BORDENTOWN -- Talk about your tough days at the office.
Warren Hills' field hockey team has enjoyed a remarkable run the last five years, but its two-year hold on the Group 3 state title ended abruptly with a 5-0 loss to nemesis Ocean City on a chilly Saturday night at Bordentown Regional High School.
The Blue Streaks (20-5) also saw their six-game win streak end in the fifth straight meeting between these rivals in the title game. Ocean City (22-3) redeemed itself after losing in the 2014 and '15 finals, winning the program's 10th state championship overall and first since '13.
Senior left wing Brittney Stein scored three goals, including the first of the night just 46 seconds into the contest. That goal set the tone as Warren Hills never recovered from the early onslaught as it suffered its most lopsided defeat in 11 state final appearances dating to 1996. Ocean City, now 6-2 all-time against Warren Hills and 10-2 overall in the finals, also won titles in 1997, '98, '99, 2001, '02, '05, '09 and '12.
"They were just faster to the ball and we got caught standing still a lot," said second-year coach Kate Rothman, who led the Streaks to their second title in 2015. "That early goal took us out of our game, and [Ocean City] forced us into playing their game. The made great passes, corners, everything. They won that game."
One look at the final numbers tells the story: Ocean City finished with a 15-2 advantage in shots-on-goal and a 12-4 edge on penalty corners. The Red Raiders scored three goals directly off corners. If not for senior goalie Jackie de Raismes, one of the heroes of last year's 1-0 win over Ocean City, making several outstanding saves to keep it to a 1-0 deficit at halftime, the result would have been much worse.
"They beat us to the ball," said senior forward Caroline Cotte, who was forced to watch last year's title victory from the scorer's table after sustaining a season-ending knee injury during the preseason. "It was really hard to sit here and take stats [last year]. I'm so proud to be a captain ... we worked really hard to get here. We didn't give up."
Junior midfielder Mikayla Dugan, a returning starter, nearly pulled Warren Hills even a minute after Stein's opening goal. Dugan received the ball on a corner and sent a rocket shot toward the cage, but it bounced off the pads of Ocean City goalie Maddie Kahn. The Blue Streaks wouldn't get off another shot until junior Tali Popinko fired one at the cage on a corner with about 35 seconds left in the game.
"They came out with a lot of intensity," Dugan said of the Red Raiders, who were hungry after dropping the last two finals to Warren Hills. "So did we, but we couldn't get the ball into their circle and we didn't execute. It just didn't go our way."
Stein's second and third goals, coming off corners in the first 8:31 of the second half essentially put the game out of reach. The one consolation for the Warren Hills defense, which had not yielded more than three goals in a game all season, was keeping senior forward Rialee Allen, Ocean City's all-time leading goal scorer, off the board. Allen, who has 45 goals this season, did manage two assists.
Dugan, one of six returning starters, knows Warren Hills has enough talent coming back, plus some blue-chip eighth-graders on the way, to make another run in 2017. Junior forwards Rebecca Sigman (17 goals) and Alyssa Appleby (14 goals) helped pick up the slack when all-time leading scorer Dani Profita, went down early in the season with an ACL injury. Profita, to her credit, attended every game this season and cheered her teammates on from the bench. The senior forward and Fairfield University recruit, is the Streaks' leader in career goals (94) and points (245) and their single-season leader in both categories. Proftia also is tied with Niki Miller, who just completed an outstanding career at UMass, for most career assists with 57.
"We'll be ready for revenge," said Dugan, who has verbally committed to Quinnipiac University.
Warren Hills (20-5) 0 0 -- 0
Ocean City (22-3) 1 4 -- 5
Scoring
First half -- OC, Brittney Stein, 17th, (Shannon O'Reilly), 29:14.
Second half -- OC, Stein, 18th, (Rialee Allen), 26:18; OC, Stein, 19th; 21:29; OC, O'Reilly, 24th, (Allen), 15:47; OC, Grace Steele, 11th, (O'Reilly), 10:00.
Shots -- Warren Hills 2; Ocean City 15.
Saves -- Jackie de Raismes 10 (WH); Maddie Kahn 2 (OC).
Penalty corners -- Warren Hills 4; Ocean City 12.
Saturday, November 12, 2016
Friday, November 11, 2016
Field hockey: Streaks looking to complete title 3-peat
Stop me if you've heard this before: Warren Hills vs. Ocean City in the Group 3 state final.
It's almost become a rite of fall.
The field hockey rivals are set to meet for a fifth straight year at 6 p.m. in Saturday's title game at Bordentown Regional High School.
Warren Hills (20-4) advanced to the program's 11th state final with a 3-0 win over Freehold Borough in Thursday's semifinals. This will be the rubber match after splitting the last four championship games with Ocean City (21-3), which has won nine titles overall, including wins over the Streaks in 1999, '2001, '09, '12 and '13.
"Ocean City is a name we all knew on the high school level growing up," senior back Brie Schwab said following Warren Hills' 2-1 victory over West Morris in the North 1, Group 3 final on Nov. 4, the program's 14th sectional title and fifth in a row.
Schwab is part of just the fourth senior class to win sectional titles all four years for the Warren County school. The Kutzown University recruit also anchors a defense that will need to be on top of its game. Ocean City features a potent offense, led by all-time leading scorer Rialee Allen, one of nine seniors who has scored 45 goals this season and had the go-ahead goal in the 2014 final, which the Red Raiders eventually dropped, 5-4, in overtime. Juniors Shannon O'Reilly (23 goals) and Nicholl Fenton (19), two of eight returning starters in last year's final, are also players to keep an eye on.
Ocean City, which was a 2-1 winner over Moorestown in the other semifinal on Thursday, will certainly be fired up to redeem the losses in 2014 and '15.
"Sometimes it's nice to play different teams, but [my team] is playing really well right now," said second-year Warren Hills coach Kate Rothman, who is 9-1 overall in postseason games.
Here's a capsule look at the Group 3 final:
Coaches: Warren Hills (Kate Rothman, 43-7 in two seasons, and 63-41-3 overall, including stint at Lenape Valley); Ocean City (Cory Terry, 144-16 in seven seasons).
Group history: Warren Hills (Group 3 champion in 2014 and '15, runner-up in 1996, '99, 2000, '01, '03, '09, '12, '13). Ocean City (Group 3 champion in 1997, '98, '99, 2001, '02, '05, '09, '12 and '13, runner-up in '14, '15).
Players to watch: WH -- Jr. F Rebecca Sigman (17 goals, 10 assists); Jr. F-MF Tali Popinko (13 goals, 9 assists); Jr. F Alyssa Appleby (14 goals); Sr. F Caroline Cotte (11 goals); Jr. MF Mikayla Dugan (6 goals, 4 assists); Sr. GK Jackie de Raismes (10 1/2 shutouts). OC -- Sr. F Rialee Allen (45 goals, 30 assists); Jr. Shannon O'Reilly (23 goals, 9 assists); Jr. Nicholl Fenton (19 goals); Sr. Julia Herrington (18 goals, 9 assists); Sr. Britney Stein (16 goals); Sr. Grace Steele (10 goals, 6 assists).
