Field hockey: Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex standings

 (Through Wednesday's games)

Skyland Conference
Delaware Division
		Overall	Division
x-Bridgewater-Raritan		(15-4-1)	(13-0-1)
Hunterdon Central		(12-3-1)	(11-2-1)
Pingry		(9-10)	(6-8)
Watchung Hills		(7-12-1)	(2-11-1)
Hillsborough		(5-13-2)	(2-11-1)
Raritan Division
		Overall	Division
x-Voorhees		(14-6)	(12-3)
Warren Hills		(15-5-1)	(11-3-1)
Ridge		(10-8-1)	(8-6-1)
Phillipsburg		(7-13)	(6-9)
Montgomery		(7-13)	(3-12)
North Hunterdon		(4-14)	(3-12)
Valley Division
		Overall	Division
xy-Bernards		(20-0)	(9-0)
Delaware Valley		(11-5)	(7-2)
Somerville		(6-11)	(4-5)
Franklin		(1-17)	(1-9)
Mountain Division
		Overall	Division
South Hunterdon		(8-5-1)	(7-2-1)
Belvidere		(11-5-1)	(6-2-1)
Mount St. Mary		(4-13)	(3-7)
North Plainfield		(1-14-1)	(0-10)
Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference
Freedom Division
		Overall	Division
xy-Hackettstown		(16-2-1)	(7-0)
Newton		(12-5-1)	(6-2)
Vernon		(7-8-2)	(3-5)
High Point		(5-6-1)	(2-4-1)
Wallkill Valley		(6-13-1)	(0-7-1)
National Division
		Overall	Division
x-Mount Olive		(7-12)	(7-1)
Morris Knolls		(8-8)	(6-2)
Roxbury		(7-8-1)	(5-3)
Pope John		(4-10)	(2-6)
Morris Hills		(0-15)	(0-8)
Colonial Division
		Overall	Division
x-Lenape Valley		(12-4-1)	(8-0)
Sparta		(9-7)	(4-3)
Jefferson		(4-9-2)	(2-4)
Kittatinny		(2-16-1)	(2-5)
North Warren		(4-14)	(2-6)
x-division champion
y-county champion

Field hockey: Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex rankings

Hackettstown's field hockey team is likely still basking in the glow of its history-making 1-0 win in overtime against perennial finalist Warren Hills on Saturday in the 10th annual Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament.

The medals awarded to the HWS finalists on Saturday.

The win at Newton's Palmer Field gave the Tigers their first HWS championship and the program's third county title overall since back-to-back Hunterdon-Warren crowns in 2004-05. Forward Ashley Zellars, one of seven starting seniors, scored the winning goal 1:52 into the 10-minute seven-a-side overtime period. The wild celebration that commenced shortly after helped wipe away 12 years of frustration against Warren Hills, which had won the previous 14 meetings since a 2-1 loss in 2006.

But with the North 1, Group 2 playoffs now looming, No. 2 seed Hackettstown needs to refocus to make a run at the program's first postseason championship. Should the Tigers reach that title game, a date with No. 1 West Essex, winner of a state-best 35 sectional championships, would likely stand in the way of another date with history.

"Hopefully this makes us better and keeps our heads up," Zellars said on Saturday, still overcome with emotion over what her team had just accomplished in winning the HWS title.

The win was extra sweet for veteran Hackettstown coach Stephen Speirs, a 1980 graduate of Warren Hills, who was 0-11 against his alma mater coming into Saturday -- easily the biggest win in his 10-year coaching tenure. After two .500 seasons and a rough 6-13 campaign in 2011, the Tigers got on track by finishing 12-8 in 2013 before posting 15 wins in 2014. They've won 60 games over the past four seasons with back-to-back losses in the North 2, Group 2 sectional finals the past two years.

"When I took over the program, we had good players," said Speirs, whose team can earn a fourth straight NJAC Freedom Division title with a win over Newton on Wednesday night on this same Palmer Field. "But there was a learning curve with new coaches. We were trying to build for this. This is a seasoned team."

With the sectional playoffs starting this week, here's the final regular-season set of area rankings:

Hackettstown celebrates its first HWS title.

