It was a long time coming, but Warren Hills finally approved Bob Lockhart as its new athletic director during Tuesday night's board of education meeting. He was among two finalists, along with an unnamed candidate from the Dayton, N.J. area, for the job.
Lockhart, a Warren Hills alum and former successful football coach, was turned down for the job at the end of 2010. The Warren County school instead hired Clegg "Buddy" Freund, who was removed from the building at the start of the school year. School administrators said that Freund, who was involved in a sexual assault coverup at Roxbury High School as its AD in 2003, resigned for "health reasons."
Lockhart said he attended Tuesday's meeting and was unanimously approved by the nine-member board.
"I'm just happy it happened," Lockhart said on Wednesday afternoon as he was headed to Lafayette College for football practice where he serves as the Leopards' tight ends coach. "It was something I've wanted and I'm excited to have the opportunity now."
Lockhart has some detractors on the current school board, which obviously made the smart decision this time to hire the man who should've gotten the job the first time around. The board would have looked foolish a second time to turn down a Warren Hills icon and a stand-up guy with high values.
Despite being passed over a year ago, Lockhart held no hard feelings and said he only has love for his alma mater.
"It's a place I always wanted to be," said Lockhart, a 1977 graduate of the Warren County school and former teacher. "My feelings the whole time never changed. It's a great place to work. I always enjoyed being at Warren Hills."
During Lockhart's tenure as football coach, he guided the Blue Streaks to their only sectional championship in 2000. He also served as the school's assistant AD under former boss Nick Holgash, who retired in 2010.
"The most rewarding part about coaching is seeing all the men and women you coached and what they turn out to be," Lockhart said.
Lockhart will resume duties as the AD effective Nov. 21. Interim AD Sal Patti has done an excellent job despite poor health issues. Patti, a former AD at Voorhees, is a true gentleman and should be applauded for his efforts under very difficult circumstances.
Longtime secretary Joan Duryea also stepped in between and basically ran that office until Patti came aboard. The school also owes her a ton of thanks.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
NJSIAA: Red Devils looking to continue fantastic run
Hunterdon Central's rich field hockey tradition wasn't lost on a group of players that endured back-to-back losing seasons in 2009 and '10. Their mission from the start of preseason was to return the program to its glory days.
Central hopes to continue what has been a remarkable turnaround campaign on Thursday when it meets Skyland Conference rival Bridgewater-Raritan in one of the Group 4 semifinals at Governor Livingston High School. Game time is 2 p.m.
Freehold Township meets 12-time defending Group 4 champion Eastern in the other semifinal on Thursday. The semifinal winners meet for the state title on Sunday at Toms River East. Eastern defeated Central in four straight Group 4 finals from 2001-04.
Senior forward Kim Engelhart was in eighth grade the last time Hunterdon Central (14-9) advanced this deep into the state playoffs. Her second-half goal against No. 1 seed Montgomery on Monday lifted the sixth-seeded Red Devils to a 2-1 victory in the North 2, Group 4 sectional final. It was the Hunterdon County school's 12th sectional title and first since 2007.
"It's amazing. We did the impossible in a way," said Engelhart of her team's title after a 3-12-1 season a year ago in which it scored a total of 11 goals in 16 games. "We really came together as a team this year."
Junior midfielder/back Chloe Maurice has been at the forefront of a defense that's helped pave the way for a championship. Central has allowed two goals in four postseason games and really did a nice job against Montgomery senior Shari Jones, the Maryland-bound midfielder, in the sectional final. The Cougars had 15 penalty corners in that game and managed only two quality shots, scoring their only goal on one in the first half.
"We definitely went in really determined to shut them down," Maurice said. "We wanted to prove to everybody that we're better than a six seed."
Coach Jenn Sponzo, who picked up her sixth sectional title in her 12 seasons, is really proud of the turnaround this season. Her 2010 team posted the lowest win total of any at the Flemington-based school since the 1986 team won two games. You also have to go back to the 1970s for the last time Central endured consecutive losing seasons, doing so from 1970 through '79.
From one highly-regarded coach to another, Sponzo sought out advice on a preseason conditioning regimen from Warren Hills' Laurie Kerr, whose team lost a one-goal heartbreaker in the North 2, Group 3 final on Tuesday.
Sponzo, who this season passed her former coach Sandy Chronic for most field hockey victories in school history, said that being in better shape this season and having dedicated players was critical to the team's success.