Interesting fact: Warren Hills is the only school to beat Ocean City in a state final. Only Eastern (19), Moorestown (16), West Essex (16), which is in the Group 2 final, Shore Regional (15) and Shawnee (11) have won more titles than Ocean City.
Skinny: Unlike last year's defensive struggle, a 1-0 win for Warren Hills, expect this year's game to be more of an offensive showcase. Ocean City, which has to rate as a slight favorite in this one, has produced double-digit goal totals seven times and has logged 156 overall for an average of 6.5 per game. The Red Raiders scored a total of four in their three losses (4-2 to West Essex, 3-2 to Camden Catholic and 5-0 to Eastern). Warren Hills has scored 84 goals overall for an average of 3.5 per contest after scoring 33 in the first six games with senior forward Dani Profita (14 goals), who was lost for the season with a knee injury on Sept. 22. The revenge factor for Ocean City can not be overlooked, but Warren Hills needs to rely on its past experience and not be overwhelmed by the moment. The Blue Streaks have been a little up-and-down, but appear to be peaking at the right time. Warren Hills goalie Jackie de Raismes was fantastic with six saves in last year's victory and always seems to rise to the occasion when the pressure is on. These meetings never seem to quite the way you might think, so be ready for another entertaining final.
Prediction: Warren Hills, 3-2.
Group 4
Bridgewater-Raritan vs. Eastern, 10 a.m.
Group 1
Madison vs. Haddonfield, noon
Non-Public
Oak Knoll vs. Bishop Eustace, 2 p.m.
Group 2
West Essex vs. Rumson-Fair Haven, 4 p.m.
Group 3
Warren Hills vs. Ocean City, 6 p.m.
It's almost become a rite of fall.
The field hockey rivals are set to meet for a fifth straight year at 6 p.m. in Saturday's title game at Bordentown Regional High School.
Warren Hills (20-4) advanced to the program's 11th state final with a 3-0 win over Freehold Borough in Thursday's semifinals. This will be the rubber match after splitting the last four championship games with Ocean City (21-3), which has won nine titles overall, including wins over the Streaks in 1999, '2001, '09, '12 and '13.
"Ocean City is a name we all knew on the high school level growing up," senior back Brie Schwab said following Warren Hills' 2-1 victory over West Morris in the North 1, Group 3 final on Nov. 4, the program's 14th sectional title and fifth in a row.
Schwab is part of just the fourth senior class to win sectional titles all four years for the Warren County school. The Kutzown University recruit also anchors a defense that will need to be on top of its game. Ocean City features a potent offense, led by all-time leading scorer Rialee Allen, one of nine seniors who has scored 45 goals this season and had the go-ahead goal in the 2014 final, which the Red Raiders eventually dropped, 5-4, in overtime. Juniors Shannon O'Reilly (23 goals) and Nicholl Fenton (19), two of eight returning starters in last year's final, are also players to keep an eye on.
Ocean City, which was a 2-1 winner over Moorestown in the other semifinal on Thursday, will certainly be fired up to redeem the losses in 2014 and '15.
"Sometimes it's nice to play different teams, but [my team] is playing really well right now," said second-year Warren Hills coach Kate Rothman, who is 9-1 overall in postseason games.
Here's a capsule look at the Group 3 final:
Coaches: Warren Hills (Kate Rothman, 43-7 in two seasons, and 63-41-3 overall, including stint at Lenape Valley); Ocean City (Cory Terry, 144-16 in seven seasons).
Group history: Warren Hills (Group 3 champion in 2014 and '15, runner-up in 1996, '99, 2000, '01, '03, '09, '12, '13). Ocean City (Group 3 champion in 1997, '98, '99, 2001, '02, '05, '09, '12 and '13, runner-up in '14, '15).
Players to watch: WH -- Jr. F Rebecca Sigman (17 goals, 10 assists); Jr. F-MF Tali Popinko (13 goals, 9 assists); Jr. F Alyssa Appleby (14 goals); Sr. F Caroline Cotte (11 goals); Jr. MF Mikayla Dugan (6 goals, 4 assists); Sr. GK Jackie de Raismes (10 1/2 shutouts). OC -- Sr. F Rialee Allen (45 goals, 30 assists); Jr. Shannon O'Reilly (23 goals, 9 assists); Jr. Nicholl Fenton (19 goals); Sr. Julia Herrington (18 goals, 9 assists); Sr. Britney Stein (16 goals); Sr. Grace Steele (10 goals, 6 assists).
Interesting fact: Warren Hills is the only school to beat Ocean City in a state final. Only Eastern (19), Moorestown (16), West Essex (16), which is in the Group 2 final, Shore Regional (15) and Shawnee (11) have won more titles than Ocean City.
Prediction: Warren Hills, 3-2.
Saturday's schedule
Bridgewater-Raritan vs. Eastern, 10 a.m.
Group 1
Madison vs. Haddonfield, noon
Non-Public
Oak Knoll vs. Bishop Eustace, 2 p.m.
Group 2
West Essex vs. Rumson-Fair Haven, 4 p.m.
Group 3
Warren Hills vs. Ocean City, 6 p.m.
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Field hockey: Streaks back in final; Braves, Vikes fall
Going back.
Junior forward Rebecca Sigman was among three players to score goals as Warren Hills rolled to a 3-0 win over Freehold Borough in the Group 3 semifinals on Thursday at A.L. Johnson High School in Clark.
The Blue Streaks (20-4) advance to their 11th Group 3 final and will play for a third straight title at 6 p.m. on Saturday when they take on nemesis Ocean City at Bordentown Regional High School. This will be the fifth straight meeting between the teams in the Group 3 final, with Warren Hills winning in 2014 and '15.
"There is something special about [playing at Bordentown]," said second-year Warren Hills coach Kate Rothman, who is now 9-1 in postseason games. "Win or lose, and we were on the winning end last year, to go down there as one of 10 teams playing for a state title ... the whole experience is great for the kids."
Ocean City (21-3), which scored a 2-1 win over Moorestown in the other semifinal, won five straight finals meetings against Warren Hills from 1999-2013. In fact, the South Jersey power was 9-0 overall in state title games until that loss in '14. Only Eastern (19), Moorestown (16), West Essex (16), Shore Regional (15) and Shawnee (11) have won more state titles than Ocean City.
Warren Hills led 1-0 at halftime against Freehold Borough before adding two goals in the second half. Junior forward Alyssa Appleby and senior Caroline Cotte connected to seal the Blue Streaks' victory. Cotte gets the chance to play in her first state final -- she was on the sideline for last year's game as the team's scorekeeper -- after missing all of last season with a knee injury.
