Field hockey: Final HWS scoring leaders for 2019

Minimum 14 points

Player	School	Goals	Assists	Points
Lauren Masters	North Hunterdon	30	15	75
Ryan Anderson	North Hunterdon	16	26	58
Carlie Van Tassel	Vernon	23	10	56
Samantha Dugan	Warren Hills	20	10	50
Rebecca Phillips	South Hunterdon	16	13	45
Simryn Desai	Warren Hills	20	5	45
Julia Gregory	Vernon	18	6	42
Brooke Hyland	Voorhees	16	10	42
Megan Doyle	Hackettstown	17	6	40
Alana Catanzareti	South Hunterdon	17	4	38
Samantha Snowden	Delaware Valley	17	1	35
Madeline Bill	Delaware Valley	9	16	34
Chandler Storcella	South Hunterdon	14	3	31
Olivia Zmyewski	Belvidere	11	8	30
Sarah Korczukowski	Warren Hills	11	8	30
Julia Fitt	Newton	11	7	29
Natalia Oprzadek	South Hunterdon	14	1	29
Madison Ogorzalek	Voorhees	11	7	29
Ryleigh Cameron	Voorhees	10	7	27
Sammy Freeman	Hunterdon Central	12	3	27
Olivia Reeder	North Hunterdon	10	7	27
Lauren Kokoskie	Voorhees	8	10	26
Paulina Georgoutsos	Warren Hills	7	11	25
Elissar Abou-Jaoude	Newton	10	5	25
Jenna Wyckoff	Warren Hills	9	6	24
Emma Landis	North Hunterdon	9	6	24
Sydney Pavlishin	Newton	9	5	23
Julianna Valli	Warren Hills	9	4	22
Kristen Bill	Delaware Valley	8	6	22
Deborah Nalesnik	Delaware Valley	9	2	20
Kathrine McLean	Voorhees	6	7	19
Taylor Berry	High Point	7	5	19
Alexis Wohlers	North Warren	8	2	18
Alyssa Van Dalinda	Vernon	6	5	17
Bridget Kerrick	Newton	7	3	17
Angie Falleni	Lenape Valley	6	4	16
Kayla Collinson	Sparta	8	0	16
Ava Laible	North Hunterdon	5	6	16
Ali Stoner	High Point	6	4	16
Madison Billows	Hackettstown	8	0	16
Kyleigh Sturm	Belvidere	7	1	15
Kate Fenner	Warren Hills	4	7	15
Maddie Summitt	Warren Hills	6	3	15
Martine Paerg	South Hunterdon	7	0	14
Rachel McIntyre	Delaware Valley	4	6	14
Julia Decker	Newton	5	4	14
Mia Annunziata	Vernon	6	2	14
Zoe Horan	South Hunterdon	5	4	14
Morgan Cherry	Phillipsburg	5	4	14
Dominique Simeone	Newton	4	6	14
Nellie Choma	Kittatinny	6	2	14

Field hockey: Final Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex ranks

1. Warren Hills (23-2) -- Blue Streaks won Skyland Conference Raritan Division and Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament titles, as well as the program's eighth straight sectional championship. With Voorhees moving down to the Valley Division for the next two seasons, look for coach Josie Potter to pick up at least one top-flight independent (such as Oak Knoll or West Essex) to prep for another run at the Group 3 title. Junior Sarah Korczukowski is a candidate to fill that center midfield spot next season after a breakout 2019 campaign.

2. Voorhees (18-5) -- Vikings won nine of their final 11 games, but the two losses were tough ones -- 2-0 to Warren Hills in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament final and 2-1 against Madison in the North 2, Group 2 sectional final. Second-year coach Shannon Hughes' senior-laden team did score a 3-2 victory in overtime against North Hunterdon in that stretch. Sophomore Sadie Eichlin and junior Grace Schiavo were leaders on defense and will be counted on heavily in 2020.

Central won the program's 14th sectional title overall.

