By BRIAN TORTELLA
Correspondent
On X @tortreports
The 2024 NJSIAA Field Hockey State Playoffs have arrived. The road to Bordentown officially starts on Monday.
Which South Jersey teams have the best chance to make it to the promised land and punch a ticket to the state finals on Nov. 16?
See correspondent Brian Tortella’s preview, predictions for the South Jersey sectional playoffs for each group below.
South Jersey Group 1
Seeds
- 1-Shore (20-1)
- 2-Schalick (17-0-1)
- 3-West Deptford (13-3-2)
- 4- Haddon Heights (9-7-2)
- 5- Gloucester (13-5)
- 6- Gateway (14-4)
- 7- Woodstown (10-7-1)
- 8- Salem (8-5-1)
- 9- Florence (6-9-1)
- 10- Collingswood (8-9)
- 11- Bordentown (7-10)
- 12- Lower Cape May (6-6-2)
- 13- Haddon Township (4-14)
- 14- Maple Shade (8-9)
- 15- South Hunterdon (10-11)
- 16- Audubon (8-7)
Favorite
Shore (20-1): It’s the Blue Devils’ first season in the South Jersey sectional tournament after winning the North Jersey Group 1 final over Boonton and falling in the Group 1 state championship game to West Deptford, 4-1, in 2023. That same Shore team has returned most of its nucleus and all they did was record a perfect 18-0 in-state record enroute to the No. 1 seed in the section. The lone blemish came to Burnt Hills – Ballston Lake (NY) in the MAX Field Hockey National Invitational. Sophomore phenom Marielle Montenegro leads the Blue Devils with 35 goals. Defensively, they’ve recorded 11 shutouts.
Contenders
West Deptford (13-3-2): If anyone has what it takes to knock off Shore, it’s West Deptford. After a 4-3 start, the Eagles haven’t lost since a 3-1 setback to Severna Park (MD) in the MAX Field Hockey National Invitational all the way back on Sept. 21. Since then, the Eagles are flying high with a 9-0-2 record — including an impressive 5-4 road victory over a perennial Group 3 power in Clearview. Senior Emerson Goldberg has been an offensive juggernaut for the Eagles with 17 goals.
Schalick (17-0-1): After going on an impressive postseason run that concluded with a sectional finals appearance in 2023, the Schalick field hockey program finds itself in prime position to make another big playoff splash. The Cougars are one of three teams left in the state with an undefeated mark. Junior Ava Scurry has stepped up from 13 goals her sophomore campaign to 38 this year, averaging around two per contest. Don’t underestimate the Cougars in a potential semifinal matchup against West Deptford. As the No. 2 seed, the road to the sectional final will go through Pittsgrove.
Underdog
Haddon Heights (9-7-2): In its first year in Group 1 competition after moving down from Group 2 in 2023, this Haddon Heights team is battle tested and won’t go down easily. The Garnets’ brutal regular-season schedule featured games against Shore, Eastern, Clearview, and West Deptford (twice). Playing a schedule like that will prepare any team for the playoffs.
Projected Final
Shore vs. Schalick
South Jersey Group 2
Seeds
- 1- Point Pleasant Boro (16-5)
- 2- Haddonfield (12-4-2)
- 3- Allentown (15-6)
- 4- Monmouth (13-4-1)
- 5- Cinnaminson (13-5)
- 6- Delran (12-4-1)
- 7- Middle Township (11-5)
- 8- Manasquan (12-6-1)
- 9- Seneca (8-6-1)
- 10- Ocean Township (10-8-1)
- 11- Wall (7-6-4)
- 12- Manchester Township (12-5-2)
- 13- Glassboro (11-7)
- 14- Barnegat (8-8)
- 15- Robbinsville (8-10-1)
- 16- Overbrook (6-11-1)
Favorite
Point Boro (16-5): The Panthers are riding an eight-game winning streak, including seven shutouts, heading into Saturday’s Shore Conference championship against Shore. Point Boro knocked off Haddonfield, 3-2, in a thrilling sectional championship last year, and coach Kelly Carr’s squad is ready to repeat. Junior Haley Fox leads the Panthers with 25 goals.
Contenders
Haddonfield (12-4-2): After a rocky 3-4 start to the season, the Bulldawgs haven’t lost since Sept. 24, ripping off a 9-0-2 record over the last five weeks. Opposing defenses can’t seem to figure out how to stop Penn State commit Olivia Marthins — who’s up to 113 career goals, including 32 this season.
Allentown (15-6): It’s hard to figure out this Redbirds’ squad. What version will show up? The one that edged top-seeded Point Boro, 2-1, at the beginning of the season? Or the end-of-season Redbirds that suffered a 4-goal deficit to second-seeded Haddonfield? If the former, this team will be a dangerous threat to anyone standing in its way.
Underdog
Cinnaminson (13-5): The fifth-seeded Pirates head into the playoffs winners in seven of their last eight games. A younger crew, junior Lila McDermott and sophomore Avva Smith lead Cinnaminson in goals. They would have to be at their best to upset any of the higher seeds — and a victory as such would shake up the bracket.
