The Mountain Lakes girls soccer team has maintained outstanding consistency. On Saturday, the Lakers will make their fifth straight trip to an NJSIAA final, whether it be the full group or the COVID-shortened postseason. They’ll compete for the Group 1 title at Franklin High School.
That same afternoon, Madison will join the Lakers at Franklin for the Group 2 final. It is the Dodgers’ first time playing for a state championship since 1987, after capturing their first sectional trophy since 2011.
On Sunday morning, Randolph will play for its first boys soccer Group title since 1996. The Rams emerged as the No. 7 seed in North 2, Group 3, winning three of five playoff matches on the road.
Who’s going to bring home hardware? Here’s the Daily Record’s breakdown of the Group finals.
3 p.m. Saturday at Franklin High School
Mountain Lakes has been here and done that. The Lakers (20-3) have appeared in five straight finals, including the COVID Regional Championship. They won four, most recently defeating Point Pleasant Beach in back-to-back seasons.
But Mountain Lakes wants more, particularly the trio of seniors Daisy Duda, Abby Hawes and Maya Ritchie − dubbed the “Strike Force” by head coach Sean Maurizi. The NJSIAA title they let get away in overtime as freshmen still stings.
If the Lakers bring home a third straight Group 1 title, the Strike Force will likely lead the way. Hawes, who signed a National Letter of Intent to play lacrosse at Ohio State on Nov. 13, has a team-high 27 goals and seven assists. North Carolina State signee Duda has 12 goals and a team-best 19 assists. Ritchie adds 11 goals and 11 assists.
“We’ve all tried to help our underclassmen understand the importance and what we’re fighting for,” junior defender Emma McAuliffe said. “It’s OK to be nervous, because that’s good fuel for us. That’s what means we’re really ready. … The hunger is a little different, the want. We’re proving that we’re here to stay, and we are the champions of Group 1.”
Mountain Lakes has scored 31 goals and allowed just two in five postseason matches. Sophomore goalkeeper Shea Sutter, who was also in the net as a freshman, has a .73 goals-against average this fall.
Haddon Township (15-6-2) has allowed only one goal in its five NJSIAA Tournament matches, and senior Jamie Kozarski has nine shutouts. The Hawks haven’t won a Group title since sharing with New Providence in 2000, and haven’t played in a true final since 2011.
They come in undefeated in their last seven matches, dating back to Oct. 21.
Senior Sammy Farham has four goals and 20 assists. Senior Emerson McDonald is Haddon Township’s top scorer with 19 goals plus six assists. Freshman Kaitlyn Martin added 12 goals and four assists.
5:30 p.m. Sunday at Franklin High School
Point Pleasant Borough, the top seed in Central Jersey Group 2, is making its first trip to a Group final. The Panthers (19-2-2) have won six in a row since falling, 1-0, to Freehold Township in the Shore Conference Tournament final on Oct. 26.
Senior goalkeeper Ava Bjorndahl has been leading the way, with a 0.38 goals-against average and 14 shutouts in 21 matches.
Besides the SCT final, Point Borough’s other loss was at Chatham, 1-0, on Oct. 11. The Cougars, who defeated Madison in the Morris County Tournament final, fell in a Group 3 semi on Monday night.
‘Something special’:Madison girls soccer outlasts Bernards to finally earn trophy
The Dodgers (21-2) have won seven in a row since the 5-0 MCT loss. Madison’s other defeat came in the season opener to Group 1 finalist Mountain Lakes, the NJAC-Liberty co-champion.
Sophomore Antonia Waddington, who has been a goalie since second grade, has a 0.78 GAA and 12 shutouts. Junior Anna Gominiak has 19 goals and 10 assists. Sophomore Camryn Visich added 10 goals and 19 assists. Junior Kate Reigle, a defender, has 10 goals.
Said Waddington, “It’s great knowing we’re one of a few teams in New Jersey still playing, and I was a big part of that.”
10 a.m. Sunday at Franklin High School
Randolph is in uncharted territory, playing for its first Group title since 1996. The Rams have not brought home a state trophy since 1986, which they shared with Lakewood after a 1-1 draw.
Randolph last brought home trophies from Northwest Group 4 in 2020 and the 2021 Morris County Tournament. But this is a completely different team, except for head coach George Mousis.
The top seed in South Jersey Group 3, Shawnee has won seven NJSIAA Group titles – most recently in 2006. The Renegades bring a nine-match winning streak into the final, covering both the South Jersey Coaches’ Cup and NJSIAA play.
Randolph has won its last six, posting back-to-back road shutouts to claim the sectional title and Group semi.
“We’ll all be playing with each other, and we don’t give up,” said Randolph goalkeeper Gavin Vichengrad, who has six shutouts in 18 matches. “It’s hard to believe for us. We believed in each other from the very first day. We want to keep proving it.”