3. Hunterdon Central (13-10-2) -- Red Devils got hot at the right time, winning eight of their last 10 games, including a 2-1 victory at top-seeded North Hunterdon in the North 2, Group 4 final to capture the program's first sectional title since 2013. Senior midfielder Sammy Freeman scored the decisive goal and logged nine overall during that stretch. The season ended with a 9-0 loss to Eastern in the Group 4 final, Central's first appearance in a title game since 2004.

4. North Hunterdon (15-8) -- Lions' first winning season in 10 years ended with a 2-1 loss against Hunterdon Central in the North 2, Group 4 sectional final -- the program's first appearance since its last title run in 1993. With only three seniors -- Emma Landis, Sana Sarker and Mira Carver -- on the roster, look for coach Maria Bachert's team to be a major headache for opponents next season as freshman forward Lauren Masters (30 goals) and sophomore Ryan Anderson (26 assists) possess elite speed.

5. South Hunterdon (17-3) -- Eagles won five in a row -- including a 3-0 win over Delaware Valley in the North 2, Group 1 quarterfinals -- before a 7-2 loss to perennial power Shore Regional in the sectional semifinals. Junior midfielder Rebecca Phillips (16 goals, 13 assists) and junior forward Chandler Storcella (14 goals), along with sophomore forward Natalia Oprzadek (14 goals) will give South, which won the Skyland Conference Mountain Division title, plenty of firepower next season.

6. Delaware Valley (15-5) -- Terriers dropped a rematch with South Hunterdon -- 3-0 in the North 2, Group 1 quarterfinals -- after handing the Eagles a 5-2 loss in the regular season on Sept. 17. Coach Stephanie Rifflard's team won seven of its last nine, including a 9-0 victory over Burlington City to open the postseason, and captured the Skyland Conference Valley Division title. Junior forward Kristen Bill (8 goals, 6 assists) and sophomore forward Samantha Snowden (17 goals) will be among the key returnees in 2020.

7. Belvidere (10-9-1) -- County Seaters' bid for a North 1, Group 1 sectional title ended with a 1-0 loss at eventual champion Pequannock in the quarterfinals. Considering the heavy graduation losses from the 2018 sectional runner-up team, coach Beth Franceschino should be extremely pleased with the season overall, which included 1-0 win over Newton in the second round of the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament. Junior forward Olivia Zmyewski (11 goals, 8 assists) was among the area scoring leaders.

8. Newton (15-4) -- Braves saw their six-game win streak snapped with a 1-0 loss to Pequannock in the North 1, Group 1 sectional semifinals, but coach Lisa Bechtel's team, which avenged an earlier loss to Vernon with a 2-1 victory on Oct. 10, did gain a share of the NJAC Freedom Division title with a 3-0 win over High Point on Oct. 17 to go 7-1 in divisional play. Sophomore forwards Julia Fitt (11 goals, 7 assists) and Sidney Pavlishin (9 goals) paced the offense, along with junior Elissar Abou-Jaoude (10 goals).

9. Vernon (16-3) -- Vikings bounced back from a tough 2-1 loss to Newton on Oct. 10 by winning four of their last five, including a 3-2 victory over Hackettstown in the North 2, Group 2 semifinals, to reach the program's first title game in nine years, where coach Kieran Killeen's team, which had five seniors on the roster, dropped an 8-0 decision to Group 2 state champion West Essex. The share of the NJAC Freedom Division title was Vernon's first conference championship since 1996.

10. Hackettstown (9-9-1) -- Tigers saw their season end with a 3-2 loss to Vernon in the North 2, Group 2 sectional semifinals after reaching the title game in 2018. Coach Rachael Gorski's team logged a pair of postseason wins -- 2-0 against Parsippany and 1-0 in overtime against Lakeland in the quarterfinals. Junior forward Megan Doyle was huge down the stretch, recording 12 of her team-best 17 goals in the final seven games.

Field hockey: Streaks, Central look toward 2020

The sting of a fourth consecutive state championship game loss was still fresh, but Warren Hills' field hockey team took solace in the fact that seven starters and a few key reserves will be back to resume the title chase in 2020.