"We call it the pursuit of excellence [at Central]," said Sponzo, whose teams are 177-84-16 overall with four losses in the Group 4 final. "We've peaked at the right time. We have nine losses to all quality teams. We knew we had it in us to win a championship. These kids are great."
Central will continue playing the underdog role against Bridgewater (20-3), which defeated Montclair, 4-0, for the North 1 championship. Coach Kathie DeBonis' Panthers, who have lost to Eastern in the last seven Group 4 finals, beat the Red Devils twice this season, 7-1 and 4-1, in Delaware Division matchups.
In fact, Central has lost nine straight to Bridgewater dating to 2007, including a 7-0 loss in the sectional quarterfinals in '09, a 3-2 loss in the '08 sectional final and a 2-1 loss in the '07 Group 4 semis. In those losses, Central has been outscored by a combined margin of 40-5.
The Red Devils' last victory over the Panthers was 1-0 on Sept. 10, 2007.
"[We're the underdog] whether we like it or not," Maurice said. "We're going to play as hard as we can and fight to the finish. Seeds and being the underdog doesn't really matter."
Win or lose, Central has already put the program back on the map.
"We started the season with a goal of winning the first game, which we didn't even do losing to Pingry in overtime [2-1]," said Engelhart, who leads the team with 19 goals. "But we knew we were headed in the right direction. We're back and it feels amazing."
Now Central would love the feeling of once again playing for a Group 4 title.
Central hopes to continue what has been a remarkable turnaround campaign on Thursday when it meets Skyland Conference rival Bridgewater-Raritan in one of the Group 4 semifinals at Governor Livingston High School. Game time is 2 p.m.
Freehold Township meets 12-time defending Group 4 champion Eastern in the other semifinal on Thursday. The semifinal winners meet for the state title on Sunday at Toms River East. Eastern defeated Central in four straight Group 4 finals from 2001-04.
Senior forward Kim Engelhart was in eighth grade the last time Hunterdon Central (14-9) advanced this deep into the state playoffs. Her second-half goal against No. 1 seed Montgomery on Monday lifted the sixth-seeded Red Devils to a 2-1 victory in the North 2, Group 4 sectional final. It was the Hunterdon County school's 12th sectional title and first since 2007.
"It's amazing. We did the impossible in a way," said Engelhart of her team's title after a 3-12-1 season a year ago in which it scored a total of 11 goals in 16 games. "We really came together as a team this year."
Junior midfielder/back Chloe Maurice has been at the forefront of a defense that's helped pave the way for a championship. Central has allowed two goals in four postseason games and really did a nice job against Montgomery senior Shari Jones, the Maryland-bound midfielder, in the sectional final. The Cougars had 15 penalty corners in that game and managed only two quality shots, scoring their only goal on one in the first half.
"We definitely went in really determined to shut them down," Maurice said. "We wanted to prove to everybody that we're better than a six seed."
Coach Jenn Sponzo, who picked up her sixth sectional title in her 12 seasons, is really proud of the turnaround this season. Her 2010 team posted the lowest win total of any at the Flemington-based school since the 1986 team won two games. You also have to go back to the 1970s for the last time Central endured consecutive losing seasons, doing so from 1970 through '79.
From one highly-regarded coach to another, Sponzo sought out advice on a preseason conditioning regimen from Warren Hills' Laurie Kerr, whose team lost a one-goal heartbreaker in the North 2, Group 3 final on Tuesday.
Sponzo, who this season passed her former coach Sandy Chronic for most field hockey victories in school history, said that being in better shape this season and having dedicated players was critical to the team's success.
"We call it the pursuit of excellence [at Central]," said Sponzo, whose teams are 177-84-16 overall with four losses in the Group 4 final. "We've peaked at the right time. We have nine losses to all quality teams. We knew we had it in us to win a championship. These kids are great."
Central will continue playing the underdog role against Bridgewater (20-3), which defeated Montclair, 4-0, for the North 1 championship. Coach Kathie DeBonis' Panthers, who have lost to Eastern in the last seven Group 4 finals, beat the Red Devils twice this season, 7-1 and 4-1, in Delaware Division matchups.
In fact, Central has lost nine straight to Bridgewater dating to 2007, including a 7-0 loss in the sectional quarterfinals in '09, a 3-2 loss in the '08 sectional final and a 2-1 loss in the '07 Group 4 semis. In those losses, Central has been outscored by a combined margin of 40-5.
The Red Devils' last victory over the Panthers was 1-0 on Sept. 10, 2007.
