Lady Eagles set to battle for title

By: John E. Powers
   The South Hunterdon Regional High School field hockey team is in good position to make a run at the North Jersey, Section 2, Group I sectional title.
   The Eagles, the No. 5 seed, were scheduled to open the tournament at No. 4 seed Kent Place (8-5-1) at 2 p.m. today (Thursday). If the Eagles were to win, they would play top-seeded Oak Knoll (15-1) Monday in the sectional semifinals.
   The Eagles were the fourth seed last year in the tournament and opened with a 4-0 win against No. 5-seed Newark Academy, but fell to Oak Knoll 2-1. Oak Knoll lost to Pingry in the sectional final.
   South Hunterdon, which has played a tough schedule, including an impressive comeback win against Warren Hills and a spirited overtime loss to Hunterdon Central in the Hunterdon-Warren Tournament semifinals, finished its regular season with a 10-8 record.
   The Steel and Blue knocked off North Warren in the final regular-season game 4-2 last Monday. Senior forward Ashley Hartigan assisted on junior forward Devon Shire’s goal in the first half, then scored on a pass from junior back Cherish Brown 55 seconds into the second half to give South a 2-0 lead. Senior forward/middie Gabbie Henn then scored twice as the Eagles built a 4-0 lead before North scored twice. Henn leads the Eagles with 18 goals.
   The Eagles have had some time off, which could be a benefit. They were scheduled to have games against Voorhees and Ridge last week, but both of those games were called off. They have a game Tuesday with Hightstown (9-6) at home.
   "We’ve always been in contention for the sectional, and I think we have as good a shot as anybody in winning it," said South Hunterdon coach Thyra Zengel, whose team started this year with a 2-5 record. "The girls have to be ready at this point. At this point in the season, it comes down to who wants it more. There’s really nothing you can teach or say to them at this point rather than go out and play well."
   Junior goalie Lauren Mitchell will be one of the keys in how far the Eagles will advance. After last week’s win against North Warren, Mitchell had a .833 save percentage, stopping 155 of 186 shots against. She had a shutout, making seven saves against Monroe as the Eagles won 3-0 on Oct. 21.