"This year we only had [five seniors] so next year will mean even more [to the returning players]," junior left wing Simryn Desai said following the Blue Streaks' 2-1 loss to Clearview in the Group 3 final on Saturday afternoon at Bordentown Regional High School.

Warren Hills returns 7 starters for the 2020 season.

Warren Hills (23-2), which fell short in its bid for the school's third championship and dropped to 2-12 overall in state title contests, came up a victory shy of matching the 2017 team for the program's single-season mark, as the Streaks won at least 20 games for the eighth time in the last nine seasons.

But it's been a rough go at this stage of the season for the Streaks, who were outscored, 18-1, in their previous three state final losses here. It took nine attempts to get that first title in 2014 and the second came a year later.

These defeats are never easy, and third-year coach Josie Potter, who guided the team to the Skyland Conference Raritan Division and Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament titles, as well as an eighth straight sectional championship, was as disappointed as her players.

"I wouldn't say we came in overconfident, but sometimes when you haven't won ... it takes winning one," Potter, now 66-11-1 overall, said of getting over the hump in the Group 3 finals.

Warren Hills, now 88-44 overall in postseason games, would not have been in this position had it not been for a stifling defense that held tough against Clearview offense that came in averaging just over five goals per game. Senior goalie Julia Webber stood on her head in the cage, and her 328 career saves rank behind only Carolyn Kisling (353 from 2000-03) and Jackie de Raismes (336 from 2014-16) on the program's all-time list. Webber, who also ranks fourth in career shutouts (24), kept the Streaks in the game, while steady backs Liz Schlaffer and Emily Dvorsky, along with sweeper Kylie Compton, held the Pioneers -- who scored both of their goals on penalty corners -- to five shots in the first half.

All three defenders return, while junior back Ashley Moskal, who has missed all but one game the last two seasons with knee issues following a dynamite freshman campaign, should help as well to make a tough unit even better. Junior Emily Schlessinger, a talented goalie who has waited in the wings, will be the starter next season.

The offense will need to pick it up in 2020 if Warren Hills is to make another title run. The Streaks scored just one goal and allowed two in both of their losses -- 2-1 at Ridge on Oct. 15 was their only setback in 15 divisional games during the regular season -- and logged two or fewer goals in eight games overall.

Desai and senior forward Samantha Dugan shared the team lead in goals with 20, while junior inner Jenna Wyckoff, who possesses the talent to be a big-time offensive performer next season, ended the program's scoring drought in Group 3 finals at 174 minutes, 5 seconds, with her beautiful breakaway and crossing shot with just five seconds left in the loss to Clearview.

"Jenna has a lot of firepower," said Desai, who will enter next season 10 points shy of becoming just the 16th player in program history to reach 100 for a career.

"Our defense is very strong and a big part of Warren Hills hockey," said Dugan, a Quinnipiac recruit who ranks seventh on the school's all-time goals (57) and points (141) list. "Sometimes, we rely on them too much."

Joining Desai and Wyckoff on the right side of next year's forward line will be sophomore Maddie Summitt, a starter in 2018, and speedy junior Julianna Valli. Juniors Olivia Chomut and Sarah Korczukowski will be back at the left and right midfield spots, but replacing senior Kate Fenner, who is heading to Fairfield University, at the center midfield position will be the biggest challenge.

With only three seniors on its roster, Clearview, which won in its first state final appearance after claiming the program's second sectional title in three years, the Pioneers don't appear to be going away either any time soon.

'Welcome to Eastern'

It had been 15 years, but veteran Hunterdon Central coach Jenn Sponzo and this group of Red Devils got a quick reminder of just how tough it is to go up against perennial state champion Eastern, which rolled to its 21st consecutive state title in a 9-0 win over Central in the Group 4 final.

Central won its first sectional title in 6 years this season.

"Welcome to Eastern," Sponzo said during the postgame talk to her team shortly after the loss, which was Central's first appearance in a state final since falling to Eastern four straight years from 2001-04.