1. Hackettstown (15-2-1) -- Tigers capped a 3-0 week with a 1-0 victory over Warren Hills in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament final -- the first title game to reach overtime in the tourney's 10-year history. Senior forward Ashley Zellars scored the game-winner and had a goal in the a 6-0 win over Wallkill Valley last Monday. Seniors Kayla Cichlar and Jessica Scheper each scored a pair of goals in that win, while Cichlar added two more in a 5-0 win over Vernon on Thursday.

Up next: at Newton on Wednesday; at High Point on Friday.

2. Warren Hills (14-5-1) -- Blue Streaks saw their seven-game win streak snapped with the 1-0 loss in OT against Hackettstown on Saturday -- just the third finals loss and second in three years for the program, which is 32-4 all-time in HWS games. Coach Josie Potter's team, which has yielded just four goals in its past eight games, will wrap up its regular-season slate against North Hunterdon on Tuesday before gearing up for another title run in the North 1, Group 3 playoffs.

Up next: at  North Hunterdon on Tuesday; Wayne Hills at home on Thursday in North 1, Group 3 quarterfinals.

3. Voorhees (14-5) -- Vikings, who have won 10 of their last 11 games since a 4-1 loss to Bernards on Sept. 22, secured the Skyland Conference Raritan Division title -- the program's 21st division championship overall and fifth in the last six seasons -- with a 5-2 victory over Ridge on Saturday. Junior forward Cassie Boyce added to her area-leading scoring total with a goal and two assists, while junior forward Brooke Hyland notched her-team leading 20th goal and recorded two assists in that win. Coach Shannon Hughes' team wraps up the regular season against Phillipsburg and is the No. 4 seed for the North 2, Group 2 playoffs.

Up next: at Phillipsburg today.

4. Belvidere (11-5-1) -- County Seaters capped a 2-1 week with a 3-1 win over Boonton on Saturday behind goals from senior forwards Maddie Call and Abby Bronico, and sophomore forward Olivia Zmyewski. Coach Beth Franceschino's team also scored a 7-0 win over North Plainfield last Monday to give the Warren County school (6-2-1 in the division) a chance to share the Skyland Conference Mountain Division title with South Hunterdon (7-2-1) if the Seaters can beat Somerville in their final division game. That matchup, which was postponed on Oct. 13, has yet to be rescheduled, according to Franceschino. Belvidere is the No. 2 seed for the North 1, Group 1 playoffs.

Up next: Westwood or Pequannock at home on Saturday in North 1, Group 1 quarterfinals.

5. Hunterdon Central (12-3-1) -- Red Devils, who secured second place in the Skyland Conference Delaware Division race, went 3-0 last week with a pair of wins over Pingry (3-1 on Thursday and 2-1 on Saturday) after opening with a 6-2 victory at Hillsborough on Tuesday. Coach Jenn Sponzo's team drew the No. 2 seed in North 2, Group 4 behind defending champ Bridgewater-Raritan. Junior Sammy Freeman, who had three goals last week, had her season-long streak of at least one goal or an assist snapped on Saturday. Freeman leads Central in scoring with 13 goals and 12 assists.

Up next: North Hunterdon or Montgomery at home on Friday in North 2, Group 4 quarterfinals.

6. Delaware Valley (10-5) -- Terriers scored a 7-0 win over Franklin on Wednesday in their only contest last week. Sophomore forward Kristen Bill scored two goals and added an assist, while seniors Madeline and Megan Bill and Megan Donnelly scored goals in that victory. Coach Stephanie Rifflard's team is the No. 5 seed in North 2, Group 1.

Up next: New Egypt at home on Tuesday in North 2, Group 1 quarterfinals; Bernards at home on Thursday.

7. South Hunterdon (8-4-1) -- Eagles split a pair of games last week -- dropping a 3-0 decision to Bernards on Wednesday and scoring a 3-0 win over Mount St. Mary on Thursday to finish 7-2-1 in the Skyland Conference Mountain Division race and securing at least a share of the title. A Belvidere loss to Somerville (date TBA) would give South the outright title.