"[We're the underdog] whether we like it or not," Maurice said. "We're going to play as hard as we can and fight to the finish. Seeds and being the underdog doesn't really matter."
Win or lose, Central has already put the program back on the map.
"We started the season with a goal of winning the first game, which we didn't even do losing to Pingry in overtime [2-1]," said Engelhart, who leads the team with 19 goals. "But we knew we were headed in the right direction. We're back and it feels amazing."
Now Central would love the feeling of once again playing for a Group 4 title.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
NJSIAA: Streaks lose heartbreaker in title game
Warren Hills field hockey team made a valiant effort on Tuesday against a strong team with a great player.
But in the end, the Blue Streaks came up short in their quest for a championship.
Senior Emily Wold scored all three goals, including the game-winner with 1:13 left to play, as top-seeded Freehold Borough prevailed with a 3-2 victory over third-seeded Warren Hills in the North 2, Group 3 sectional final in Freehold.
Warren Hills (22-2) saw its 12-game win streak and its bid for the program's 10th sectional crown end with another tough finals loss. The Warren County school, now 9-4 all-time in sectional title games, had a tremendous season -- winning its first Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex championship and establishing a new program record for wins in a season.
Senior forward Lindsey Schott also broke the school's 15-year-old record for goals in a season (27) and finishes her fine career as the all-time goals (72), assists (46) and points (190) leader. She also has the single-season points mark with 70 in 2011 and came within two of tying the assists mark with 16.
"They can't hang their heads," said veteran coach Laurie Kerr, now 5-2 all-time in sectional finals in 12 seasons in charge of her alma mater. "They were down 0-2 and never gave up. These kids were determined. They worked so hard."
Freehold (20-1) picked up its second straight sectional crown and its third, all under coach Jerrilyn Acevedo. The Colonials, who beat the Blue Streaks, 2-0, in the 2007 final, also avenged a 1-0 loss in overtime to Kerr's team on the same field in 2009. They move on to face North 1 champion West Milford (20-1) in the Group 3 semifinals on Thursday in Clark.
Wold, a sophomore on that 2009 Freehold team, almost single-handily kept her team in that one. On Tuesday, she took over the game at its most critical juncture, something that great players often do in big games. She scored all three goals in her team's 3-2 win over Wall in last year's Group 3 final.
All of the scoring on Tuesday came in the second half.
"She's very, very good," Kerr said of Wold. "You can't slow her down. She's quick and all over the place. Emily is probably one of the top players I've ever seen in the state. We came out really tight and on our heels. We were trying to react to them rather than set the tone."
The North Carolina-bound midfielder started the scoring with a penalty stroke early in the second half, awarded after a shot went off the upper body of Warren Hills senior back Caitlin Clark in front of the cage. Wold followed about nine minutes later with her second goal of the game and 43rd of the season, giving Freehold a commanding 2-0 lead after a scoreless first half.
On that one, Kerr said that the officials ruled that Clark didn't stop the ball before it crossed the goal line.
"The officials said that [Clark's] stick and the ball were over the line," Kerr said. "You don't know if it was a goal or not. Caitlin said that ball didn't go over the line."
That's when Warren Hills mounted its comeback. Senior midfielder Whitney Kowski, who's been outstanding all season, made it a one-goal game when she converted off a pass from junior midfielder Niki Miller on a penalty corner with 5:17 left in the game.
"It was a perfectly-executed corner," Kerr said.
Just as the Streaks were clawing back, Lindsey Schott was hit with a yellow card for a high stick with 3:59 left in the game. Earlier in the half, her sister, sophomore Nikki Schott, received a yellow card for delay of game. Now a player down, Warren Hills charged ahead and senior forward Kayla Grater connected for her 16th goal of the season with 3:30 left to tie it at 2.
"That's the story of her season, her hustle again," Kerr said of Grater.
But Wold was able to find the cage for a third time this season to end what would have been one of the greatest comebacks in Warren Hills' history. Despite the three goals, Kerr said that junior Katie Wintersteen played a strong game and made 18 saves in the loss.
"Katie didn't give up any easy shots," Kerr said. "She played very well and rose to the challenge. She's capable of doing that."
Despite losing several talented seniors, including back Jen Hylkema, Kerr firmly believes the Streaks will be back in the championship mix again in 2012. Miller and Nikki Schott both return in the midfield, while talented freshmen Nikki Profita, Amanda Crampton and Sydney Muntone all have bright futures ahead of the them. Just as important, Wintersteen returns for a third season in goal.