Central (13-10-2) saw its sensational postseason run end after wins over North Hunterdon (2-1 in the North 2, Group 4 sectional final) and Ridge (1-0 in overtime in the Group 4 semifinals). It was the program's first sectional title since 2013. Competing for state titles was once a given for Central, which won its last Group 4 championship in 1996.

It's been a long road back for Sponzo's teams, which had to deal with Bridgewater-Raritan from 2005 to the present. The Panthers won 14 straight sectional titles, beating the Red Devils in the previous five championship games. The teams were in different sections in 2013, but Central's season ended that year at the hands of Bridgewater-Raritan in the Group 4 semifinals.

"Bridgewater has always stood in our way," said Sponzo, whose team finally broke through against its nemesis by opening the postseason with a 2-1 win in overtime against the Panthers. "I don't think anyone thought we'd get here at the beginning of the season."

Central kept powerful Eastern in check for most of the first half, but when the Vikings eventually break through, they usually pour it on. The Red Devils lose their top player in senior midfielder Sammy Freeman, who is headed to the University of Iowa, and four other starters, but Sponzo said the returning players will benefit from this experience.

"This was a good eye-opener for the younger ones," she said.

Field hockey: Streaks fall short in Group 3 title clash

BORDENTOWN -- Warren Hills' field hockey team certainly had its share of opportunities early on in the quest for a third state championship.

But things didn't fall the Blue Streaks' way, including a penalty stroke in the first two minutes that never got off the ground, in a tough 2-1 loss to Clearview in the Group 3 final on Saturday afternoon at Bordentown Regional High School.

Warren Hills is now 2-12 all-time in state title games.

Warren Hills (23-2), which saw its six-game win streak snapped with the loss, is now 2-12 overall in state finals -- falling for a fourth straight year here after winning back-to-back Group 3 championships in 2014 and '15.

"[Clearview] was a solid team. They wanted it more than we did today," said third-year Streaks coach Josie Potter, who took exception to some of the officiating in this one. "We couldn't get a call. They were a fast team and they forced a lot of opportunities. There were a lot of questionable balls that I thought were ours and they weren't [called our way]."

Clearview (22-2-1), which was playing in its first state final after winning its only sectional titles in 2017 and '19, dodged some early trouble as Warren Hills seized the early momentum. Streaks senior Samantha Dugan, who fired the first shot of the contest right off the pads of Pioneers goalie Nevaeh Dechert, stepped to the line for a penalty stroke attempt -- which resulted when the ball hit a defender's foot in the circle -- but the ball rolled just a few feet.

"I really just overstepped on it," said Dugan, who finished her fine career ranked seventh on the program's all-time goals (57) and points (141) lists. "Everything in that moment. ... My stick rolled right over the ball."

The Streaks had another attempt on a penalty corner just three minutes in, but they only managed one other shot-on-goal the rest of the first half, and had just one corner in the second half. Those missed chances proved to be huge as the teams played to a scoreless first half.

"[Dechert] did a great job. She just got a stick on my shot," Streaks junior left wing Simryn Desai, who played a superb game and had several breakaways, including a one-on-one look about 10 minutes into the first half. "We did have a lot of opportunities if we could have executed ... just a couple of inches. Sometimes the odds aren't in your favor."

Clearview, which scored both of its goals off corners, broke the tie seven minutes into the second half when junior Allie Palumbo collected a rebound for her 19th goal of the season. Junior Grace Trovato, who scored the decisive goal -- her 21st -- with 9:26 left to play started the drive by lifting the ball into the circle, which Warren Hills senior goalie Julia Webber knocked down.

Trovato's goal, also off a rebound, was disputed by Warren Hills to no avail. Sophomore back Emily Dvorsky appeared to stop the ball right on the goal line for a defensive save since it did not cross the line, but officials ruled it was a goal. It turned out to be big as the Streaks avoided the shutout when junior forward Jenna Wyckoff got loose on a breakaway and executed a beautiful crossing shot into the left corner of the cage for her ninth goal with just five seconds left to play.