Senior goalie Jackie de Raismes, one of the heroes in last year's championship game, had just one save in recording the team's 12th shutout. Freehold Borough is the last program to beat Warren Hills in a sectional final -- winning the North 2, Group 3 final in 2011.
The Streaks appear to be peaking at the right time. They have had to overcome the loss of senior star forward Dani Profita (ACL injury), the school's all-time leading scorer, and it took awhile for the offense to round back into shape. Sigman leads the team with 17 goals. The defense, anchored by senior Brie Schwab (Kutztown University recruit) and de Raismes, has yielded just two goals this postseason.
"They played great tonight," Rothman said. "They passed great, they looked good. They're playing well."
West Essex 7, Voorhees 1 -- Forward Brooke Hyland scored her team-leading 17th goal, but the Vikings' season ended with a loss in the Group 2 semifinals at A.L. Johnson High School.
Voorhees (19-3-1), which won its first sectional title since 2006, was looking to get back to the state final for the first time in 10 years since dropping a 1-0 decision to Moorestown in the Group 3 title game in '06. The Hunterdon County school, which has never won a state championship, also lost in the 2000 Group 2 final.
West Essex (21-1), which is seeking its 17th championship, raced out to a 7-0 lead in the first half and never looked back. Hyland, a freshman, got Voorhees on the board about midway through the second half. The Knights, now 9-1-2 all-time in this rivalry, opened their regular season with a 3-0 win over the Vikes on Sept. 10.
"The second half we did great, which I was most proud of," said sixth-year Voorhees coach Taylor Webb, now 11-6 in postseason games.
With only four senior starters, Voorhees is expected to make another run in 2017. However, the Vikes will miss midfielder Hannah Schiavo, forward Lindsay Fritz, midfielder Claire Whiston and goalie Annie Weiler.
"We have a great group," Webb said. "We should be back."
Madison 4, Newton 1 -- Senior Natalie Rivas connected for her team-high 23rd goal, but it wasn't enough as the Braves fell for the third straight year in the Group 1 semifinals at Boonton High School.
Newton (17-4), which won a third North 1, Group 1 sectional title, saw its four-game win streak end with the loss. The Braves were looking for the program's second trip to the state final and first since 1984. Sussex County has not won a final since Vernon claimed the Group 4 crown in 1996.
Madison (16-4), last year's Group 2 champion, advances to play Haddonfield for the Group 1 title on Saturday at Bordentown Regional High School. The Dodgers have won five championships and will appear in their fifth straight final and 12th overall.
Senior forward Nicole Rizzo was credited with the assist on Rivas' goal. Rizzo had at least one goal or an assist in the Braves' final eight games.
Junior forward Rebecca Sigman was among three players to score goals as Warren Hills rolled to a 3-0 win over Freehold Borough in the Group 3 semifinals on Thursday at A.L. Johnson High School in Clark.
The Blue Streaks (20-4) advance to their 11th Group 3 final and will play for a third straight title at 6 p.m. on Saturday when they take on nemesis Ocean City at Bordentown Regional High School. This will be the fifth straight meeting between the teams in the Group 3 final, with Warren Hills winning in 2014 and '15.
"There is something special about [playing at Bordentown]," said second-year Warren Hills coach Kate Rothman, who is now 9-1 in postseason games. "Win or lose, and we were on the winning end last year, to go down there as one of 10 teams playing for a state title ... the whole experience is great for the kids."
Ocean City (21-3), which scored a 2-1 win over Moorestown in the other semifinal, won five straight finals meetings against Warren Hills from 1999-2013. In fact, the South Jersey power was 9-0 overall in state title games until that loss in '14. Only Eastern (19), Moorestown (16), West Essex (16), Shore Regional (15) and Shawnee (11) have won more state titles than Ocean City.
Warren Hills led 1-0 at halftime against Freehold Borough before adding two goals in the second half. Junior forward Alyssa Appleby and senior Caroline Cotte connected to seal the Blue Streaks' victory. Cotte gets the chance to play in her first state final -- she was on the sideline for last year's game as the team's scorekeeper -- after missing all of last season with a knee injury.
Senior goalie Jackie de Raismes, one of the heroes in last year's championship game, had just one save in recording the team's 12th shutout. Freehold Borough is the last program to beat Warren Hills in a sectional final -- winning the North 2, Group 3 final in 2011.
The Streaks appear to be peaking at the right time. They have had to overcome the loss of senior star forward Dani Profita (ACL injury), the school's all-time leading scorer, and it took awhile for the offense to round back into shape. Sigman leads the team with 17 goals. The defense, anchored by senior Brie Schwab (Kutztown University recruit) and de Raismes, has yielded just two goals this postseason.
"They played great tonight," Rothman said. "They passed great, they looked good. They're playing well."
Vikes fall short in Group 2
West Essex 7, Voorhees 1 -- Forward Brooke Hyland scored her team-leading 17th goal, but the Vikings' season ended with a loss in the Group 2 semifinals at A.L. Johnson High School.
Voorhees (19-3-1), which won its first sectional title since 2006, was looking to get back to the state final for the first time in 10 years since dropping a 1-0 decision to Moorestown in the Group 3 title game in '06. The Hunterdon County school, which has never won a state championship, also lost in the 2000 Group 2 final.
West Essex (21-1), which is seeking its 17th championship, raced out to a 7-0 lead in the first half and never looked back. Hyland, a freshman, got Voorhees on the board about midway through the second half. The Knights, now 9-1-2 all-time in this rivalry, opened their regular season with a 3-0 win over the Vikes on Sept. 10.
"The second half we did great, which I was most proud of," said sixth-year Voorhees coach Taylor Webb, now 11-6 in postseason games.
With only four senior starters, Voorhees is expected to make another run in 2017. However, the Vikes will miss midfielder Hannah Schiavo, forward Lindsay Fritz, midfielder Claire Whiston and goalie Annie Weiler.
"We have a great group," Webb said. "We should be back."
Braves bested in Group 1
Madison 4, Newton 1 -- Senior Natalie Rivas connected for her team-high 23rd goal, but it wasn't enough as the Braves fell for the third straight year in the Group 1 semifinals at Boonton High School.
Newton (17-4), which won a third North 1, Group 1 sectional title, saw its four-game win streak end with the loss. The Braves were looking for the program's second trip to the state final and first since 1984. Sussex County has not won a final since Vernon claimed the Group 4 crown in 1996.
Madison (16-4), last year's Group 2 champion, advances to play Haddonfield for the Group 1 title on Saturday at Bordentown Regional High School. The Dodgers have won five championships and will appear in their fifth straight final and 12th overall.
Senior forward Nicole Rizzo was credited with the assist on Rivas' goal. Rizzo had at least one goal or an assist in the Braves' final eight games.