Up next: Glen Ridge at home on Tuesday in North 1, Group 1 playoffs.

8. Newton (11-4-1) -- Braves ran their winning streak to three in a row with a 2-1 victory over High Point on Thursday, following a 1-0 win over Vernon in an NJAC Freedom Division clash on Tuesday. Senior forward Victoria Docherty scored a goal against High Point and has two goals and two assists in the team's past three contests. Coach Lisa Bechtel's team, which can secure at least a share of the division title with a win over Hackettstown, seeks the program's fourth sectional title in five seasons as the No. 4 seed in North 1, Group 1.

Up next: North Warren at home on Tuesday in North 1, Group 1 playoffs; Hackettstown at home on Wednesday; Lenape Valley or Butler at home on Saturday (with a win over North Warren) in the North 1, Group 1 quarterfinals.

9. Phillipsburg (5-12) -- Stateliners drew the No. 5 seed and will travel to No. 4 Ridge for their opening-round game in North 1, Group 4. P'burg has dropped a pair of one-goal games against the Red Devils, including a 1-0 loss on Thursday. Coach Toni Popinko's team has played some of the tougher teams on the schedule close this season, including a 1-0 loss to Hackettstown in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament.

Up next: Voorhees at home on Tuesday; Montgomery at home on Wednesday; at Ridge on Friday in North 1, Group 4 quarterfinals.

10. High Point (5-6-1) -- Wildcats have played just four games in October, including a 5-1 win over Kittatinny on Saturday to cap a 1-1-1 week, that included a tough 2-1 loss to Newton in an NJAC Freedom Division matchup. Senior forward and leading scorer Tyra Wingle recorded two goals and two assists in the victory. A win over Sparta would set up a quarterfinal meeting with Hackettstown in the North 1, Group 2 playoffs.

On the bubble: Lenape Valley (11-4-1) -- Patriots secured the NJAC Colonial Division title with a 7-0 win over Kittatinny on Thursday and finished 8-0 in division play with a 1-0 victory vs. Jefferson on Saturday. Leah Gonzalez scored a goal and added two assists in those wins, while Angie Falleni had two goals and an assist.

Field hockey: HWS schedule for Oct. 22-28

Monday, Oct. 22

(All games 4 p.m., unless noted)

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

North Warren at Sparta

Skyland Conference

Voorhees at Phillipsburg, 3:45 p.m.

NJSIAA playoffs

North 2, Group 4

North Hunterdon at Montgomery, 2 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 23

(All games 4 p.m., unless noted)

Skyland Conference

Warren Hills at North Hunterdon, 6 p.m.

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Pope John at Roxbury, 5 p.m.

NJSIAA playoffs

North 1, Group 2

Parsippany Hills at Vernon
High Point at Sparta, 2 p.m.

North 1, Group 1

Wallkill Valley at Boonton
Kittatinny at Mountain Lakes, 4:30 p.m.
North Warren at Newton
Butler at Lenape Valley

North 1, Group 1

Glen Ridge at South Hunterdon, 2 p.m.

North 2, Group 1

New Egypt at Delaware Valley, 2 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 24

(All games 4 p.m., unless noted)

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Hackettstown at Newton, 5:30 p.m.

Skyland Conference

Montgomery at Phillipsburg

Thursday, Oct. 25

(All games 4 p.m., unless noted)

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Jefferson at Kittatinny, 3:45 p.m.
Pequannock at Vernon, 6:30 p.m.
Morris Hills at North Warren, 4:15 p.m.
Pope John at St. Elizabeth

Skyland Conference

Bernards at Delaware Valley, 4:15 p.m.

NJSIAA playoffs

North 1, Group 3

Wayne Hills at Warren Hills

Friday, Oct. 26

(All games 4 p.m., unless noted)

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Hackettstown at High Point
Sparta at Jefferson, 3:45 p.m.

NJSIAA playoffs

North 1, Group 4

Phillipsburg at Ridge, 2 p.m.

North 2, Group 4

Montgomery at Hunterdon Central, 3 p.m.