"It was on the line," said Webber, who recorded 10 saves in the loss and is heading to Rowan University next fall. "It didn't fully cross. But the girls kept fighting and did not give up."

Webber, who anchored a defensive unit that produced 15 shutouts this season, was sensational in her final game -- making several incredible saves, including a diving attempt that thwarted a sure goal on Clearview's third corner of the first half.

"I don't know how my body does it," Webber said of her ability to make diving and sometimes spectacular split saves. "My defense is a huge part for me. I can always count on them. They are always there for me."

Potter lauded Webber's efforts for helping to keep Warren Hills in a tight game. Clearview came into the final averaging just over five goals per game this season.

"She was awesome," Potter said. "On their offensive corners, they have all but one player in the circle so I see why they scored so many goals this season. My defense was strong for a good portion of the game. They just wanted it more than we did in the circle."

It was a tough way for Webber and Dugan, along with two other starting seniors, midfielder Kate Fenner and forward Paulina Georgoutsos, to go out after such a successful season. The Streaks won Skyland Conference Raritan Division and Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament titles, along with the program's eighth straight sectional championship.

"Clearview is a great team," said Dugan, who will graduate next month and join her sister, Mikayla, at Quinnipiac University. "We had a lot of shots-on-goal, but and [Dechert] is a really great goalie. We got very defensive at one point. Our defense is very strong and a big part of Warren Hills hockey. Sometimes, we rely on them too much. We could have capitalized more. I'm proud of everything we accomplished, team and personal stuff."

Clearview (22-2-1)                        0                   2            --    2
Warren Hills (23-2)                       0                   1            --    1

Scoring

Second half -- C, Allie Palumbo, 19th, 23:07; C, Grace Trovato, 21st, 9:26; WH, Jenna Wyckoff, 9th, 0:05.

Shots -- Clearview 13; Warren Hills 5.

Saves -- Nevaeh Dechert 4 (C); Julia Webber 10, Sarah Korczukowski 1 (defensive) (WH).

Penalty corners -- Clearview 13; Warren Hills 3.

Wrestling: Legendary coach Russ Riegel dies at 89

It's hard to think about New Jersey wrestling without former Hunterdon Central coach Russ Riegel coming to mind.

Russ Riegel in his traditional coaching stance. (HC/Facebook)

Riegel, a controversial and legendary figure in these parts and throughout the Garden State, died on Thursday at the age of 89, according to the wrestling program's Facebook page dedicated to a celebration of the Red Devils approaching 1,000 wins this coming season.

Steve Gibble, who wrestled for Riegel, and Jon Cantagallo-Rohm have followed Riegel as the program's only head coaches in its soon-to-be 64 seasons. Hunterdon Central stands at 985-227-6 heading into the 2019-20 campaign.

"Why I know a lot of the history, just hearing the stories and perspectives [from former wrestlers], he built a foundation for something special," said Cantagallo-Rohm, who is entering his sixth season at the helm and has guided Central to a mark of 104-19 and two runner-up finishes in Group 5.

"I was hoping if he was in good health to touch base during our 1,000 wins celebration. I was told he was still keeping an eye on the program and how we've been doing the last couple of years. With only two coaches ahead of me, I had some big shoes to fill. I hope I've been able to carry on the tradition set by my two predecessors."

Riegel, who started the Hunterdon Central wrestling program in 1956, was one of the most successful and acclaimed coaches in the nation. He guided the Red Devils for 35 seasons, logging a career mark of 533-89-6, before finishing his coaching career at Harrison County High School in Kentucky, where he went 305-129-3 in 16 seasons for an overall record of 838-218-9. He also amassed 65 wins with his 'B' teams at Central, pitting junior varsity wrestlers against varsity competition, something that was rare for that era early in his career, and he guided Central to eight sectional titles and its only state championship (Group 4) in 1989.

"He was way ahead of his era and kind of an innovator," Cantagallo-Rohm said.