Monday, November 7, 2016
Field hockey: Braves, Vikes, Streaks eyeing history
We're down to three teams from the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area -- one from each county -- still battling for state championships. The quest continues on Thursday with the semifinals as the winners will advance to the Group finals on Saturday at Bordentown Regional High School.
Newton and Voorhees are looking to reach the state finals for the first time since 1984 and 2006, respectively, while Warren Hills seeks a fifth straight appearance in the Group 3 final -- beating nemesis Ocean City for its first two titles in 2014 and '15 after previously going 0-8 in the finals.
"Ocean City is a name we all knew on the high school level growing up," said senior back Brie Schwab, whose Streaks will take on Freehold Borough in the Group 3 semifinal round.
Here's a closer look at the three matchups involving the local teams:
Warren Hills (19-4) vs. Freehold Borough (15-4-1) at Johnson High School, 6 p.m.
Group history: Warren Hills (Group 3 champion in 2014 and '15, runner-up in 1996, '99, 2000, '01, '03, '09, '12, '13). Freehold Borough (Group 3 champion in 2011, runner-up in 2007, '10).
Players to watch: WH -- Jr. F Rebecca Sigman (16 goals, 10 assists); Jr. F-MF Tali Popinko (13 goals, 9 assists); Jr. MF Mikayla Dugan (6 goals, 4 assists); Sr. F Caroline Cotte (10 goals); Jr. F Alyssa Appleby (13 goals); Sr. D Brie Schwab (7 assists); Sr. GK Jackie de Raismes (9 1/2 shutouts). FB -- Sr. F Tori Tiefenthaler (23 goals, 8 assists); Sr. F Alex Bock (8 goals, 6 assists); Sr. F Gabby Arancio (9 assists); Sr. F Lindsay Koller (6 assists).
Interesting fact: Warren Hills has won five straight sectional titles for the second time in program history. Freehold Borough, back in the state semis for the first time since 2013, was the last team to beat the Blue Streaks in a sectional final -- 3-2 in the 2011 North 2, Group 3 title game, as former star midfielder Emily Wold, now an assistant coach at the University of North Carolina, scored all three goals.
Skinny: The Streaks appear to be peaking at the right time and are coming off a tough 2-1 win over West Morris in the sectional final, a task made more difficult by playing on a bad grass field. This site is a familiar one after scoring a 7-0 win over Summit here in last year's semifinals. Sigman and Popinko are driving a well-balanced offensive attack. On the other side, Tiefenthaler, the Colonials' leading scorer who has 88 career goals, will be the focus of a stingy Streaks defense, led by Schwab and de Raismes, a goalie who thrives in big games. Warren Hills is hungry for another trip to the Group 3 final and has benefited from a much tougher schedule.
Prediction: Warren Hills, 4-1.
Voorhees (18-3-1) vs. West Essex (20-1) at Johnson High School, 4 p.m.
Group history: Voorhees (Group runner-up in 2000 and '06). West Essex (Group champion in 1984, '87, '89, '91, '92, '93, '96, '97, 2002, '05, '06, '07, '08, '11, '13, runner-up in 1974, '75, '81, '83, '94, '95, 2004, '10, '12).
Players to watch: V -- Sr. MF Hannah Schiavo (9 goals); Fr. F Brooke Hyland (16 goals); Sr. F Lindsay Fritz (7 goals); Fr. F Cassie Boyce (9 goals); Jr. MF Laura Chen (6 assists); Sr. GK Annie Weiler (11 shutouts). WE -- So. F Ellie Decker (31 goals, 17 assists); Jr. F Julia Russo (31 goals, 20 assists); Jr. F Ashley Iannuzzi (30 goals, 14 assists); Sr. F Lia Sinisi (28 goals, 25 assists); Sr. MF Jordyn Thies (13 assists); Fr. GK Tara Smith (15 shutouts).
Interesting fact: West Essex has won a state record 34 sectional titles and holds an 8-1-2 edge in the all-time series with Voorhees, including a 3-0 win on Sept. 10. Coach Jill Cosse (413-34-12 in 20 seasons) and the Knights (870 victories overall and 15 state titles) have won four of the last five meetings since 2012, while the Vikes' lone victory was 2-1 in the 2000 Group 2 semifinals.
Skinny: It's hard to imagine a scenario where Voorhees, a young team that could very well be here again next year, can reverse a three-goal loss to one of the state's best teams and the Group 2 title favorite. West Essex, which has won nine straight since a 3-2 loss to Oak Knoll on Oct. 10, has a huge edge on offense with three 30-goal scorers and having scored eight goals in each of its last five games. The Vikes, who rely on staunch defense, need to somehow keep it a low-scoring affair to have a shot at pulling off the upset. In its three losses this season, Voorhees scored a total of one goal.
Prediction: West Essex, 3-1.
Newton (17-3) vs. Madison (15-4) at Boonton High School, 5 p.m.
Group history: Newton (Runner-up in 1984). Madison (Group champion in 1995, '97, 2003, '09, '15, runner-up in 1990, '94, 2001, '12, '13, '14).
Players to watch: N -- Sr. F Natalie Rivas (22 goals, 19 assists); Sr. MF Nicole Rizzo (10 goals, 17 assists); Jr. F Morgan Mendel (13 goals); Sr. F Kate Barbato (8 goals, 7 assists); Sr. F Brittany Schumann (11 assists). M -- Jr. Elizabeth Romano (34 goals, 9 assists); Sr. Catherine Crowley (17 goals); Jr. Sage Geyer (6 goals, 9 assists); Jr. Maddie Farrell (11 assists).
Interesting fact: Newton has won a Sussex County-record 12 sectional titles and is bidding for the county's first state championship since Vernon won the Group 4 crown in 1996.
Skinny: Braves scored a 2-1 win over Mountain Lakes to win their third straight North 1, Group 1 sectional title, but they haven't played for a state championship in 32 years. Shore Regional, which won the last two Group 1 championships, was the roadblock in previous seasons. Now last year's Group 2 champions stand in the way of coach Lisa Bechtel's team taking the next step. Madison, which advanced with a 1-0 win over Shore in the North 2 final, has won four straight since a 2-1 loss to Warren Hills on Oct. 24. Dodgers, who scored wins of 8-0 and 4-2 over Mountain Lakes this season, are battled tested and well coached as Ann Marie Davies is regarded as one of the best in the state.
Prediction: Madison, 3-1.
Newton and Voorhees are looking to reach the state finals for the first time since 1984 and 2006, respectively, while Warren Hills seeks a fifth straight appearance in the Group 3 final -- beating nemesis Ocean City for its first two titles in 2014 and '15 after previously going 0-8 in the finals.
"Ocean City is a name we all knew on the high school level growing up," said senior back Brie Schwab, whose Streaks will take on Freehold Borough in the Group 3 semifinal round.
Here's a closer look at the three matchups involving the local teams:
Group 3
Warren Hills (19-4) vs. Freehold Borough (15-4-1) at Johnson High School, 6 p.m.