Projected Final
Point Pleasant Boro vs. Haddonfield
South Jersey Group 3
Seeds
- 1- Hammonton (15-2-1)
- 2- Moorestown (15-2-1)
- 3- Shawnee (14-3-1)
- 4- Clearview (13-4-1)
- 5- Northern Burlington (12-4-2)
- 6- Lacey (11-5-4)
- 7- Cherry Hill West (11-5-1)
- 8- Ocean City (11-7-1)
- 9- Toms River South (11-6-1)
- 10- Toms River East (13-6-1)
- 11- Brick Memorial (9-8-1)
- 12- Mainland (10-5-3)
- 13- Triton (10-7)
- 14- Timber Creek (10-8)
- 15- Burlington Township (11-6)
- 16- Delsea (6-12)
Favorite
Clearview (13-4-1): You can make a serious case as to why any of the top four seeds could win this section, but for the sake of the prediction — this reporter is choosing fourth-seeded Clearview. It certainly won’t be easy for the reigning Group 3 state champions to defend their title as a daunting playoff journey awaits, but they have the firepower with senior duo Alaina Lomonaco and Alexa Hogan combining for 36 goals. Lomonaco spreads the ball around, too, with 12 assists to her name. Just like this time last year, the Pioneers are hot at the right time, winning 6-of-7 down the stretch.
Contenders
Moorestown (15-2-1): The second-seeded Quakers enter the postseason with only two losses coming against both of the top-ranked teams in the state in No. 2 Camden Catholic and No. 1 West Essex. Though 10 of Moorestowns’ wins have been one-score decisions — so the Quakers aren’t exactly blowing everyone out. Either way, this is a hard team to beat nonetheless. Senior Adelae Chierici has 17 goals this year, 41 percent of the team’s total. It will take shutting her down and getting by the Quakers’ stout defense that includes a nearing 500-save goalie in Soph Mazza for anyone to get past Moorestown.
Shawnee (14-3-1): The Renegades ride a 10-game winning streak dating back to Sept. 28 into the playoffs. This offense is reliant on senior forward Abby Davidson, who’s scored more than half of the team’s goals this season (35 of 65). This is the same team that lost 2-1 to Clearview in the South Jersey Group 3 final a year ago and has a decent shot at making it back.
Underdog
Hammonton (15-2-1): Despite being the top-ranked team in the section, the Blue Devils’ regular-season schedule was very light compared to Clearview, Moorestown and Shawnee. Both of Hammonton’s losses came to Group 1 squads in Schalick and West Deptford. I think there’s a good chance the Blue Devils fail to make the sectional final, especially if they run into Clearview, Moorestown or Shawnee. The Cape-Atlantic League champs still have home-field advantage, though, which could be the difference maker in a competitive game.
Projected Final
Shawnee vs. Clearview
South Jersey Group 4
Seeds
- 1- Southern (12-4)
- 2- Kingsway (10-7)
- 3- Washington Township (12-4-2)
- 4- Central Regional (12-6-1)
- 5- Millville (13-4)
- 6- Cherokee (11-6)
- 7- Eastern (11-6-1)
- 8- Gloucester Tech (10-7)
- 9- Manalapan (12-6-1)
- 10- Cherry Hill East (6-10-1)
- 11- Howell (9-10)
- 12- Toms River North (8-11-1)
- 13- Williamstown (6-12)
- 14- Lenape (3-13-1)
- 15- Egg Harbor Township (4-11-2)
- 16- Rancocas Valley (4-13-1)
Favorite
Kingsway (10-7): Kingsway is young after graduating key offensive players in Sabrina McGroarty and Mary Wordelmann, along with goalie Soren Kipphut, and the inexperience has shown. The Dragons’ 10-7 record isn’t exactly eye-popping, but they’ve played a brutal schedule against four out-of-state opponents — and in-state powers such as West Essex, Oak Knoll, Camden Catholic, and Clearview (twice). The two-time reigning Group 4 state champions are ready to capture a third state title — something unprecedented for Kingsway field hockey.
Contenders
Southern (12-4): Kingsway and the rest of SJG4 will have to go through Manahawkin as Southern edged the Dragons for the No. 1 seed. The Rams have a more balanced offensive attack with Avery Smith, Leah Newton and Kaedyn Lipowski each having 10 goals or more heading into the tournament.
Washington Township (12-4-1): The third-seeded Minutemaids enter the playoffs with their only losses coming to Kingsway (twice), Shawnee, and Moorestown. They have an impressive resume that includes wins over Saratoga (NY) and Glenelg (MD) in the MAX Field Hockey National Invitational along with a road victory over defending Group 3 state champion Clearview. Senior forward Karley DuCoin has paced the Minutemaids’ offense with 15 goals and nine assists.
Underdog
Eastern (11-6-1): This Eastern team may not be the powerhouse the Vikings once were during an unprecedented run of 21 consecutive state championships from 1999-2019, but make no mistake — these Vikings are legit. Eastern tied with Washington Township at the beginning of the season and recently defeated top-ranked Southern, 1-0. They’ll have to go on the road for much of the playoffs as the seventh seed, but any of the higher-seeded teams know this team won’t be an easy out.
Projected Final
Kingsway vs. Washington Township
Contact Brian Tortella: btortreportssj@gmail.com