At Central, Riegel coached 10 individual state champions, 70 state placewinners, and he started the Hunterdon Central Invitational Tournament, the longest consecutive holiday tournament at 63 years this season (beating the John Goles Invitational at Warren Hills) by one year. Riegel wrestled for Goles at the former Washington High School, where he was a four-time state finalist (the second in tournament history), winning titles in 1944 (120 pounds) and '46 (138 pounds).

"My condolences to the Riegel family. We lost a great man today," former Central great Todd Patton, who was Riegel's 10th and last state champion in 1984, said in a post on Facebook. "Mentor to so many. I shared one of my happiest moments in life with Coach Russ Riegel winning the [171-pound] state championship. He was a huge part of my life back then, and still today. He was my mentor in life and I thank him for the man I have become. RIP Coach. God Bless You."

Riegel with his 1st state champ Bill Bachardy in 2010. (Jim Lebbad)

Among Riegel's former wrestlers who went on to be head coaches, inlcuded Vince Fitz at Delaware Valley and Bob Hall at Voorhees. Fitz was the third state champion coached by Riegel -- winning the title at 136 pounds in 1964 -- while Hall was a runner-up at the same weight class in 1965.

Riegel coached the cross county and cheerleading teams at Hunterdon Central, while serving as the school's first athletic director, a position he held for 35 years, and he even started a Pep Band that played during home matches.

In 2002, he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, and he is a member of the Gettysburg College Hall of Athletic Honor, as well as the Hunterdon Central Hall of Fame and Blue Streak Wall of Fame at Warren Hills.

Field hockey: Streaks set their sights on state title

Warren Hills senior Kate Fenner said she likes playing the center midfielder spot, something she's done exceptionally well this season, for two reasons:

"I like to control the field and see what's ahead of me."

What Fenner and the rest of the Blue Streaks' field hockey team hopes is in front them next is a coveted state championship. Warren Hills, which is making the program's eighth straight finals appearance, is set to take on Clearview at 2 p.m. on Saturday in the Group 3 final at Bordentown Regional High School.

Warren Hills is 2-11 all-time in state title games.

Warren Hills (23-1), which has won six in a row, including a 3-0 victory over Middletown South in Tuesday's semifinals, and is one win shy of matching the 2017 team for the program's single-season mark, is coming off three consecutive finals losses, including a 7-0 defeat against Moorestown in the 2019 title game. In fact, the Streaks were outscored, 18-1, in those lopsided contests after capturing their only two championships in 2014 and '15. But this year's team is expecting things to be different.

"Third time is a charm," said third-year coach Josie Potter, who was an assistant coach under Laurie Kerr in 2014 -- the first state title in any female sport at Warren Hills -- and a freshman on the 1996 team that was the first to reach a state final, a 2-1 loss to West Deptford. "This is a very special team. "I'm absolutely optimistic that we will be competitive. We need to come out and play our game ... play Warren Hills hockey."

Will the Streaks do anything differently to prepare for their biggest game of the season?

"We try to say we're not superstitious, but we stick to the same routine unintentionally," said senior star forward Samantha Dugan, who shares the team lead in goals with 20 and ranks seventh on the program's all-time list, as well as seventh in career points with 141. "It's basically like Disney World. We know what to expect with the venue. We still have a young team -- some have only been down there one or two times. It's such an honor every year to go down there."

Fenner recalls having a conversation with Dugan when they were freshmen in 2016, which ended with a 5-0 loss to Ocean City. The Streaks, 2-6 all-time against the Raiders in state finals, prevailed against their postseason nemesis in 2014 and '15 -- ending a string of eight straight title game defeats.

"Sam and I were talking on the bus our freshman year going to the finals," Fenner said. "Our goal then was to win at least one final. Now, we're back here again. Everything is more upbeat, more positive. And we are in way better shape. Last year, [against Moorestown] we got outran. Coach makes us run every day. It's so necessary. Some days we don't even bring a stick to practices."

