 1-0, 2012 preliminaries; Lost to Wallkill Valley, 1-0, in 2013 preliminaries; Beat Vernon, 2-0, in 2014 preliminaries; Lost to Voorhees, 5-0, in 2014 first round; Lost to Hunterdon Central, 6-0, in 2015 preliminaries; Lost to Newton, 5-0, in 2016 preliminaries; Lost to Pope John, 4-2, in 2017 preliminaries; Lost to Phillipsburg, 2-0, in 2018 first round; Beat Phillipsburg, 2-1, in 2019 second round; Beat Delaware Valley, 5-0, in 2019 quarterfinals; Lost to Voorhees, 3-1, in 2019 semifinals. Overall HWS record: 7-10.
Probable starting lineup: Sr. F Ava Laible (6 goals-6 assists-18 points)/Sr. F Lily Kumar (1-1-3); Jr. F Lauren Masters (26-11-63); Sr. F Ryan Anderson (23-11-57); So. MF Kendall Varty (1-0-2)/Jr. MF Maggie Sampson (2-0-4); Sr. MF Katie Roberts (9-6-24); Jr. MF Sara Roberts (11-5-27); Sr. MF Olivia Reeder (7-9-23); Jr. D Sarah Bisson (0-0-0); So. D Molly Claus (3-5-11); Sr. D Amanda-Lucy Bachert (0-0-0)/Sr. Brenna Benson (0-0-0); Sr. McKenna Laman (32 saves, 2 1/2 shutouts, .820 save percentage, 0.54 goals against)/Sr. Katherine Hall (46 saves, 2 1/2 shutouts, .867 save percentage, 0.54 goals against).
Breakdown: Warren Hills, the No. 1 seed, is making a tournament-record 11th finals appearance and its eighth straight since losing, 2-0, to Voorhees in the 2012 semifinals. The Streaks, who are a tournament-best 37-4 overall in tri-county contests, have outscored opponents, 37-22, while posting five shutouts. The offense, which isn't as powerful as in previous years, is still very opportunistic and flows through Summitt, a Ball State commit who ranks 12th on the program's career goals list with 45 and 11th in points with 113. Sophomore Gianna Cioni (six goals) will be one of the first players off the bench and has been an offensive asset this season, along with Salameh. The midfield, though young, seems to be improving each game and that will be crucial in trying to slow down a potent North offense, especially with outstanding left back Emily Dvorsky likely out due to a knee issue. Dvorsky, a four-year starter and a College of New Jersey commit, has not played since the loss to North on Sept. 30. Sophomore goalie Sydney White, who was sharing the duties in the cage to start the season, seized the full-time role, and has performed admirably, when freshman Casey Kozelnik sustained a hand injury in the latter part of September. North, the No. 2 seed, seeks its first county title in 35 years after making its second straight trip to the HWS semifinals -- the program's only semifinal wins. Masters, a Louisville commit and the Lions' all-time scoring leader with 82 goals and 197 points, and Anderson, the program's career assists leader with 61 and a career-high 23 goals this season, spearhead a balanced offensive attack, backed by solid midfielders, including Katie and Sara Roberts, who have combined for 20 goals and 11 assists. Since a 4-3 loss in overtime to Pingry on Oct. 5, North has outscored its last four opponents, 33-1, including an 8-0 win over Montgomery on Thursday -- their 10th game with at least five goals this season. The defense has produced four shutouts and has held opponents to two goals or fewer in 10 games. Warren Hills is coming off a stunning 3-0 loss to Phillipsburg on Thursday -- its first to the Stateliners since 2007 and snapping the program's 28-game win streak in that series. Beating North will be an even taller order, but the Streaks' offense must capitalize on any scoring chances, particularly early as it may take four goals to win the rematch. The defense, which has kept Masters off the board in the last two matchups and three of four dating to 2019, will be heavily tasked to keep North under three goals without Dvorsky, but Potter said that Ort is doing a fine job at sweeper. North should be in much better shape mentally against Hills after finally breaking through in this series and should be plenty hungry to finally hoist a trophy. The Lions are just a bit better offensively and that should be enough to win the second round, with a third meeting, that will likely decide this year's Raritan Division champion, set for Thursday at Singley Field.
Pick: North Hunterdon, 4-2.
North Hunterdon Lions
How they got here: Beat Newton, 6-0, in quarterfinals; Lenape Valley, 7-0, in semifinals.