Group history: Warren Hills (Group 3 champion in 2014 and '15, runner-up in 1996, '99, 2000, '01, '03, '09, '12, '13). Freehold Borough (Group 3 champion in 2011, runner-up in 2007, '10).
Players to watch: WH -- Jr. F Rebecca Sigman (16 goals, 10 assists); Jr. F-MF Tali Popinko (13 goals, 9 assists); Jr. MF Mikayla Dugan (6 goals, 4 assists); Sr. F Caroline Cotte (10 goals); Jr. F Alyssa Appleby (13 goals); Sr. D Brie Schwab (7 assists); Sr. GK Jackie de Raismes (9 1/2 shutouts). FB -- Sr. F Tori Tiefenthaler (23 goals, 8 assists); Sr. F Alex Bock (8 goals, 6 assists); Sr. F Gabby Arancio (9 assists); Sr. F Lindsay Koller (6 assists).
Interesting fact: Warren Hills has won five straight sectional titles for the second time in program history. Freehold Borough, back in the state semis for the first time since 2013, was the last team to beat the Blue Streaks in a sectional final -- 3-2 in the 2011 North 2, Group 3 title game, as former star midfielder Emily Wold, now an assistant coach at the University of North Carolina, scored all three goals.
Skinny: The Streaks appear to be peaking at the right time and are coming off a tough 2-1 win over West Morris in the sectional final, a task made more difficult by playing on a bad grass field. This site is a familiar one after scoring a 7-0 win over Summit here in last year's semifinals. Sigman and Popinko are driving a well-balanced offensive attack. On the other side, Tiefenthaler, the Colonials' leading scorer who has 88 career goals, will be the focus of a stingy Streaks defense, led by Schwab and de Raismes, a goalie who thrives in big games. Warren Hills is hungry for another trip to the Group 3 final and has benefited from a much tougher schedule.
Prediction: Warren Hills, 4-1.
Group 2
Voorhees (18-3-1) vs. West Essex (20-1) at Johnson High School, 4 p.m.
Group history: Voorhees (Group runner-up in 2000 and '06). West Essex (Group champion in 1984, '87, '89, '91, '92, '93, '96, '97, 2002, '05, '06, '07, '08, '11, '13, runner-up in 1974, '75, '81, '83, '94, '95, 2004, '10, '12).
Players to watch: V -- Sr. MF Hannah Schiavo (9 goals); Fr. F Brooke Hyland (16 goals); Sr. F Lindsay Fritz (7 goals); Fr. F Cassie Boyce (9 goals); Jr. MF Laura Chen (6 assists); Sr. GK Annie Weiler (11 shutouts). WE -- So. F Ellie Decker (31 goals, 17 assists); Jr. F Julia Russo (31 goals, 20 assists); Jr. F Ashley Iannuzzi (30 goals, 14 assists); Sr. F Lia Sinisi (28 goals, 25 assists); Sr. MF Jordyn Thies (13 assists); Fr. GK Tara Smith (15 shutouts).
Interesting fact: West Essex has won a state record 34 sectional titles and holds an 8-1-2 edge in the all-time series with Voorhees, including a 3-0 win on Sept. 10. Coach Jill Cosse (413-34-12 in 20 seasons) and the Knights (870 victories overall and 15 state titles) have won four of the last five meetings since 2012, while the Vikes' lone victory was 2-1 in the 2000 Group 2 semifinals.
Skinny: It's hard to imagine a scenario where Voorhees, a young team that could very well be here again next year, can reverse a three-goal loss to one of the state's best teams and the Group 2 title favorite. West Essex, which has won nine straight since a 3-2 loss to Oak Knoll on Oct. 10, has a huge edge on offense with three 30-goal scorers and having scored eight goals in each of its last five games. The Vikes, who rely on staunch defense, need to somehow keep it a low-scoring affair to have a shot at pulling off the upset. In its three losses this season, Voorhees scored a total of one goal.
Prediction: West Essex, 3-1.
Group 1
Newton (17-3) vs. Madison (15-4) at Boonton High School, 5 p.m.
Group history: Newton (Runner-up in 1984). Madison (Group champion in 1995, '97, 2003, '09, '15, runner-up in 1990, '94, 2001, '12, '13, '14).
Players to watch: N -- Sr. F Natalie Rivas (22 goals, 19 assists); Sr. MF Nicole Rizzo (10 goals, 17 assists); Jr. F Morgan Mendel (13 goals); Sr. F Kate Barbato (8 goals, 7 assists); Sr. F Brittany Schumann (11 assists). M -- Jr. Elizabeth Romano (34 goals, 9 assists); Sr. Catherine Crowley (17 goals); Jr. Sage Geyer (6 goals, 9 assists); Jr. Maddie Farrell (11 assists).
Interesting fact: Newton has won a Sussex County-record 12 sectional titles and is bidding for the county's first state championship since Vernon won the Group 4 crown in 1996.
Skinny: Braves scored a 2-1 win over Mountain Lakes to win their third straight North 1, Group 1 sectional title, but they haven't played for a state championship in 32 years. Shore Regional, which won the last two Group 1 championships, was the roadblock in previous seasons. Now last year's Group 2 champions stand in the way of coach Lisa Bechtel's team taking the next step. Madison, which advanced with a 1-0 win over Shore in the North 2 final, has won four straight since a 2-1 loss to Warren Hills on Oct. 24. Dodgers, who scored wins of 8-0 and 4-2 over Mountain Lakes this season, are battled tested and well coached as Ann Marie Davies is regarded as one of the best in the state.
Prediction: Madison, 3-1.
Sunday, November 6, 2016
Field hockey: HWS schedule for Nov. 9-12
Wednesday, Nov. 9
(All state semifinals, 4 p.m., unless noted)
NJSIAA playoffs
Group 3
Warren Hills vs. Freehold Borough at A.L. Johnson, 6 p.m.
Group 2
Voorhees vs. West Essex at A.L. Johnson
Group 1
Newton vs. Madison at Boonton
Saturday, Nov. 12
(Group championships at Bordentown)
Group 4
Bridgewater-Raritan vs. Eastern, 10 a.m.
Group 3
Warren Hills vs. Ocean City, 6 p.m.
Group 2
West Essex vs. Rumson-Fair Haven, 4 p.m.
Group 1
Madison vs. Haddonfield, noon
Non-Public
Oak Knoll vs. Bishop Eustace, 2 p.m.
Friday, November 4, 2016
Field hockey: Blue Streaks rally for 5th straight title
CHESTER TWP. -- Hoisting the championship trophy has become a familiar scene for Warren Hills' field hockey team. But the feeling certainly never gets old.
Junior midfielder Mikayla Dugan converted a penalty stroke with just 2:21 left in the game as the third-seeded Blue Streaks scored two unanswered second-half goals for a 2-1 victory over top-seeded West Morris in the North 1, Group 3 sectional final on Friday at West Morris Central High School.