"We're going to be just fine," Kerr said. "We lose a lot of talented seniors that have done great things for the program. We'll have to work hard, but we're going to be right back in the thick of things."
Warren Hills (22-2) 0 2 -- 2
Freehold Borough (20-1) 0 3 -- 3
Scoring
Second half -- F, Emily Wold, 42nd, (penalty stroke), 26:05; F, Wold, 43rd, 17:19; WH, Whitney Kowski, 9th, (Niki Miller), 5:17; WH, Kayla Grater, 16th, (Nikki Profita), 3:30; F, Wold, 44th, 1:13.
Shots -- Warren Hills 8; Freehold Borough 21.
Saves -- Katie Wintersteen 18 (WH); Taylor Martino 6 (F).
NJSIAA: Wildcats' run ends in sectional final
High Point's field hockey team finished with the statistical edge in every category on Tuesday, except the only one that counts.
When it was all said and done, the top-seeded Wildcats came up short on the scoreboard, falling 2-1 to second-seeded West Milford in the North 1, Group 3 sectional final in Wantage.
High Point (20-2), seeking its first championship since 2002, finished with advantages in shots (19-6) and penalty corners (16-2), but couldn't make the most of its opportunities. It was the final game for eight seniors, who came up short for the second straight year in the title game -- losing 4-3 in overtime to West Morris in 2010.
"We never expected this, we thought we had it today and could go far [in the postseason]," said senior midfielder Sashal Hagan, who was outstanding for the 'Cats all season. "Having the season end today is the hardest thing I've had to deal with in quite awhile."
Instead it's West Milford (20-1) moving on to the Group 3 semifinals after claiming the program's second sectional crown and first since 1985. Coach Jill Cullen's Highlanders will meet North 2 and defending Group 3 champion Freehold Borough on Thursday for the right to play in Sunday's state title game at Toms River East.
The 1985 sectional title for West Milford was never won on the field because no other team qualified that season in the North 1, Group 4 bracket. So, this is actually the Passaic County school's first victory in a championship game.
"This is my seventh and last season [as head coach] and I said I wanted to go out with a bang," Cullen said. "I didn't know it would be this big of a bang, being Passiac County championss and winning the sectional title. We knew High Point was a good team, but I'm confident in my team."
A ton of credit for the victory goes to West Milford goalie Jenna Bednarovsky, who was sensational in the cage. The junior registered 18 saves, most of which were on point-blank shots sprinkled in with some amazing acrobatic stops as well. The defense fended off 11 penalty corners in the first half, which was completely dominated by the hosts for the first 20 minutes or so.
Regardless, the Highlanders led 2-0 on goals by seniors Samantha Browne and Stacie Csakvary.
Browne struck first on the team's first penalty corner with 6:44 left before halftime, positioned at the left post to receive a perfect pass from Deborah Wolfe for her team-leading 35th goal. Csakvary cashed in nearly four minutes later, redirecting a deflected shot into a wide-open cage.
"Our goalie saved our butts more than once," Cullen said. "This was probably the best game I've seen her play. She was very impressive today. We played a good defensive game in the first half. We were a little sluggish in warm-ups, so I was concerned."
Junior Darby Smith got High Point on the board about nine minutes into the second half with her team-leading 25th goal. It gave her 109 career points, leaving her three shy of the school record held by Lesley Dube (112). Senior forward Nikki Hull was credited with the assist, giving her a final career total of 109 points.
Down by one goal, the 'Cats kept pounding away with 11 shots in the final 30 minutes, but to no avail as the Highlanders fended off one last corner in the final seconds.
"[Bednarovsky] was great, she made some amazing clears," Hagan said. "Good for her. She's a good goalie."
Veteran High Point coach Bev Keur was obviously disappointed with the loss, but not the effort of her team.
"I think we prepared them well and they took some beautiful shots," said Keur, whose teams are 311-113-14 over three stints in 21 seasons. "I thought we made some good adjustments at halftime and put the pressure on. Their goalie did a great job, but we've got to finish. Those two quick goals blind-sided us."
The not-so-small feat of reaching consecutive sectional finals held little comfort for Keur and the seniors afterward.
"We would like to be back-to-back sectional champions," Keur said.
West Milford (20-1) 2 0 -- 2
High Point (20-2) 0 1 -- 1
Scoring
First half -- WM, Samantha Browne, 35th, (Deborah Wolfe), 6:44; WM, Stacie Csakvary, 10th, (Nicolette Rich), 2:54.
Second half -- HP, Darby Smith, 25th, (Nikki Hull), 21:04.