North 1, Group 1

Pequannock at Belvidere

Sunday, Oct. 28

(All games 11 a.m., unless noted)

NJSIAA playoffs

North 1, Group 1

Wallkill Valley at Ramsey
Lenape Valley at Newton

North 2, Group 1

Delaware Valley at Johnson

Field hockey: Tigers top Streaks for 1st HWS title

NEWTON -- It's been a long time coming for Hackettstown's field hockey team and forward Ashley Zellars wasn't about to let it slip away.

Zellars' goal with just under two minutes gone in sudden-victory overtime gave the Tigers a 1-0 win over nemesis Warren Hills and the program's first Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament title on Saturday afternoon at Newton High School's Palmer Field.

Hackettstown celebrates its first HWS championship.

Hackettstown (15-2-1), which dropped a 1-0 decision to Warren Hills in the 2013 HWS final, claimed its third county championship and first since winning back-to-back titles in the former Hunterdon-Warren Tournament in 2004-05. The Tigers, now 5-42-3 all-time against Warren Hills, also ended a 14-game skid in the series since a 2-1 win at home in 2006 and the Blue Streaks' bid for a seventh title in the tournament's 10-year history. They were also looking to avenge a tough 2-1 loss in overtime at Warren Hills on Sept. 29.

"Being the underdog team always helps and wanting some redemption," said Hackettstown coach Stephen Speirs, now 1-11 overall against Warren Hills in his 10 seasons. "Our seniors have been playing Warren Hills at such a high level, at least for the past four years, and they knew this was their last chance to make it happen."

Zellars, one of seven starting seniors, capitalized on a golden opportunity when the ball slipped past Warren Hills goalie Julia Webber at the top of the circle. Zellars just beat Streaks defender Kate Fenner to it and sent it into a wide-open cage with 8:08 left on the clock to trigger a wild on-field celebration after the first HWS final to be decided in OT.

"This is amazing. We worked so hard and wanted it," said Zellars, whose eighth goal of the season ended 12 years of frustration for Hackettstown, now 2-1 all-time against Hills in county finals.

Senior midfielder Madison Hoskins, who earned the tournament's Most Valuable Player Award, started the winning drive on a breakaway up the left sideline. Webber came up in the circle and stopped Hoskins' shot, but the ball trickled under the pads and Zellars made her winning move as Fenner dove for the ball.

"The ball was just sitting there," Zellars said. "I knew I had to pick up my speed and finish. There were a few people on the ground. It's amazing to finally be able to finish it. Last game [against Warren Hills] was so close, but we couldn't finish it."

Warren Hills (14-5-1), which saw its seven-game win streak snapped with the loss, had won seven straight in HWS play, including last year's title run. The Streaks, now 6-3 in HWS title games and 32-4 overall in county play, missed several opportunities in regulation, including a near-miss on a penalty corner with 2:34 left to play in the second half. Sophomore forward Simryn Desai, the team's leading goal scorer with 14, was positioned perfectly with a wide-open look on the right post, but she could not get a stick on it.

"It looked like it bounced over Sim's stick," said second-year coach Josie Potter, whose team finished with a 9-6 edge on corners and had several good looks and drives at the cage in the first half. "It was right there. I wanted that one. That was a corner we put in that I don't think Hackettstown had seen. We just haven't reached the full gambit with our corners this year."

Both defenses were outstanding, as were the goalies. Junior Sophia Mallozzi stopped seven shots-on-goal, while Webber finished with five of the team's six saves (Kylie Compton had one stick save).

"The seven vs. seven overtime is basically a crapshoot," Speirs said. "All it takes is one quick breakaway and one mistake, and you have a one-on-one going to the cage. I was concerned. I started to see history repeat itself. I didn't want to think back to last time [when Warren Hills scored 30 seconds into OT to win]. This is a seasoned team. They remember what it felt like. They've learned from those mistakes."

To put how big of a win this is into perspective, consider that Hackettstown had been outscored, 55-7, in the previous 14 meetings against Warren Hills, and scored just its fourth goal in the past 12 matchups.