Warren Hills (19-4) earned its fifth straight championship and the program's 14th overall -- matching South Hunterdon for the most sectional titles in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area. The Streaks, who have won the last two Group 3 state titles, will next face North 2 champion Freehold Borough at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in the semifinals at A.L. Johnson High School. The winner will face Moorestown or Ocean City in the Group 3 final at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12 at Bordentown High School.
"It feels good," said back Brie Schwab, who was outstanding on defense and one of four senior starters to win sectional titles in each of their four years -- just the fourth senior class ever to do so at the Warren County School. "It's [big shoes] to fill. We won that first Group 3 title as sophomores."
With Warren Hills threatening, a ball became logged under West Morris goalie Emily Egan on a corner to create a penalty stroke opportunity for the Blue Streaks. Dugan stepped to the line and flicked the ball into the upper-left corner of the cage -- just beating Egan's diving attempt for what proved to be the winning goal. Just minutes earlier, Egan, one of six senior starters for the Wolfpack, denied a solid stroke attempt by junior Tali Popinko to the same side.
"That's my strong side," said Dugan, who was asked if she thought about going to the right side after Popinko's miss. "I really wanted to make it. I wanted [the game] to be over."
West Morris (20-4) looked primed to pull off an upset -- despite the seeds -- when it took a 1-0 lead with 17:55 left in the first half. Junior forward Faith Spaziano converted her team-leading 28th goal off a penalty corner as the ball bounced around and rolled into the right corner of the cage.
Playing on grass seemed to be an early advantage for the home team. Warren Hills, which plays all of its home games on turf, looked a bit sluggish at least early on. But the Streaks showed their championship mettle coming out of the break as the offense suddenly came to life. Schwab's shot off a corner -- one of eight in the second half for the visitors-- bounced off Egan's pads just minutes into the second half.
With 20:20 to go, junior Rebecca Sigman evened things with her team-leading 16th goal on Warren Hills' third corner of the second half. That goal seemingly turned the tide for good in the Streaks' favor.
"It was extremely tough [playing on grass]," Schwab said. "Just mentality-wise, it's a lot harder to play on grass. [Down 1-0], we said [a loss] wasn't going to happen. We need to pick it up right now and not let one goal affect us."
Warren Hills coach Kate Rothman could not have been happier for her players, who have battled through quite a few injuries this season, including the loss of star forward Dani Profita, the school's all-time scoring leader and two-time HWS Tournament MVP who sustained a season-ending knee injury on Sept. 22.
"This was a big one," said Rothman, who is 2-for-2 in sectional finals since taking over prior to the 2015 season. "It took time to adjust, but we're a team. A team wins games. Schwab was awesome today [on defense] and [goalie Jackie de Raismes] is always solid. We just needed to start playing our game, using our skills and moving the ball."
Since Profita's season ended with her scoring 14 goals, Sigman and Popinko (13 goals, 9 assists) have helped pick up the offensive slack. In fact, the Streaks have five players with double-digit goal totals, as Alyssa Appleby (13 goals) and Caroline Cotte (10 goals), who missed all of last season with an ACL injury, have also come up big at times this season.
"Usually teams just have that one big scorer. We have five," Rothman said. "That's saying something."
The challenge for Warren Hills once again is not looking ahead to a potential fifth straight meeting with Ocean City in next Saturday's Group 3 final, as the teams have split the last four championships. Dugan is confident that her team won't let that happen against Freehold Borough, which is 2-1 all-time against Warren Hills, including wins in the 2007 and '11 North 2, Group 3 finals.
"We'll keep our focus for the next game," she said. "Then we'll be ready to play Ocean City or whoever."
Warren Hills (19-4) 0 2 -- 2
West Morris (20-4) 1 0 -- 1
Scoring
First half -- WM, Faith Spaziano, 28th, (Jackie Drzewinski), 17:55.
Second half -- WH, Rebecca Sigman, 16th, 20:20; WH, Mikayla Dugan, 6th, (penalty stroke), 2:21.
Shots -- Warren Hills 9; West Morris 4.
Saves -- Jackie de Raismes 2, Brie Schwab 1 (defensive) (WH); Emily Egan 7 (WM).
Penalty corners -- Warren Hills 13; West Morris 11.
Bridgewater-Raritan 3, Hunterdon Central 1 -- Senior midfielder Nikki Freeman scored her sixth goal in four games, but it wasn't enough as the third-seeded Red Devils lost to the top-seeded Panthers for a third time this season in Friday's North 2, Group 4 final.
Freeman, a University of Iowa recruit, finishes her final season with 17 goals. Central (15-7) was looking to snap a 10-game skid against its nemesis dating to 2013. Coach Jenn Sponzo's Red Devils, who won their first HWS Tournament title this season, are now 8-26-2 overall vs. Bridgewater in her 17 seasons and have lost 24 of the last 25 meetings. The Hunterdon County school was bidding for its first sectional title since '13 and its 14th overall.
Bridgewater-Raritan (21-2), which beat Central, Voorhees and Warren Hills this season, claimed its 12th straight sectional title as it looks to make its 12th straight appearance in the Group 4 final. The Panthers will next face Morristown -- a 4-0 winner over Montclair in the North 1 final -- in Wednesday's Group 4 semifinals. The winner will face either Freehold Township or Eastern, which has beaten Bridgewater-Raritan in 11 straight Group 4 finals, at 10 a.m. in championship game on Nov. 12.
Junior midfielder Mikayla Dugan converted a penalty stroke with just 2:21 left in the game as the third-seeded Blue Streaks scored two unanswered second-half goals for a 2-1 victory over top-seeded West Morris in the North 1, Group 3 sectional final on Friday at West Morris Central High School.
Warren Hills (19-4) earned its fifth straight championship and the program's 14th overall -- matching South Hunterdon for the most sectional titles in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area. The Streaks, who have won the last two Group 3 state titles, will next face North 2 champion Freehold Borough at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in the semifinals at A.L. Johnson High School. The winner will face Moorestown or Ocean City in the Group 3 final at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12 at Bordentown High School.
 |
| Warren Hills celebrates its 14th sectional title and fifth in a row. |
"It feels good," said back Brie Schwab, who was outstanding on defense and one of four senior starters to win sectional titles in each of their four years -- just the fourth senior class ever to do so at the Warren County School. "It's [big shoes] to fill. We won that first Group 3 title as sophomores."
With Warren Hills threatening, a ball became logged under West Morris goalie Emily Egan on a corner to create a penalty stroke opportunity for the Blue Streaks. Dugan stepped to the line and flicked the ball into the upper-left corner of the cage -- just beating Egan's diving attempt for what proved to be the winning goal. Just minutes earlier, Egan, one of six senior starters for the Wolfpack, denied a solid stroke attempt by junior Tali Popinko to the same side.