Shots -- West Milford 6; High Point 19.
Saves -- Jenna Bednarovsky 18 (WM); Kelsey Stoll 2, Shannon Havens 1 (defensive), Kelsey Fleury 1 (defensive) (HP).
Penalty corners -- West Milford 2; High Point 16.
Monday, November 7, 2011
NJSIAA: Wildcats set for championship challenge
High Point's field hockey team got its wakeup call in a sluggish semifinal performance.
And the top-seeded Wildcats hope to answer the bell on Tuesday when they host No. 2 West Milford in the North 1, Group 3 sectional final in Wantage.
High Point (20-1) is playing for the program's sixth sectional title and first since 2002. Coach Bev Keur's 'Cats have won five straight since a 3-1 loss to Warren Hills, which is vying for the North 2 title on Tuesday, in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex final on Oct. 22.
"I'm really excited to go to the finals," said senior midfielder Sashal Hagan after High Point's 1-0 win over Northern Highlands in Saturday's semifinals. "I think we have an advantage after last year's loss [4-3 in overtime to West Morris in the title game]. I think we're ready for anyone."
West Milford (19-1) enters the championship game riding a 10-game win streak since a 2-1 loss to Northern Highlands on Oct. 4. a defeat the Passaic County school avenged with a 3-2 win on Oct. 25. West Milford is seeking its second sectional title and first since claiming the North 1, Group 4 championship in 1985.
High Point is looking to get back to form after a sometimes lackadaisical effort on Saturday. The 'Cats feature a well-balanced offensive attack, led by senior forward Nikki Hull (18 goals, 13 assists) and junior forward Darby Smith (24 goals). Both were quiet against a Northern Highlands team that game planned to take them out. Hull (108 career points) and Smith (107) are chasing the school's points mark currently held by Lesley Dube (112).
Senior forward Brittany Papa (14 goals) and junior Maureen Gill (7 goals) have shown they're up for the challenge should opposing defenses key on High Point's leading scorers. Sophomore Carly Satter showed some flashes this season, but has missed the last two games with an illness. She is expected back for the final.
"We have about nine girls that can score," Hagan said. "Teams try to mark, but you really can't with our team because there are so many."
Defensively, senior back Bea Cannavale anchors a unit that has yielded 15 goals all season and has produced nine shutouts. Cannavale is a talented two-way threat with eight goals and seven assists. Goalkeeper Kelsey Stoll made the biggest save of the season when she stopped a penalty stroke on Saturday in the first half of a 0-0 game.
West Milford, which averages four goals per game, is led by outstanding senior forward Samantha Browne (34 goals, 10 assists), along with senior midfielder Deborah Wolfe (14 assists) and senior forward Stacie Csakvary (12 assists). Junior goalie Jenna Bednarovsky has recorded nine shutouts.
The High Point defense, which has been solid in key games this season, must be on top of its game. Veteran coach Bev Keur, who has 311 wins in her 21 seasons, doesn't game plan to stop an opponent's top guns.
"I believe in playing straight up," Keur said.
Skinny: High Point has rebounded nicely from its lone loss this season, but the stakes are raised in this one. No one is really talking too much about a pretty good West Milford team that comes in as the underdog. Hull and Smith must get more involved in this one if the 'Cats are going to claim their first title in nine seasons. Regardless of Keur's defensive philosophy, Browne must be contained. The 'Cats' success may depend on it. I think the 'Cats are the deeper team and get it done at home.
Pick: High Point, 3-2.
And the top-seeded Wildcats hope to answer the bell on Tuesday when they host No. 2 West Milford in the North 1, Group 3 sectional final in Wantage.
High Point (20-1) is playing for the program's sixth sectional title and first since 2002. Coach Bev Keur's 'Cats have won five straight since a 3-1 loss to Warren Hills, which is vying for the North 2 title on Tuesday, in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex final on Oct. 22.
"I'm really excited to go to the finals," said senior midfielder Sashal Hagan after High Point's 1-0 win over Northern Highlands in Saturday's semifinals. "I think we have an advantage after last year's loss [4-3 in overtime to West Morris in the title game]. I think we're ready for anyone."
West Milford (19-1) enters the championship game riding a 10-game win streak since a 2-1 loss to Northern Highlands on Oct. 4. a defeat the Passaic County school avenged with a 3-2 win on Oct. 25. West Milford is seeking its second sectional title and first since claiming the North 1, Group 4 championship in 1985.
