Nine locals set to play in state tourney
The state tournament seeding are out, and there are some very interesting seeds — some that could prove to make this a very interesting couple of weeks for a few local teams.
Here is a look at each local team, their draw and their opponent.
All first-round games are to be completed by Thursday and the Non-Public bracket will begin on Monday.
North Jersey Group III No. 10 Scotch Plains—Fanwood (8-8) at No. 7 Princeton (12-5)
Game Notes: Princeton is one of the top two teams in the CVC…Kate Becker has 74 goals and 19 assists and despite drawing top defenders has to find a way to score. … Grace Rebak the quarterback has 16 and 36 and Riley Devlin 54 and 13. … Gigi Peloso solid in the cage… Sarah Glenn will be a key in the midfield. …SP-F is led by Elle Priesing with 66 goals and 29 assists.
South Jersey Group II
No. 16 Nottingham (3-10-1) at No. 1 Rumson-Fair Haven (13-2)
Game Notes: This is a very tough draw for the Northstars as R-FH is the defending Group II state champion. …Nottingham has played pretty well of late as five of its losses are by three goals or less. …Ella Kinloch leads the ‘Stars with 36 goals. …Rumson-Fair Haven has Rachel James with 35 goals and Elliot Van Nice with 35.
No. 14 Cedar Creek (6-10) at No. 3 Allentown (12-5)
Games Notes: The Redbirds battled Lawrenceville in the MCT final but just couldn’t get any rhythm offensively. … Should be a strong team in the states. …Jolee Roth has 63 and 12, Chloe Conti has 35/45 and 78 draw controls. Delaney Nolan 29/7 and Mya Lourenco 17/19. …Good team doesn’t quit and can bring the firepower. … Cedar Creek has lost five of its last seven. …Abby Winterbottom leads with 38 goals and Mia McColl 35 and nine assists.
No. 9 Seneca (6-7) at No. 8 Hopewell Valley (8-6)
Game Notes: Peyton Branagh is coming off a nine-goal and 14 draw control game against neighbor Pennington. … Hopewell Valley has won four of six. …Branagh has 68 goals, including 24 in the last five games and 46 draws in those five games. …Taina Harkins 29 and 33, Anderson Cappucci. … Draw and turnovers will be the key. …Kate Matthiessen has 50 goals for Seneca.
No. 10 Sterling (9-5) at No. 7 Robbinsville (12-5)
Game Notes: The Ravens came off MCT quarterfinal loss to Allentown with a pair of wins. …Cora Butler 13 goals in last four games and has come up big in big games. …Another sophomore, Kendal Franke, has team-high 38 goals…Alley Ortega solid in goal. …Ravens need to control the ball and limit turnovers. …Sterling averages over 13 goals a game. …Tori Wilsey has 67 goals and Bridget Dickson 44.
South Jersey Group III No. 16 Steinert (8-7) at No.1 Shawnee (14-2)
Game Notes: It has been an up and down year for the Spartans, they played well enough to win the Patriot Division and have some players that can score. Sabrina Beckman leads with 21 goals and another key throughout the season has been the play of Amber Bilinski. Brielle Laverty has 17 goals and Peyton Nolan has 14. …Shawnee, which is second to only Moorestown in state titles won with eight, is riding a five-game winning streak. …Mady Cattani has 36 goals for the Renegades. …Abby Davidson has 38 saves in the back of the cage.
No. 13 Hightstown at No. 4 Ocean City (13-3)
Game Notes: The Rams have been led by freshman Sophie Cammarata with 40 goals and 14 assists. …Megan Molinelli adds 34 goals. …Shannon Houtenville has been good in front of the cage. …Ocean City has won six-of-seven. …Delainey Sutley leads with 38 goals. … Racheli Levy Smith has 26 goals and 15 assists. …Beach day for the Rams. Non-Public A
No. 9 Notre Dame (7-7) at No. 8 Montclair Kimberley (8-8)
Game Notes: The last time the Irish had seven losses was in 2012, the year before Bryan
Fisher took over the program. …Injuries have taken a toll on ND this year and it has been a solid defense led by Stella Scudillo that has risen to the occasion. …Alyssa Lienhard leads with 28 goals and Naomi Kahney has 24 and a team-high 13 assists. … MKA is led by Patricia Columbia Walsh with 58 goals and 38 assists and Aeryn Curren adds 46 goals. …Winner most likely get Oak Knoll. Non-Public B
No. 16 Morris Catholic (8-6) at Princeton Day (8-8)
Game Notes: This is Princeton Day’s initial venture into the NJSIAA state tournament, and at the same time it’s Hall of Fame coach Jill Thomas’ final one as she’ll retire at season’s end. …The Panthers have played an upgraded schedule and that will help. …They are led by Paige Gardner with 50 goals. Senior Ali Surace has 29 and has been very steady. … Tessa Caputo has 28 and a team-high 25 assists, and Elle Anhut has 25 goals. … There are a lot of weapons on the Panthers. …Morris Catholic has lost four of five. …Riley Block leads MC with 60 goals.