HoVal top seed in North 2, Group III

Twelve of the Colonial Valley Conference’s 13 schools have qualified for the NJSIAA state playoffs set to begin next week.

Hopewell Valley, which will play for the Mercer County Tournament championship on Thursday, is the No. 1 seed in North 2, Group 3.

That gives the Bulldogs (18-1-1) home field advantage throughout the section. Hopewell last won back-to-back section crowns in 2009 and ’10 and when on to be crowned state cochamps with Northern Highlands in 2009.

To repeat that feat, John McGinley’s side may have to get past CVC rival West Windsor North (8-9-1), the eighth seed, in the quarterfinals and Somerville, the second seed who knocked HoVal out last year, in the final.

Five of the league’s 13 teams are in the Central Group III bracket with second-seeded Steinert (16-2) the best positioned. The section, however, goes through top-seeded Wall (19-0).

The Crimson Knights could face an upset challenge in the quarterfinals from fifthseeded Allentown (105) provided Kim Maurer’s Redbirds can win a pair of games, including a first-round tie against Ewing (5-10).

Emily Palombo’s sixth-seeded Lawrence (12-6) opens at home against Ocean Twp., while Christie Fink takes Nottingham (5-12) on the road to Pemberton in the first round.

Robbinsville (7-7-1) picked up the fourth seed in a what looks like a soft Central Group II and hosts Matawan in what could be the first of two home games for Karen DeRosseTt’s side before facing topseeded Johnson in the semifinals.

Defending Not-Public A South champ Notre Dame (15-3-2) is the fifth seed and starts at home against Donovan Catholic. The winner goes to fourthseeded St. John Vianney.