High Point is looking to get back to form after a sometimes lackadaisical effort on Saturday. The 'Cats feature a well-balanced offensive attack, led by senior forward Nikki Hull (18 goals, 13 assists) and junior forward Darby Smith (24 goals). Both were quiet against a Northern Highlands team that game planned to take them out. Hull (108 career points) and Smith (107) are chasing the school's points mark currently held by Lesley Dube (112).
Senior forward Brittany Papa (14 goals) and junior Maureen Gill (7 goals) have shown they're up for the challenge should opposing defenses key on High Point's leading scorers. Sophomore Carly Satter showed some flashes this season, but has missed the last two games with an illness. She is expected back for the final.
"We have about nine girls that can score," Hagan said. "Teams try to mark, but you really can't with our team because there are so many."
Defensively, senior back Bea Cannavale anchors a unit that has yielded 15 goals all season and has produced nine shutouts. Cannavale is a talented two-way threat with eight goals and seven assists. Goalkeeper Kelsey Stoll made the biggest save of the season when she stopped a penalty stroke on Saturday in the first half of a 0-0 game.
West Milford, which averages four goals per game, is led by outstanding senior forward Samantha Browne (34 goals, 10 assists), along with senior midfielder Deborah Wolfe (14 assists) and senior forward Stacie Csakvary (12 assists). Junior goalie Jenna Bednarovsky has recorded nine shutouts.
The High Point defense, which has been solid in key games this season, must be on top of its game. Veteran coach Bev Keur, who has 311 wins in her 21 seasons, doesn't game plan to stop an opponent's top guns.
"I believe in playing straight up," Keur said.
Skinny: High Point has rebounded nicely from its lone loss this season, but the stakes are raised in this one. No one is really talking too much about a pretty good West Milford team that comes in as the underdog. Hull and Smith must get more involved in this one if the 'Cats are going to claim their first title in nine seasons. Regardless of Keur's defensive philosophy, Browne must be contained. The 'Cats' success may depend on it. I think the 'Cats are the deeper team and get it done at home.
Pick: High Point, 3-2.
NJSIAA: Blue Streaks eyeing championship prize
Warren Hills' field hockey team has been down this same road before en route to a championship.
And the Blue Streaks certainly hope there are a few more trips toward their desired destination.
But first thing's first as third-seeded Warren Hills faces No. 1 seed and defending champion Freehold Borough in Tuesday's North 2, Group 3 sectional final in Freehold. The game is a rematch of the 2009 final, a 1-0 overtime thriller won by the Streaks.
Coach Laurie Kerr's Warren Hills team comes into this one on a major roll having won 12 straight since a 2-1 overtime loss to Voorhees on Oct. 6. The Blue Streaks (22-1), who established a new school record for wins in a 1-0 victory over No. 2 seed Hopewell Valley in the semis, have outscored the opposition, 61-7, during their current win streak which is three shy of another school record.
Warren Hills is shooting for its 10th sectional title and second in three years. The Streaks are playing in their 13th sectional final overall and seventh in Kerr's 12 seasons in charge of her alma mater.
Senior forward Lindsey Schott and junior center midfielder Niki Miller have been the driving forces, along with senior midfielder Whitney Kowski.
Schott is the program's offensive record holder in all major categories, career and single-season. Her 27 goals eclipsed the previous mark that stood for nearly 15 years. She also has 16 assists this season, two shy of the record held by Lauren Cuff (18 in 2002). The Streaks share the wealth offensively, as freshmen Nikki Profita and Sydney Muntone, along with senior Kayla Grater (15 goals) and sophomore Nikki Schott, are all capable scorers.
Miller, a three-year starter, has really opened eyes with her play this season. The talented midfielder has 20 goals and 13 assists this season and assisted on Grater's game-winner in the team's 1-0 victory over second-seeded Hopewell Valley in the semifinals. Grater has four postseason goals.
Miller and Kowski will need to control things in the middle as Freehold features one of the state's top players in senior Emily Wold.
Wold gave the Streaks a major headache with her play in the 2009 final as an up-and-coming sophomore. Last year, Wold scored all three goals in her team's 3-2 win over Wall in the Group 3 final. Coach Jerrilyn Acevedo, whose teams are 159-49-16 in 11 seasons, also guided the Colonials (19-1) to a Group 3 runner-up finish in 2007, beating Warren Hills, 2-0, in the sectional final on the Streaks' home field.