Speirs and his players are hoping to use this victory as a springboard heading into the North 1, Group 2 sectional playoffs. Hackettstown, the No. 2 seed, will play either High Point or Sparta in the opening round on Oct. 29. Perennial state power West Essex, which has won a state record 35 sectional titles, is the top seed and a major obstacle as the Tigers seek the program's first championship.

"This is the boost we need to get to the [sectional] final round," said Speirs, a 1980 Warren Hills graduate whose daughter, Lexie, scored the winning goal that gave Hackettstown a 3-2 victory in overtime against the Streaks in the 2004 Hunterdon-Warren final. "We'll likely face a tough West Essex team. This is literally a bonus."

Warren Hills, which seeks its seventh straight sectional title and 16th overall, will host Wayne Hills in a 5-4 matchup in North 1, Group 3 at 4 p.m. on Thursday. Potter is hoping this loss will be the motivation for her team to start another championship run.

"We showed up to play today. They just wanted it more than we did," Potter said.

Hackettstown (15-2-1)                  0                0               1     --    1
Warren Hills (14-5-1)                    0                0               0     --    0

Scoring

Overtime -- H, Ashley Zellars, 8th, 8:08.

Shots -- Hackettstown 7; Warren Hills 7.

Saves -- Sophia Mallozzi 7 (H); Julia Webber 5, Kylie Compton 1 (defensive) (WH).

Penalty corners -- Hackettstown 6; Warren Hills 9.

Officials -- Liliana Torres and Len Ciufo.

Wrestling: Del Val moving to G1 ends Raritan rivalry

One of the best postseason rivalries in New Jersey appears to be over with the yet to be released sectional alignments for the 2018-19 season.

Delaware Valley, which has been a Group 2 school since the inception of the sectional tournaments in 1980, is moving to Group 1 under the draft version (now official) obtained by Open Mike. As such, the Terriers' longstanding rivalry with Raritan in the Central Jersey, Group 2 section is at an end.

Delaware Valley celebrates after winning the Group 2 title in 2017.

"I'm disappointed that we didn't get one more year [in Central, Group 2]," said Fitz, whose 2016-17 team won the Group 2 title -- the program's first since 1999. "I thought [the rivalry with Raritan] pushed both teams."

Del Val, which has won 17 sectional and eight Group 2 championships, is 9-6 all-time against Raritan, including a 50-9 loss in last year's sectional semifinals -- the 12th postseason meeting between the schools.

"You knew going up against Raritan that you had to lay it on the line," said Fitz, who is 5-4 against Raritan in his 11 seasons as head coach. "Now we'll move on to a different challenge in life."

That next challenge will for Del Val will be in the North 2, Group 1 section, which includes Bound Brook, Roselle Park and Belvidere, on the area level. And of course, the Group 1 title will annually run through Paulsboro, while Kittatinny, which was in a rugged North 1, Group 2 section, along with High Point and Newton the previous two seasons, returns to North 1, Group 1.

Fitz said Delaware Valley, Bound Brook and Roselle Park are the most southern schools in North 2, Group 1, where the Terriers figure to stay for the foreseeable future.

"We're only going to be deeper [by enrollment] into Group 1 next year," he said.

South Plainfield, the reigning Group 3 champion, moves to Group 2 this season and will compete against Raritan and Point Pleasant Boro, last season's sectional champion in South Jersey, in the Central Jersey section. The loss of South Plainfield, which will compete at Newton's Henry Boresch Duals in January, along with Paulsboro, should make Group 3 wide open this season, while making Group 2 even more competitive. High Point scored a thrilling 30-25 comeback win over Raritan in last season's Group 2 final.

The only other big change, at least from a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex perspective, is that  Hunterdon Central and Howell are no longer both in Central Jersey, Group 5. The Red Devils remain in that section, while the Rebels, who prevailed, 29-20, in the sectional title match last season, slide back to South Jersey, Group 5. The teams gave us one of the most memorable matchups in Toms River two seasons ago with Howell scoring a 28-27 in an epic Group 5 final.

Everything else as far as HWS is concerned remains unchanged from 2017-18.

