By BRIAN TORTELLA
Correspondent
On X @tortreports
The NJSIAA field hockey playoffs are here.
Check out my preview of which South Jersey teams have the best chance to make it out of their section and punch a ticket to Bordentown for the state finals on Nov. 15.
South Jersey Group 1
Seeds
1- Shore (19-1-1)
2- West Deptford (17-2)
3- Haddon Township (12-6)
4- Gloucester (11-9)
5- South Hunterdon (15-3)
6- Schalick (13-6)
7- Audubon (11-6-2)
8- Haddon Heights (9-8-1)
9- Woodstown (11-7-1)
10- Gateway (9-7-2)
11- Florence (9-7)
12- Bordentown (9-9)
13- Lower Cape May (6-6-1)
14- New Egypt (7-11-1)
15- Pennsville (9-8-1)
16- Collingswood (3-13-1)
Favorite
Shore (19-1-1): The defending Group 1 state champs are in prime position to defend their title. The Blue Devils fell to Point Pleasant Boro in the Shore Conference Final on Saturday, but before that they were on a 24-game unbeaten streak against Garden State opponents. Junior midfielder Marielle Montenegro leads Shore with 37 goals this fall.
Contenders
West Deptford (17-2): The Eagles downed Shore to win back-to-back state titles in 2022 and 2023, but fell short in the sectional final last year. Barring any major upset, West Deptford will have to take the 82-mile trek to the Monmouth County school for the sectional final again in another round of an intense small school rivalry. Senior twins Isabella and Zoey Gibbons have combined for 44 goals.
Haddon Township (12-6): The Hawks have won four of their last five games entering the tournament. Haddon Township is led by freshman forward Lex Groff, who has 14 goals this fall.
Underdog
Schalick (13-6): The Cougars are hot at the right time, winning eight of their last nine games entering the tournament. As the No. 6 seed in this bracket, Schalick will have to go on the road after the first round if it wants to make any kind of postseason run. Senior forward Ava Scurry has 27 goals and 28 assists for the Cougars.
Projected Final (predicted winner italicized in bold)
Shore vs. West Deptford. Score: 2-1.
South Jersey Group 2
Seeds
1- Point Pleasant Boro (20-3)
2- Wall (16-3-1)
3- Ocean Township (17-2)
4- Seneca (16-2)
5- Delran (16-5)
6- Allentown (14-6-1)
7- Haddonfield (11-6-1)
8- Cedar Creek (11-4-3)
9- Manasquan (8-6)
10- Cinnaminson (11-7)
11- Middle Township (6-9-2)
12- Oakcrest (8-6-2)
13- Sterling (10-7-1)
14- Glassboro (9-8-1)
15- Monmouth (5-15)
16- Barnegat (7-11-1)
Favorite
Point Pleasant Boro (20-3): The Panthers have won their last eight games, including a 2-1 triumph over previously unbeaten Shore in the Shore Conference Tournament final on Saturday. A wave of momentum is riding with Point Pleasant Boro heading into the playoffs. Senior forward Codi Damerau has a team-high 26 goals and 16 assists.
Contenders
Seneca (16-2): The Golden Eagles own two massive wins over No. 1 Camden Catholic and No. 2 Clearview, but their two setbacks came at the hands of No. 4 West Deptford and No. 5 Bishop Eustace. Seneca is the clear favorite to contend with Point Boro. Freshman Tierney Heilig has 17 goals and 11 assists and senior midfielder Izzy Ounjian has 17 goals and eight assists for the Golden Eagles.
Wall (16-3-1): The Crimson Knights have won eight of their last nine games entering the tournament. Junior forward Addison Lawrence has powered Wall’s offense with 21 goals and 14 assists. Defensively, the Crimson Knights have 10 shutouts.
Underdog
Ocean Township (17-2): Before a 1-0 setback to Trinity Hall on Oct. 23, Ocean Township didn’t lose a game since its season opener against Manasquan. Sandwiched in between were 17 consecutive wins and 11 shutouts. The Spartans are led by senior midfielder Caroline Bariscillo, who has 32 goals.