Freehold's lone loss this season was 1-0 to Shore Regional in the Shore Conference final on Oct. 30. Shore knocked off the state's consensus No. 1 team Oak Knoll, 2-1, on Monday in the North 2, Group 1 final. The Colonials also opened some eyes with a 6-1 win over fourth-seeded West Morris in the sectional semis.
Backs Jen Hylkema, Caitlin Clark, Jamie Miller and Amanda Crampton have helped anchor a defense that's produced 13 shutouts this season. Junior goalie Katie Wintersteen also has been exceptional in the cage as the Warren County school has yielded only one goal in its last four games and seven in its last 12.
Skinny: This game will be won in the midfield. Miller vs. Wold is a matchup to keep an eye on and that should be a great battle. Warren Hills' defense, which has risen to the occasion all season, must contain Wold enough to not let her create scoring chances in and around the circle. It also must be quick to the point of attack on corners, where Wold is deadly. The game is on grass and that certainly helps the hosts, but I think the difference in the game will be the well-balanced offensive attack of the Blue Streaks.
Pick: Warren Hills, 2-1.
And the Blue Streaks certainly hope there are a few more trips toward their desired destination.
But first thing's first as third-seeded Warren Hills faces No. 1 seed and defending champion Freehold Borough in Tuesday's North 2, Group 3 sectional final in Freehold. The game is a rematch of the 2009 final, a 1-0 overtime thriller won by the Streaks.
Coach Laurie Kerr's Warren Hills team comes into this one on a major roll having won 12 straight since a 2-1 overtime loss to Voorhees on Oct. 6. The Blue Streaks (22-1), who established a new school record for wins in a 1-0 victory over No. 2 seed Hopewell Valley in the semis, have outscored the opposition, 61-7, during their current win streak which is three shy of another school record.
Warren Hills is shooting for its 10th sectional title and second in three years. The Streaks are playing in their 13th sectional final overall and seventh in Kerr's 12 seasons in charge of her alma mater.
Senior forward Lindsey Schott and junior center midfielder Niki Miller have been the driving forces, along with senior midfielder Whitney Kowski.
Schott is the program's offensive record holder in all major categories, career and single-season. Her 27 goals eclipsed the previous mark that stood for nearly 15 years. She also has 16 assists this season, two shy of the record held by Lauren Cuff (18 in 2002). The Streaks share the wealth offensively, as freshmen Nikki Profita and Sydney Muntone, along with senior Kayla Grater (15 goals) and sophomore Nikki Schott, are all capable scorers.
Miller, a three-year starter, has really opened eyes with her play this season. The talented midfielder has 20 goals and 13 assists this season and assisted on Grater's game-winner in the team's 1-0 victory over second-seeded Hopewell Valley in the semifinals. Grater has four postseason goals.
Miller and Kowski will need to control things in the middle as Freehold features one of the state's top players in senior Emily Wold.
Wold gave the Streaks a major headache with her play in the 2009 final as an up-and-coming sophomore. Last year, Wold scored all three goals in her team's 3-2 win over Wall in the Group 3 final. Coach Jerrilyn Acevedo, whose teams are 159-49-16 in 11 seasons, also guided the Colonials (19-1) to a Group 3 runner-up finish in 2007, beating Warren Hills, 2-0, in the sectional final on the Streaks' home field.
Freehold's lone loss this season was 1-0 to Shore Regional in the Shore Conference final on Oct. 30. Shore knocked off the state's consensus No. 1 team Oak Knoll, 2-1, on Monday in the North 2, Group 1 final. The Colonials also opened some eyes with a 6-1 win over fourth-seeded West Morris in the sectional semis.
Backs Jen Hylkema, Caitlin Clark, Jamie Miller and Amanda Crampton have helped anchor a defense that's produced 13 shutouts this season. Junior goalie Katie Wintersteen also has been exceptional in the cage as the Warren County school has yielded only one goal in its last four games and seven in its last 12.
Skinny: This game will be won in the midfield. Miller vs. Wold is a matchup to keep an eye on and that should be a great battle. Warren Hills' defense, which has risen to the occasion all season, must contain Wold enough to not let her create scoring chances in and around the circle. It also must be quick to the point of attack on corners, where Wold is deadly. The game is on grass and that certainly helps the hosts, but I think the difference in the game will be the well-balanced offensive attack of the Blue Streaks.
Pick: Warren Hills, 2-1.
NJSIAA: Red Devils return to glory with title victory
Hunterdon Central's field hockey team made it a top priority this season to restore the program's winning tradition.
Mission accomplished.