Now, Warren Hills has the opportunity face a relatively unknown opponent in the finals as Clearview (21-2-1), which won its only sectional titles in 2017 and '19 by beating Ocean City in both, is making its first state finals appearance. And that's not necessarily a bad thing as the Streaks see it.

"For so long it's been Ocean City in the finals, and the past few years Moorestown," Dugan said. "I feel like this whole season there's been changes and upsets. We're all really excited and really want it."

"A lot of people are asking us about Clearview. I think it's better that we don't know a lot about them and haven't played them in the past," Fenner said.

Clearview, which has won 10 in a row since a 1-1 tie against Kingsway on Oct. 4, has outscored its opponents, 25-1, in the postseason, including a 2-0 victory over Ocean City in the South Jersey sectional final.

Leading the Pioneers' offense, which has produced 126 goals and averages just over five per game, is junior midfielder Abby Vesey (33 goals, 15 assists), junior backs Allie Palumbo (18 goals, 31 assists) and Grace Trovato (20 goals, 17 assists), along with freshman forward-midfielder Darian DeLeo (18 goals) and senior forward Gigi McAlpin (10 goals, 8 assists).

Defensively for Clearview, junior goalie Nevaeh Deichert has logged 13 shutouts and allowed her only postseason goal in the team's 4-1 win over Burlington Township in the Group 3 semifinals -- giving coach Britney Ewan her 200th career victory.

Dugan, along with juniors Simryn Desai (20 goals), Jenna Wyckoff (eight goals) and senior Paulina Georgoutsos (team-high 11 assists), round out a solid forward line. Sophomore Maddie Summitt (six goals) and junior Julianna Valli (nine goals) can provide a spark off the bench.

Rounding out the midfield are juniors Sarah Korczukowski (11 goals, 8 assists), who was named MVP in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament final, and Olivia Chomut.

Warren Hills' superb defense, led by junior back Liz Schlaffer and junior sweeper Kylie Compton, along with sophomore back Emily Dvorsky in front of senior goalie Julia Webber, is ready for the challenge of shutting that offense down. The Streaks have posted 15 shutouts this season -- the fourth highest total in a season behind only the 2013 (18), 2014 (17) and 2003 (16) clubs.

"It's an unbelievable number," Schlaffer said of the shutout total. "[Webber] takes nothing lightly. Everything is very serious. She makes sure we're marking girls and she's very vocal. It's so helpful. We always communicate with each other.

"We have a bond. There is a lot of trust involved. I trust Kylie. Kylie trusts Emily. Mistakes are not ideal, but we know if one of us misses the ball, someone else is going to be there. Our midfielders help out by dropping back and putting pressure on the ball. We're all one big unit."

State championship schedule

Non-Public

Oak Knoll (23-0) vs. Camden Catholic (19-2), 10 a.m.

Group 2

West Essex (22-1-1) vs. Seneca (16-7), noon

Group 3

Warren Hills (23-1) vs. Clearview (20-2-1), 2 p.m.

Group 4

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

Group 1

Shore (23-2) vs. Haddonfield (20-3), 6 p.m.

Field hockey: Hills, Central reach state title games

Warren Hills' field hockey team is one win away from completing its no more second-place finishes to-do list.

Junior forward Simryn Desai opened the scoring with her 20th goal and junior midfielder Sarah Korczukowski logged a pair of assists in leading the Blue Streaks to a 3-0 victory over Middletown South on Tuesday night in a Group 3 semifinal contest at A.L. Johnson High School.

Warren Hills seeks its third state title and first since 2015.

Warren Hills (23-1), which has won six in a row and is 14-3 all-time in state semifinals, will make its eighth straight state championship game appearance as the Streaks will take on Clearview -- which advanced with a 4-1 win against Burlington Township in the other semifinal on Tuesday -- in the Group 3 title game at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Bordentown Regional High School.

"We played really well," said third-year coach Josie Potter, who was an assistant under Laurie Kerr when the Streaks won the first of their two state titles in 2014 -- the first for any female sport at the Warren County school. "It was a well-played game. Middletown South was very good, very fast."