Here's the draft for all sections across the state in 2018-19:

GROUP 5

North 1

Bloomfield
Clifton
East Orange
Eastside
Hackensack
John F. Kennedy (Paterson)
Livingston
Montclair
Morristown
North Bergen
Passaic
Passaic Tech
Union City
West Orange

North 2

Bayonne
Bridgewater-Raritan
Columbia
East Side (Newark)
Elizabeth
J.P. Stevens
Perth Amboy
Piscataway
Plainfield
Ridge
Summit/Chatham
Union
Watchung Hills
Westfield

Central Jersey

East Brunswick
Edison
Franklin
Freehold Township
Hillsborough
Hunterdon Central
Manalapan
Marlboro
Monroe Township
New Brunswick
North Brunswick
Old Bridge
Sayreville
South Brunswick

South Jersey

Atlantic City
Cherokee
Cherry Hill East
Eastern
Egg Harbor Township
Howell
Lenape
Rancocas Valley
Southern
Toms River North
Trenton Central
Vineland
Washington Township
Williamstown

GROUP 4

North 1

Belleville
Cliffside Park
Fair Lawn
Kearny
Morris Hills
Morris Knolls
Mount Olive
Northern Highlands
Orange
Randolph
Ridgewood
Roxbury
Wayne Hills
Wayne Valley

North 2

Barringer
Colonia
Cranford
Irvington
JFK-Iselin
Linden
Middletown North
Middletown South
Millburn
Montgomery
North Hunterdon
Phillipsburg
Scotch Plains-Fanwood
Woodbridge

Central Jersey

Brick Memorial
Brick Township
Burlington County Tech
Colts Neck
Freehold Boro
Hamilton West
Hightstown
Jackson Memorial
Long Branch
Neptune
Northern Burlington
Princeton
West Windsor North
West Windsor South

South Jersey

Central Regional
Cherry Hill West
Clearview
Hammonton
Highland
Kingsway
Mainland
Millville
Moorestown
Pennsauken
Shawnee
Toms River East
Toms River South
Winslow Township

GROUP 3

North 1

Bergenfield
Dwight Morrow
Indian Hills
Montville
Demarest
Old Tappan
Paramus
Pascack Valley
Ramapo
River Dell
Sparta
Teaneck
Tenafly
West Milford

North 2

Bogota/Ridgefield Park
Brearley/Jonathan Dayton
Dover
Garfield
Leonia/Palisades Park
Lyndhurst/North Arlington
Mendham
Nutley
Parsippany Hills
Passaic Valley
Voorhees
Warren Hills
West Essex
West Morris

Central Jersey

Allentown
Bordentown/Florence
Carteret
Ewing
Steinert
Nottingham
Hopewell Valley
Lawrence
Matawan
Ocean Township
Rahway
Red Bank Regional
Somerville
Wall Township

South Jersey

Absegami
Burlington Township
Cumberland Regional
Delsea
Deptford
Gateway/Woodbury
Jackson Liberty
Lacey Township
Lakewood
Ocean City
Pinelands
Seneca
Timber Creek
Triton Regional

GROUP 2

North 1

Dumont
Glen Rock
High Point
Jefferson
Lakeland
Mahwah
Manchester Regional
Newton
Pascack Hills
Pequannock
Ramsey
Vernon
Waldwick/Midland Park
Westwood

North 1

Bernards
Caldwell
Elmwood Park
Fort Lee
Governor Livingston
Hackettstown
Hanover Park
Lenape Valley
Lodi
Madison
Newark Collegiate
Parsippany
Rutherford
Verona

Central Jersey

Johnson
Cinnaminson
Delran
Holmdel
Manasquan
Metuchen
Middlesex/Dunellen
Monmouth Regional
North Plainfield
Point Pleasant Boro
Raritan
Robbinsville
Rumson-Fair Haven
South Plainfield

South Jersey

Barnegat
Camden
Cedar Creek
Clayton/Glassboro
Collingswood
Haddon Heights
Haddonfield
Lower Cape May
Manchester Township
Middle Township
Oakcrest
Pemberton Township
Sterling
West Deptford