The sixth-seeded Red Devils continued their amazing postseason run with a stunning 2-1 victory over top-seeded Montgomery on Monday in the North 2, Group 4 sectional final at Cougar Stadium in Skillman.
Central (14-9) captured its 12th sectional title and first since 2007 -- an outstanding accomplishment considering the Hunterdon County school won only three games a year ago.
"The kids are great and they wanted to bring Central hockey back to what it's known for," said veteran coach Jenn Sponzo, who has guided the program to six sectional titles in her 12 seasons. "Too many people wrote us off. I knew they had it in them [to win a championship]."
Hunterdon Central will meet a familiar foe in the next round as it faces North 1 champion Bridgewater-Raritan in Thursday's Group 4 semifinals. Coach Kathie DeBonis' Panthers swept both of the Skyland Conference Delaware Division meetings this season, 7-1 on Sept. 26 and 4-1 on Oct. 25.
Perennial champion Eastern and Freehold Township meet in the other semifinal. The winners will play for the Group 4 title on Sunday at Toms River East. Central won the last of its Group 4 titles in 1996, losing four times to Eastern in the final since in 2001, '02, '03 and '04.
Winning the sectional title was certainly sweet for a program that went a combined 8-26-1 the last two seasons after reaching its last sectional final in 2008. The Red Devils did it the hard way, beating the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 seeds in the draw.
Senior forward Kim Engelhart, who scored the decisive goal in the second half, was proud to bring honor back to Hunterdon Central field hockey.
"It's amazing. We did the impossible in a way," said Engelhart, who leads the team with 19 goals including three in the playoffs. "No one expected us to do it. Last year [going 3-12-1] was rough. We really came together as a team and our coaches believed in us. I commend Montgomery, they played a great game."
Montgomery (15-5-1) was seeking its first-ever title in its first championship game appearance. The program was started in 2002 and the Cougars fell, 1-0, to eventual Group 4 runner-up Bridgewater-Raritan in last year's semifinals.
Central came out firing and grabbed an early 1-0 lead that helped set the tone. Senior midfielder Kristen Given connected for her seventh goal of the season just over six minutes in and the Red Devils gained the early momentum.
"That first goal was huge," said Sponzo, whose 2009 team beat Montgomery, 4-2, in their previous meeting after the conference realigned the divisions and eliminated crossover games for the 2010 season.
Montgomery got the equalizer right before the half, as junior forward Erica Hrudowsky knocked in a rebound off a penalty corner.
After a back-and-forth second half, Engelhart found the back of the cage with 13:24 left to play. Her shot was a slow roller that somehow slipped in behind the defense and goalie Sarah Zach, who made several outstanding kick saves in the second half, robbing Engelhart of what looked to be a sure goal on a corner at the 23-minute mark.
"I hit it and I thought, 'That's not going in,'" Engelhart said of her game-winner. "You can usually tell. It did and we were winning. Kristen got us going early and as a six seed to score the first goal is big. The same thing happened on Friday [when Engelhart scored first in a 2-1 win over West Windsor-North in the semifinals]."
The Central defense played a huge role in winning this championship. The Red Devils were particularly outstanding on corners as they barely allowed any quality shots to the Cougars, who had 15 opportunities.
Junior goalie Fran Orella, in her first varsity season, stopped six shots including one off the pads on a drive by sophomore Philly Lumsden with 20:17 left in the second half. Central also held Montgomery's outstanding midfielder Shari Jones in check for most of the day.
"We really worked on [corners] and our defense did a phenomenal job," Sponzo said.
Junior midfielder/back Chloe Maurice was at the forefront of helping to shut down the Cougars and controlling the middle of the field.
"We came in really determined to shut them down and we rose to the occasion," Maurice said. "We wanted to prove to everybody that we were better than a six seed. The past few years haven't been that great and we really wanted to bring [a title] back. Central has always had a great field hockey program."
And now it has another trophy to add to its collection.
Hunterdon Central (14-9) 1 1 -- 2
Montgomery (15-5-1) 1 0 -- 1
Scoring
First half -- HC, Kristen Given, 7th, (Nicole Barrett), 23:44; M, Erica Hrudowsky, 16th, 1:35.
Second half -- HC, Kim Engelhart, 19th, (Ally Baligian), 13:24.
Shots -- Hunterdon Central 6; Montgomery 6.
Saves -- Fran Orella 4, Emily Zengel 1 (defensive) (HC); Sarah Zach 4 (M).
Penalty corners -- Hunterdon Central 7; Montgomery 15.
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