Desai put Warren Hills, which has won Skyland Conference Raritan Division, Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament and sectional titles this season, on top for good when she received a beautiful crossing pass from senior forward Samantha Dugan and tapped the ball into the left corner of the cage -- matching Dugan for the team lead in goals and becoming just the 13th player in program history to reach 20 goals in a season.

With her team nursing that 1-0 lead early in the second half, Potter called a timeout to get them back on the attack. It worked. Junior Jenna Wyckoff, who logged goals in the Streaks' sectional playoff victories over Wayne Hills and Mendham, notched her eighth of the season on a penalty corner off a feed from Korczukowski just a few minutes following the timeout.

Senior midfielder Paulina Georgoutsos capped the scoring with 17:54 left in the second half as she received a pass from Korczukowski and found the back of the cage for her third postseason goal and seventh overall.

The Warren Hills' defense, which has yielded just one postseason goal and four overall in the last 12 games, pitched its 15th shutout as senior goalie Julia Webber logged five saves. Webber is now tied with six others on the program's career shutout list with 14. Only Taylor Austin (18 in 2013), Jackie de Raismes (17 in 2014) and Carolyn Kisling (16 in 2003) have more.

"Webber had some big-time saves," said Potter, now 12-2 overall in the postseason. "My defense is extremely consistent. That's all you can ask for."

Middletown South (18-4-1)               0                   0            --    0
Warren Hills (23-1)                            1                   2            --    3

Scoring

First half -- WH, Simryn Desai, 20th, (Samantha Dugan), 21:46.

Second half -- WH, Jenna Wyckoff, 8th, (Sarah Korczukowski), 23:37; WH, Paulina Georgoutsos (Korczukowski), 17:54.

Shots -- Middletown South 5; Warren Hills 5.

Saves -- Lauren Palmadesso 2 (MS); Julia Webber 5 (WH).

Penalty corners -- Middletown South 3; Warren Hills 3.

Central set for Group 4 final

Senior midfielder Sammy Freeman scored the only goal in overtime as Hunterdon Central made it 2-for-2 in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area with a 1-0 win against Ridge in a Group 4 semifinal on Tuesday at Boonton High School.

Central will play in its first Group 4 final since 2004.

Central (13-9-2), which hasn't won a Group 4 title since 1996, will have the daunting task of facing state powerhouse Eastern (22-2) at 4 p.m. on Saturday in the title game at Bordentown Regional High School. The Vikings, who handed Central title losses in 2001, '02, '03 and '04, are seeking their 22nd straight Group 4 championship. The South Jersey sectional champions advanced with an 11-0 win against Lenape in the other Group 4 semifinal.

Hunterdon Central snapped its skid in Group 4 semifinal matchups -- falling to Bridgewater-Raritan in 2007, '11 and '13. The Panthers, who had lost to Eastern in the 14 previous Group 4 finals, has been a major obstacle for the Red Devils in making a return trip to the state finals -- ending their season in the previous five North 2 sectional finals.

Freeman, who leads Hunterdon Central with 12 goals and will join her sister, Nikki, at the University of Iowa next fall, continued her postseason hot streak with goals in six straight games, including the winner in a 2-1 victory against North Hunterdon in the North 2, Group 4 final -- the Red Devils' first sectional title since 2013.

Central also made it 2-for-2 against Ridge, which captured its second sectional title and first since 2005, as Freeman logged an assist in a 2-1 victory when the teams met during the regular season on Sept. 5.

State championship schedule

(Saturday at Bordentown Regional High School)

Non-Public

Morristown-Beard (15-3) or Oak Knoll (22-0) vs. Moorestown Friends (19-1) or Camden Catholic, 10 a.m.

Group 2

West Essex (22-1-1) vs. Seneca (16-7), noon

Group 3

Warren Hills (23-1) vs. Clearview (20-2-1), 2 p.m.

Group 4

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

Group 1

Shore (23-2) vs. Haddonfield (20-3), 6 p.m.