Field hockey: North hoists trophy after 'amazing' run

North Hunterdon's field hockey team has been building for this moment all season, and really since the program's turnaround campaign three years ago.

The Lions secured the school's third sectional title and first since 1993 with a dominating 3-0 win over Randolph on Tuesday afternoon in the North Group 3 final at Singley Field. 

North Hunterdon finished 11-0 at home in 2021.

North Hunterdon (20-1), which has won 12 in a row since a 4-3 loss in overtime at Pingry on Oct. 5, is set to compete for the program's first state championship against Moorestown -- a 2-0 winner over Ocean City in the South final -- in the Group 3 title game at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Bordentown Regional High School.

"It feels amazing. We've been fighting for this [sectional] trophy for the past two years," said junior forward Lauren Masters, who was a freshman phenom on the 2019 team that came up short in a 2-1 loss to Hunterdon Central in the North 2, Group 4 sectional final, North's first finals appearance since winning it all in '93.

"I'm happy we finally won it."

The Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area went 2-for-3 in sectional finals as Phillipsburg won its first since 1999 with a 2-0 win over Middletown South in North Group 4. The Stateliners will play for its first state championship against perennial Group 4 champion Eastern at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Lenape Valley came up short in a 3-0 loss to Shore Regional in the North Group 1 final.

"I'm really pumped for the girls. They put a lot of work in," said first-year North coach Geoff Chrisman, whose team ranks second on the school's single-season wins list (Lions won 22 in 1986). "Each one of these wins helps up be better for the next game."

Masters added another milestone to a lengthy list as North's all-time leading scorer logged her 100th and 101st career goals in the win over No. 3 seed Randolph (18-4-1), which knocked off No. 2 seed Warren Hills in the semifinals and was seeking its first sectional title since 2009.

With North nursing a 1-0 lead on a second-quarter goal by junior Sara Roberts, Masters connected for her team-leading 44th goal with about one minute left on the clock in the third quarter. The Louisville commit all but iced the title at about the 14-minute mark in the fourth quarter, connecting for her 45th goal of the year and upping her career points total to a program-best 240.

"I'm so happy [to go over 100 goals). I couldn't do it without my teammates," Masters said. "They're so supportive and we work so well together."  

Senior forward Ryan Anderson logged her team-best 22nd assists and raising her career total to 72, another school mark.

Roberts' goal, her career-high 15th of the season and third in four postseason wins, set the tone and broke a scoreless tie with about minute left before halftime. The importance of going into the break with a lead after coming up short on 13 penalty corner attempts was not lost on North.

"She flicked it in and didn't even know she scored," Masters said. "We started going crazy. I was so happy for her."

North won its only other titles in 1986 and '93.

"[Roberts' goal] let everyone relax just enough to get back to playing our game," said Chrisman, whose team logged 39 shots-on-goal and finished with a 19-1 edge on corners.

In order to fully appreciate this title run, consider that North Hunterdon went 22-140-6 in the nine years leading up to a 15-8 season in 2019 -- the program's first winning campaign since going 12-9 in 2009. This senior group went 4-14 in 2018, before Masters arrived the following season to form a balanced and potent offense. Over the last three years, North is 46-12, going 11-0 at home this season.

With Skyland Conference Raritan Division, Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament and sectional titles secured, North shifts its focus to another crack at history on Saturday.

"We need to come out with a good mindset and play our game," Masters said. "That's all we can ask for."

State finals schedule

Non-Public

Oak Knoll (20-3) vs. Camden Catholic (21-2), 10 a.m.

Group 2

West Essex (21-2) vs. Seneca (16-6-1), noon

Group 3

North Hunterdon (20-1) vs. Moorestown (13-6-1), 2 p.m.

Group 4

Phillipsburg (13-9) vs. Eastern (22-2), 4 p.m.

Group 1

Shore Regional (24-1) vs. Woodstown (19-3), 6 p.m.

Tournament of Champions

Monday

Play-in game 

TBD at higher seed

Wednesday, Nov. 17

Semifinals

TBD at higher seed

Friday, Nov. 19

Championship at Kean University

TBD