"That's my strong side," said Dugan, who was asked if she thought about going to the right side after Popinko's miss. "I really wanted to make it. I wanted [the game] to be over."
West Morris (20-4) looked primed to pull off an upset -- despite the seeds -- when it took a 1-0 lead with 17:55 left in the first half. Junior forward Faith Spaziano converted her team-leading 28th goal off a penalty corner as the ball bounced around and rolled into the right corner of the cage.
Playing on grass seemed to be an early advantage for the home team. Warren Hills, which plays all of its home games on turf, looked a bit sluggish at least early on. But the Streaks showed their championship mettle coming out of the break as the offense suddenly came to life. Schwab's shot off a corner -- one of eight in the second half for the visitors-- bounced off Egan's pads just minutes into the second half.
With 20:20 to go, junior Rebecca Sigman evened things with her team-leading 16th goal on Warren Hills' third corner of the second half. That goal seemingly turned the tide for good in the Streaks' favor.
"It was extremely tough [playing on grass]," Schwab said. "Just mentality-wise, it's a lot harder to play on grass. [Down 1-0], we said [a loss] wasn't going to happen. We need to pick it up right now and not let one goal affect us."
Warren Hills coach Kate Rothman could not have been happier for her players, who have battled through quite a few injuries this season, including the loss of star forward Dani Profita, the school's all-time scoring leader and two-time HWS Tournament MVP who sustained a season-ending knee injury on Sept. 22.
"This was a big one," said Rothman, who is 2-for-2 in sectional finals since taking over prior to the 2015 season. "It took time to adjust, but we're a team. A team wins games. Schwab was awesome today [on defense] and [goalie Jackie de Raismes] is always solid. We just needed to start playing our game, using our skills and moving the ball."
Since Profita's season ended with her scoring 14 goals, Sigman and Popinko (13 goals, 9 assists) have helped pick up the offensive slack. In fact, the Streaks have five players with double-digit goal totals, as Alyssa Appleby (13 goals) and Caroline Cotte (10 goals), who missed all of last season with an ACL injury, have also come up big at times this season.
"Usually teams just have that one big scorer. We have five," Rothman said. "That's saying something."
The challenge for Warren Hills once again is not looking ahead to a potential fifth straight meeting with Ocean City in next Saturday's Group 3 final, as the teams have split the last four championships. Dugan is confident that her team won't let that happen against Freehold Borough, which is 2-1 all-time against Warren Hills, including wins in the 2007 and '11 North 2, Group 3 finals.
"We'll keep our focus for the next game," she said. "Then we'll be ready to play Ocean City or whoever."
Warren Hills (19-4) 0 2 -- 2
West Morris (20-4) 1 0 -- 1
Scoring
First half -- WM, Faith Spaziano, 28th, (Jackie Drzewinski), 17:55.
Second half -- WH, Rebecca Sigman, 16th, 20:20; WH, Mikayla Dugan, 6th, (penalty stroke), 2:21.
Shots -- Warren Hills 9; West Morris 4.
Saves -- Jackie de Raismes 2, Brie Schwab 1 (defensive) (WH); Emily Egan 7 (WM).
Penalty corners -- Warren Hills 13; West Morris 11.
Central falls in North 2, Group 4
Bridgewater-Raritan 3, Hunterdon Central 1 -- Senior midfielder Nikki Freeman scored her sixth goal in four games, but it wasn't enough as the third-seeded Red Devils lost to the top-seeded Panthers for a third time this season in Friday's North 2, Group 4 final.
Freeman, a University of Iowa recruit, finishes her final season with 17 goals. Central (15-7) was looking to snap a 10-game skid against its nemesis dating to 2013. Coach Jenn Sponzo's Red Devils, who won their first HWS Tournament title this season, are now 8-26-2 overall vs. Bridgewater in her 17 seasons and have lost 24 of the last 25 meetings. The Hunterdon County school was bidding for its first sectional title since '13 and its 14th overall.
Bridgewater-Raritan (21-2), which beat Central, Voorhees and Warren Hills this season, claimed its 12th straight sectional title as it looks to make its 12th straight appearance in the Group 4 final. The Panthers will next face Morristown -- a 4-0 winner over Montclair in the North 1 final -- in Wednesday's Group 4 semifinals. The winner will face either Freehold Township or Eastern, which has beaten Bridgewater-Raritan in 11 straight Group 4 finals, at 10 a.m. in championship game on Nov. 12.
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Field hockey: Vikes cage Tigers for sectional title
It was 10 years in the making, but it was worth the wait for Voorhees' field hockey team.
After back-to-back losses in title games, senior forward Lindsay Fritz converted the winning goal off a penalty corner with 1:33 left in overtime to give Voorhees a 1-0 win over Hackettstown in the North 2, Group 2 sectional final at North Hunterdon Regional High School.
Voorhees (18-3-1), which claimed its first title since 2006 and the program's seventh overall, advances to the Group 2 semifinals to take on North 1 champion West Essex at 4 p.m. on Wednesday at A.L. Johnson High School. The winner will face Rumson-Fair Haven or West Deptford for the state championship on Saturday, Nov. 12 at Bordentown High School.
In '06, the Vikes won the sectional title with a 1-0 victory over Ocean Township before eventually dropping a 3-0 decision to Moorestown in the Group 3 final.
"We came up a little short the last two years," said sixth-year coach Taylor Webb, whose teams lost in the 2014 (1-0 in OT to Summit) and '15 (3-2 to Madison) sectional finals. "It's important to get that break through and have the kids experience [a championship]."
Hackettstown (16-5) was denied in its first finals appearance since making back-to-back trips in 2006 and '07. The Tigers dropped two meetings with the Vikes this season, including a 2-1 loss in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament quarterfinals on Oct. 8.
Webb had high praise for a Hackettstown program that posted its most wins during seventh-year coach Stephen Speirs' tenure.
"He's done a nice job of turning that program around," Webb said. "They're a good team."
Fritz ended the drama by tapping in her seventh goal of the season off a feed from senior midfielder Hannah Schiavo, who controlled the ball at the top of the circle and reversed it to the right post, where Fritz was waiting to knock it in. Fritz also scored in the team's 3-1 win over Bernards in Tuesday's sectional semifinal.
"Lindsay is always at the right place at the right time," said Webb, who won three sectional titles as a star player for Voorhees under former coach Ann Bonavita. "She keeps to [our] system and never waivers. I'm so proud she scored that goal. She doesn't get a lot of credit and doesn't need it. That was awesome."
Senior goalie Annie Weiler made four saves for her 11th shutout of the season.
West Essex, an 8-1 winner over Ramsey in the North 1 final, will be a stiff test as Voorhees trails 1-8-2 in the all-time series between the longtime state powers, including a 3-0 loss at home on Sept. 10. The Knights have won a state record 34 sectional championships and four of the last five meetings with the Vikes since the series resumed in 2012. Voorhees' only win was 2-1 in the '00 in the Group 2 semifinals. The teams played to a 1-1 tie in '12.