GROUP 1

North 1

Boonton
Butler
Cresskill
Emerson-Park Ridge
Hasbrouck Heights
Hawthorne
Hopatcong
Kinnelon
Kittatinny
Mountain Lakes
New Milford
North Warren
Pompton Lakes
Saddle Brook
Wallkill Valley

North 2

Becton
Belvidere
Bound Brook
Cedar Grove
Delaware Valley
Glen Ridge
New Providence
Roselle Park
Secaucus
Shabazz
Weehawken
Weequahic
Whippany Park
Wood-Ridge

Central Jersey

Asbury Park
Burlington City
Highland Park
Keansburg
Keyport/Henry Hudson
Manville
New Egypt
Palmyra
Point Pleasant Beach
Riverside
Shore Regional
South River
Spotswood
Willingboro

South Jersey

Audubon
Buena
Gloucester City
Haddon Township
Lindenwold
Maple Shade
Overbrook
Paulsboro
Penns Grove
Pennsville
Pitman
Salem
Schalick
Woodstown

NON-PUBLIC

North A

Bergen Catholic
Delbarton
Don Bosco Prep
Paramus Catholic
St. Joseph-Montvale
St. Peter's Prep
Seton Hall Prep

North B

Bishop Ahr
Cristo Rey Newark
DePaul
Morris Catholic
Newark Academy
Pingry
Pope John

South A

Christian Brothers Academy
Notre Dame
Paul VI-Haddonfield
Red Bank Catholic
St. Augustine Prep
St. John Vianney
St. Joseph-Metuchen

South B

Camden Catholic
Donovan Catholic
Holy Cross
Holy Spirit
Rutgers Prep
St. Joseph-Hammonton
St. Rose

Field hockey: HWS starting lineups, facts, analysis

Who: Hackettstown Tigers vs. Warren Hills Blue Streaks.

What: 10th annual Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament championship.

When: Saturday, 3 p.m.

Where: Palmer Field, Newton High School.

Records: Hackettstown 14-2-1; Warren Hills 14-4-1.

Coaches: Stephen Speirs (9th season, 109-58-4, 0-11 vs. WH); Josie Potter (2nd season, 38-7-1, 2-0 vs. Hack).

Warren Hills celebrates its HWS record sixth championship in 2017.

Series history: Warren Hills, which owns a 42-4-3 edge dating to 1969, including a 2-1 victory in overtime at home on Sept. 29, has won 14 straight meetings since a 2-1 loss at Hackettstown in 2006. Blue Streaks also prevailed, 1-0, in the 2012 HWS final and 3-0 in the '13 semifinals. This is the third meeting in a county final (Tigers won, 3-2 in OT, at Hills in the 2004 H-W title game) and first matchup on a neutral field. The only other wins for the Tigers were in regular-season contests in 1969 and '70.

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.

Note: Here's a closer look at both teams with probable starting lineups:

Hackettstown Tigers

How they got here: Beat Phillipsburg, 1-0, in second round; Newton, 2-0, in quarterfinals; Belvidere, 3-1, in semifinals.

Previous tournament history: Beat Wallkill Valley, 3-1, in 2009 first round, Lost to Voorhees, 3-0, in 2009 quarterfinals; Lost to Wallkill Valley, 1-0, in 2010 first round; Beat Lenape Valley, 2-1 in overtime, in 2011 preliminaries, Lost to Belvidere, 1-0 in overtime, in 2011 first round; Lost to Pope John, 2-1, in 2012 first round; Beat Vernon, 9-0, in 2013 first round, Beat South Hunterdon, 3-2 on penalty strokes, in 2013 quarterfinals, Beat Hunterdon Central, 4-3 in overtime, in 2013 semifinals, Lost to Warren Hills, 1-0, in 2013 championship game; Beat Sparta, 4-2, in 2014 first round, Lost to Warren Hills, 3-0, in 2014 quarterfinals; Beat Belvidere, 4-0, in 2015 quarterfinals, Lost to Hunterdon Central, 1-0, in 2015 semifinals; Beat South Hunterdon, 4-0, in 2016 first round, Lost to Voorhees, 2-1, in 2016 quarterfinals; Beat Belvidere, 3-2, in 2017 quarterfinals, Lost to Hunterdon Central, 3-2 in overtime; in 2017 semifinals. Overall HWS record: 12-9.