Previous tournament history: Beat Vernon, 3-0, in 2009 first round, Lost to Pope John, 3-2 (OT-strokes), in 2009 quarterfinals; Beat Vernon, 4-1, in 2010 first round; Lost to Voorhees, 1-0, in 2010 quarterfinals; Lost to High Point, 3-1, in 2011 first round; Lost to Lenape Valley, 1-0, 2012 preliminaries; Lost to Wallkill Valley, 1-0, in 2013 preliminaries; Beat Vernon, 2-0, in 2014 preliminaries; Lost to Voorhees, 5-0, in 2014 first round; Lost to Hunterdon Central, 6-0, in 2015 preliminaries; Lost to Newton, 5-0, in 2016 preliminaries; Lost to Pope John, 4-2, in 2017 preliminaries; Lost to Phillipsburg, 2-0, in 2018 first round; Beat Phillipsburg, 2-1, in 2019 second round; Beat Delaware Valley, 5-0, in 2019 quarterfinals; Lost to Voorhees, 3-1, in 2019 semifinals. Overall HWS record: 7-10.
Probable starting lineup: Sr. F Ava Laible (6 goals-6 assists-18 points)/Sr. F Lily Kumar (1-1-3); Jr. F Lauren Masters (26-11-63); Sr. F Ryan Anderson (23-11-57); So. MF Kendall Varty (1-0-2)/Jr. MF Maggie Sampson (2-0-4); Sr. MF Katie Roberts (9-6-24); Jr. MF Sara Roberts (11-5-27); Sr. MF Olivia Reeder (7-9-23); Jr. D Sarah Bisson (0-0-0); So. D Molly Claus (3-5-11); Sr. D Amanda-Lucy Bachert (0-0-0)/Sr. Brenna Benson (0-0-0); Sr. McKenna Laman (32 saves, 2 1/2 shutouts, .820 save percentage, 0.54 goals against)/Sr. Katherine Hall (46 saves, 2 1/2 shutouts, .867 save percentage, 0.54 goals against).
Breakdown: Warren Hills, the No. 1 seed, is making a tournament-record 11th finals appearance and its eighth straight since losing, 2-0, to Voorhees in the 2012 semifinals. The Streaks, who are a tournament-best 37-4 overall in tri-county contests, have outscored opponents, 37-22, while posting five shutouts. The offense, which isn't as powerful as in previous years, is still very opportunistic and flows through Summitt, a Ball State commit who ranks 12th on the program's career goals list with 45 and 11th in points with 113. Sophomore Gianna Cioni (six goals) will be one of the first players off the bench and has been an offensive asset this season, along with Salameh. The midfield, though young, seems to be improving each game and that will be crucial in trying to slow down a potent North offense, especially with outstanding left back Emily Dvorsky likely out due to a knee issue. Dvorsky, a four-year starter and a College of New Jersey commit, has not played since the loss to North on Sept. 30. Sophomore goalie Sydney White, who was sharing the duties in the cage to start the season, seized the full-time role, and has performed admirably, when freshman Casey Kozelnik sustained a hand injury in the latter part of September. North, the No. 2 seed, seeks its first county title in 35 years after making its second straight trip to the HWS semifinals -- the program's only semifinal wins. Masters, a Louisville commit and the Lions' all-time scoring leader with 82 goals and 197 points, and Anderson, the program's career assists leader with 61 and a career-high 23 goals this season, spearhead a balanced offensive attack, backed by solid midfielders, including Katie and Sara Roberts, who have combined for 20 goals and 11 assists. Since a 4-3 loss in overtime to Pingry on Oct. 5, North has outscored its last four opponents, 33-1, including an 8-0 win over Montgomery on Thursday -- their 10th game with at least five goals this season. The defense has produced four shutouts and has held opponents to two goals or fewer in 10 games. Warren Hills is coming off a stunning 3-0 loss to Phillipsburg on Thursday -- its first to the Stateliners since 2007 and snapping the program's 28-game win streak in that series. Beating North will be an even taller order, but the Streaks' offense must capitalize on any scoring chances, particularly early as it may take four goals to win the rematch. The defense, which has kept Masters off the board in the last two matchups and three of four dating to 2019, will be heavily tasked to keep North under three goals without Dvorsky, but Potter said that Ort is doing a fine job at sweeper. North should be in much better shape mentally against Hills after finally breaking through in this series and should be plenty hungry to finally hoist a trophy. The Lions are just a bit better offensively and that should be enough to win the second round, with a third meeting, that will likely decide this year's Raritan Division champion, set for Thursday at Singley Field.
Pick: North Hunterdon, 4-2.
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