Projected Final (predicted winner italicized in bold)
Point Pleasant Boro vs. Wall. Score: 1-0.
South Jersey Group 3
Seeds
1- Clearview (18-3)
2- Hammonton (17-3)
3- Ocean City (10-7-1)
4- Delsea (13-7-1)
5- Northern Burlington (12-4-1)
6- Triton (12-7)
7- Moorestown (8-9-1)
8- Toms River East (11-9)
9- Shawnee (9-9-1)
10- Lacey (7-9-2)
11- Cherry Hill West (10-8-1)
12- Toms River South (7-10-2)
13- Burlington Township (12-6)
14- Timber Creek (7-10-1)
15- Brick Township (9-8-2)
16- Highland (8-10-1)
Favorite
Clearview (18-3): The two-time defending Group 3 state champs are the clear favorite to accomplish the rare three-peat. Behind the play of freshman phenom Blair Eber, the Pioneers have won the same number of games this season (18) as they did in all of 2024. The rookie has 36 goals this fall.
Contenders
Hammonton (17-3): All three of the Blue Devils’ losses came to St. Joseph Academy by one score each time. Hammonton has managed to win several one-score games, earning the No. 2 seed in the bracket. Senior midfielder Gabrielle Childs owns a team-high 25 goals.
Northern Burlington (12-4-1): The Greyhounds have 12 wins this season with nine shutouts. Sophomore midfielder Ella Morelli has been the heart of Northern Burlington’s offense, recording a team-high 37 goals and 15 assists.
Underdog
Ocean City (10-7-1): Playing a challenging schedule, the Red Raiders have only 10 wins this fall but five of their seven setbacks have been one-score contests. Junior forward Casey Adamson has 20 goals for the Red Raiders.
Projected Final(predicted winner italicized in bold)
Clearview vs. Hammonton. Score: 5-2.
South Jersey Group 4
Seeds
1- Cherokee (12-5-1)
2- Eastern (13-5)
3- Howell (13-5)
4- Southern (11-6)
5- Millville (13-4)
6- Toms River North (12-7)
7- Freehold Township (13-6)
8- Rancocas Valley (9-8-1)
9- Vineland (11-8)
10- Kingsway (7-11)
11- GCIT (10-6-2)
12- Washington Township (7-9-1)
13- Central (8-10)
14- Manalapan (7-8-2)
15- Egg Harbor Township (7-9-2)
16- West Windsor-Plainsboro South (12-6-1)
Favorite
Kingsway (7-11): There will be countless people that question whether or not it’s appropriate to put Kingsway as the favorite in this bracket. The answer? Strength of schedule matters. The Dragons have played two-time defending Group 3 state champion Clearview twice, West Deptford (winners of two of the last three Group 1 state titles), No. 1 state-ranked and defending Non-Public state champion Oak Knoll, No. 2 state-ranked West Essex, and No. 4 state-ranked Camden Catholic. Not to mention four other out of state regional powers in Hill (Pa.), Staples (Conn.), New Trier Winnetka (Ill.), and Notre Dame de Namur (Pa.). Sure, Kingsway’s 7-11 record may not look pretty on paper, but this team is battle tested and ready to make a run at a fourth consecutive state title under first-year head coach Erin Bernat.
Contenders
Cherokee (12-5-1): As the top seed, the road to the sectional title will go through Cherokee. The Chiefs have looked much improved from this time last year and have the keys to the sectional championship.
Eastern (13-5): The Vikings have won their last five games entering the tournament, including impressive non-league wins over Ocean City and St. Joseph Academy. Tessa Connor has 17 goals and 14 assists for the Vikings this fall.
Underdog
Rancocas Valley (9-8-1): The Red Devils have been inconsistent but are still a sneaky eighth seed in this bracket and are possibly getting hot at the right time, winning three of their last four games. Rancocas Valley played West Deptford and Cherokee to one-score contests earlier in the season, so you never know what can happen if the Red Devils are playing their “A” game.
Projected Final (predicted winner italicized in bold)
Cherokee vs. Kingsway. Score: 3-2.