Probable starting lineup: Sr. F Madison Hoskins (15 goals-15 assists-45 points); Sr. F Kayla Cichlar (15-5-35); So. F Megan Doyle (9-7-25); Sr. F Jordan Vandermark (6-8-20); Sr. F Ashley Zellars (7-4-18); Sr. MF Jessica Scheper (11-3-25); Sr. MF Sierra Castiglia (1-4-6); Jr. MF Madison Trotter (1-1-3); Sr. D Megan Baker (0-0-0); Jr. D Melanie Luke (0-0-0); Sr. GK Bridget Kenny (27 saves, 6 1/2 shutouts, .818 save percentage, 0.86 goals against)/Jr. GK Sophia Mallozzi (32 saves, 4 1/2 shutouts, .865 save percentage, 0.83 goals against).

Warren Hills Blue Streaks

How they got here: Beat Wallkill Valley, 2-0, in second round; Vernon, 3-1, in quarterfinals; Voorhees, 1-0 in overtime, 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. Overall HWS record: 32-3.

Probable starting lineup: So. F Simryn Desai (14 goals-4 assists-32 points)/So. F Jenna Wyckoff (4-10-18); Jr. F Samantha Dugan (9-2-20); Fr. F Maddie Summitt (3-5-11); So. MF Sarah Korczukowski (5-5-15); So. MF Olivia Chomut (1-0-2); So. MF Kylie Compton (1-0-2); Jr. MF Paulina Georgoutsos (0-0-0); Fr. D Emily Dvorsky (1-1-3); So. D Liz Schlaffer (0-0-0); Jr. D Kate Fenner (0-0-0); Jr. GK Julia Webber (115 saves, 7 shutouts, .865 save percentage, 0.95 goals against).

Breakdown: Hackettstown, which is the No. 4 seed, is hungry for this rematch -- and the 50th meeting between these rivals -- as it seeks the program's first county championship since winning consecutive Hunterdon-Warren titles in 2004-05 (current Tigers assistant coach Heather Kozimor played on those teams). Tigers, who have been outscored, 40-3, in the last 11 meetings against the Streaks, have won eight in a row since that 2-1 loss in OT at Warren Hills last month, including a 3-1 victory over Belvidere in the HWS semis, and have outscored opponents, 32-3 during that stretch. Hoskins leads a well-balance offense that features plenty of speed on the forward line, something that gave the Blue Streaks fits last time in a game the Tigers controlled until late in the second half. Cichlar has come on of late, scoring nine goals in the team's previous four games. Both rank in the top five among area scoring leaders, but were kept off the board in the previous meeting as Doyle scored the program's first goal against Warren Hills in six years. Defensively, the Tigers, who are closing in on a fourth straight NJAC Freedom Division title, have yielded just three goals in their past eight games (11 for the season) with six shutouts. Warren Hills, which is the No. 3 seed, is making a tournament-record ninth finals appearance and its sixth in a row since losing in the 2012 semifinals. The Blue Streaks, who are a tournament-best 32-3 overall in tri-county games, appear to be getting hot at the right time, having won seven in a row since a 4-2 loss at home to Voorhees on Oct. 2, a loss they avenged with a 1-0 win in overtime against the Vikes in last weekend's semifinals. During the current streak, Hills has outscored opponents, 18-3, while posting four shutouts. Desai, who had been coming off the bench, has helped spark an offense that's struggled at times this season by scoring nine goals in the team's previous seven games. Defensively, Dvorsky and Fenner are rock-solid players in front of the cage, where Webber, an aggressive keeper, has steadily improved this season. This one is shaping up to be another nail-biter. Streaks, who earned the program's 682nd win on Thursday, are 6-3 in one-goal games this season and 3-1-1 in overtime contests. They've shown a knack for finding ways to prevail in big games, and getting that first goal will be key.

Pick: Warren Hills, 2-1.