"They're a standard West Essex team. Very fit, they move the ball, and they are super skilled," Webb said of this year's version. "We have to fine-tune on certain things and have to convert on our opportunities."
Hackettstown (16-5) 0 0 0 -- 0
Voorhees (18-3-1) 0 0 1 -- 1
Scoring
Overtime -- V, Lindsay Fritz, 7th, (Hannah Schiavo), 1:33.
Shots -- Hackettstown 3; Voorhees 5.
Saves -- Bridget Kenny 0, Alyssa Cassini 3 (H); Annie Weiler 4 (V).
Newton 2, Mountain Lakes 1 -- Senior forward Natalie Rivas scored the go-ahead goal just before halftime as the top-seeded Braves held on to win their third straight North 1, Group 1 title on Thursday at Palmer Field.
Newton (17-3), which boasts a Sussex County-record 12 sectional titles, advances to face North 2 champion Madison in the Group 1 semifinals at 4 p.m. on Wednesday at Boonton High School. The winner will play Haddonfield or Middle Township for the state title on Nov. 12 at Bordentown High School.
Sophomore Victoria Docherty scored the Braves' first goal before Mountain Lakes (12-7-1) tied it midway through the first half. Rivas now has three goals and three assists in the team's last four games.
Newton, which was eliminated by Shore Regional in the state semis the previous two seasons, has reached a state final just once in program history -- losing to Moorestown in the 1984 Group 2 title game. State powerhouse Madison, which has won 15 sectional titles and last year's Group 2 title, ended Shore's bid for a fourth straight Group 1 championship with a 1-0 win in the North 2, Group 2 final.
Mountain Lakes (12-7-1) 1 0 -- 1
Newton (17-3) 2 0 -- 2
Scoring
First half -- N, Victoria Docherty, 6th, (Lauren Barbato); ML, Macara Desai; N, Natalie Rivas, 22nd, (Nicole Rizzo).
Shots -- Mountain Lakes 7; Newton 13.
Saves -- Jessica Menack 3, Aline Miller 6 (ML); Abby Berkowitz 4 (N).
After back-to-back losses in title games, senior forward Lindsay Fritz converted the winning goal off a penalty corner with 1:33 left in overtime to give Voorhees a 1-0 win over Hackettstown in the North 2, Group 2 sectional final at North Hunterdon Regional High School.
Voorhees (18-3-1), which claimed its first title since 2006 and the program's seventh overall, advances to the Group 2 semifinals to take on North 1 champion West Essex at 4 p.m. on Wednesday at A.L. Johnson High School. The winner will face Rumson-Fair Haven or West Deptford for the state championship on Saturday, Nov. 12 at Bordentown High School.
In '06, the Vikes won the sectional title with a 1-0 victory over Ocean Township before eventually dropping a 3-0 decision to Moorestown in the Group 3 final.
 |
| Voorhees celebrates its first title since 2006. (Courtesy of Deirdre Ogorzalek) |
"We came up a little short the last two years," said sixth-year coach Taylor Webb, whose teams lost in the 2014 (1-0 in OT to Summit) and '15 (3-2 to Madison) sectional finals. "It's important to get that break through and have the kids experience [a championship]."
Hackettstown (16-5) was denied in its first finals appearance since making back-to-back trips in 2006 and '07. The Tigers dropped two meetings with the Vikes this season, including a 2-1 loss in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament quarterfinals on Oct. 8.
Webb had high praise for a Hackettstown program that posted its most wins during seventh-year coach Stephen Speirs' tenure.
"He's done a nice job of turning that program around," Webb said. "They're a good team."
Fritz ended the drama by tapping in her seventh goal of the season off a feed from senior midfielder Hannah Schiavo, who controlled the ball at the top of the circle and reversed it to the right post, where Fritz was waiting to knock it in. Fritz also scored in the team's 3-1 win over Bernards in Tuesday's sectional semifinal.
"Lindsay is always at the right place at the right time," said Webb, who won three sectional titles as a star player for Voorhees under former coach Ann Bonavita. "She keeps to [our] system and never waivers. I'm so proud she scored that goal. She doesn't get a lot of credit and doesn't need it. That was awesome."
Senior goalie Annie Weiler made four saves for her 11th shutout of the season.
West Essex, an 8-1 winner over Ramsey in the North 1 final, will be a stiff test as Voorhees trails 1-8-2 in the all-time series between the longtime state powers, including a 3-0 loss at home on Sept. 10. The Knights have won a state record 34 sectional championships and four of the last five meetings with the Vikes since the series resumed in 2012. Voorhees' only win was 2-1 in the '00 in the Group 2 semifinals. The teams played to a 1-1 tie in '12.
"They're a standard West Essex team. Very fit, they move the ball, and they are super skilled," Webb said of this year's version. "We have to fine-tune on certain things and have to convert on our opportunities."
Hackettstown (16-5) 0 0 0 -- 0
Voorhees (18-3-1) 0 0 1 -- 1
Scoring
Overtime -- V, Lindsay Fritz, 7th, (Hannah Schiavo), 1:33.
Shots -- Hackettstown 3; Voorhees 5.
Saves -- Bridget Kenny 0, Alyssa Cassini 3 (H); Annie Weiler 4 (V).
Braves earn 3-peat
Newton 2, Mountain Lakes 1 -- Senior forward Natalie Rivas scored the go-ahead goal just before halftime as the top-seeded Braves held on to win their third straight North 1, Group 1 title on Thursday at Palmer Field.
Newton (17-3), which boasts a Sussex County-record 12 sectional titles, advances to face North 2 champion Madison in the Group 1 semifinals at 4 p.m. on Wednesday at Boonton High School. The winner will play Haddonfield or Middle Township for the state title on Nov. 12 at Bordentown High School.
Sophomore Victoria Docherty scored the Braves' first goal before Mountain Lakes (12-7-1) tied it midway through the first half. Rivas now has three goals and three assists in the team's last four games.
Newton, which was eliminated by Shore Regional in the state semis the previous two seasons, has reached a state final just once in program history -- losing to Moorestown in the 1984 Group 2 title game. State powerhouse Madison, which has won 15 sectional titles and last year's Group 2 title, ended Shore's bid for a fourth straight Group 1 championship with a 1-0 win in the North 2, Group 2 final.
Mountain Lakes (12-7-1) 1 0 -- 1
Newton (17-3) 2 0 -- 2
Scoring
First half -- N, Victoria Docherty, 6th, (Lauren Barbato); ML, Macara Desai; N, Natalie Rivas, 22nd, (Nicole Rizzo).
Shots -- Mountain Lakes 7; Newton 13.
Saves -- Jessica Menack 3, Aline Miller 6 (ML); Abby Berkowitz 4 (N).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)