2025 Morris/Sussex high school field hockey team-by-team preview capsules

NJAC-Liberty

BOONTON

Coach: Cindy Tserkis-Schlitt, 12th season

Last year: 10-11

Returning letter-winners: Sr. G Emma Bledsoe (7 SO); Sr. F Gianna DeFrancesco; Sr. F/M Gracie Morreale; Sr. M/D Ani Myers (3g, 4a); Sr. M Phoebe Myers (2g, 3a); Sr. F/M Hailey Tuohy; Jr. F/M Hazel Drew; Jr. D Bianca Latella; So. Eleyna Meneve; So. Storie Drew; So. Kayla Melito

Newcomers: Fr. M Kiera Shiels; Fr. F/M Mia Feldermann; Fr/ F/M Gwen Hansen; Fr. G Francesca Mondino

Outlook: Keep an eye on the Boonton freshmen.

MADISON

Coach: Sarah Morano, third season

Last year: 22-2, 6-0 NJAC-Liberty champion; Morris County Tournament champion; Group 1 North finalist

Returning letter-winners: Sr. F/M Scarlet Baisch; Jr. F Celia Stuart (22g, 22a); Jr. F/M Lindsay Catchpole (29g, 7a); So. Caitlin Nallin; So. Bella Blunda

Newcomers: Fr. Lina Rae; Fr. Morgan Balassi

Outlook: Madison lost seven seniors, including the starting goalkeeper, but expects to continue to compete with the best teams in New Jersey.

More: Madison field hockey stays undefeated, earns Morris County Tournament title

PEQUANNOCK

Coach: Diane Bannon, 12th season

Last year: 15-6, 6-0 NJAC-Independence champion

Returning letter-winners: Sr. F Mia Cristofano; Jr. D Riley Berringer; Jr. F Sarah Robinson; Jr. D Natalie Billello

Newcomers: So. Natalia Ciresi; So. Ava Cristofano; Fr. Nina Conoscenti

Outlook: Pequannock is rebuilding for its move to the NJAC-Liberty.

NJAC-Independence

MORRISTOWN BEARD

Coach: Sarah Saccaro, first season

Last year: 10-10

Returning letter-winners: Sr. F Alyssa Benbassat; Sr. D Rebecca Schwartz; Sr. D/M Sarabella Ponsiglione; Sr. G Mia Rubin; Sr. D Quinn Jeffrey; Sr. M Charlotte White; Sr. M Cameron Weil; Jr. F Keira Walsifer; So. M Emmy Pruitt; So. F/M Blake Tiger

Outlook: A longtime Crimson assistant, Saccaro inherits a veteran team from Kate Russo, the coach for more than a decade.

PARSIPPANY

Coach: Kathryn Todero, fifth season

Last year: 5-14

Returning letter-winners: Sr. M Olivia Santulli; Sr. D Mackenzie Sibilia; Jr. G Angelica Blair; Jr. M Olivia Freire; Jr. M Alexa Santulli; Jr. F Ariana Zajac; Jr. D Nicole Coughlin; So. M Leah Collins

Outlook: The Red Hawks are perseverant.

ST. ELIZABETH/ MORRIS CATHOLIC

Coach: Mike Rubright, second season

Last year: 9-10-1, 4-2 NJAC-Independence

Returning letter-winners: Sr. D Annie Rojack (18g, 3a); Sr. F Olivia Donlin; Jr. F/M Josie Speace; So. F Lucy Manwaring; So. F Allie Cutler; So. G Emma Carnivale; So. G Addison DiChiara

Outlook: The Non-Public co-op is young but deep.

WHIPPANY PARK

Coach: Brad Callahan, third season

Last year: 6-12-1

Returning letter-winners: Sr. D Kaia Mihalko; Jr. F Leah Hubbard; So. F Sam Ponte

Newcomers: Jr. D Jessly Varela-Deleon; Jr. F Riley Wright-Phillips; Jr. Jaylene Serra; Fr. M Alexia Bernardo; Fr. F Evelyn Kelly; Fr. D Ava Fittipaldi; Fr. M Kat Pawluk

Outlook: Whippany Park is quick and deep but lacks experience.

NJAC-American

MOUNT OLIVE

Coach: Kelly Livingston, 11th season

Last year: 20-3, 12-0 NJAC-National champion

Returning letter-winners: Sr. D Isabella Asaro; Sr. F Kelsey Burke; Sr. F Juliette Burleigh; Sr. D Faith Coronato; Sr. F Brooke Feeney; Sr. Paige Gewant; Sr. G Shannon Gouveia; Sr. M/F Mishel Kurt; Sr. F Victoria Maher; Sr. M Brielle Magrini; Sr. M Grace Puello; Sr. M/F Jayla Roberts; Jr. G Belinda Minervini; So. M Gabby Cefola

Outlook: Mount Olive hopes a large, experienced senior class will ease the transition to the NJAC-American.

RANDOLPH

Coach: Richard Salmon, first season

Last year: 9-11-1

Returning letter-winners: Sr. D Bowie Manning; Sr. D Daniella Gizienski; Sr. F Avery Gamsby; Sr. F Jillian Liebhauser

Newcomers: M Gigi McKernan; M Devyn Meyers; D Lillian Miller; G Sam Nieto; G Mia Briganti

Outlook: Longtime JV coach Salmon inherits a developing squad from Gina Adickes, the coach for eight years,

WEST MORRIS

Coach: Traci Buchanan, 12th season

Last year: 19-5-1, 8-1-1 NJAC-American; Group 2 North finalist

Returning letter-winners: Sr. M Kaia Jackson; Sr. D/M Sophia Guzman; Sr. G Sania Madane; Jr. M Madison Candura; Jr. M Riley Cline; So. M Lexi Buchanan

Newcomers: Jr. M Madison Reed; Jr. F Abbigail Prata; Jr. D Meg Collins; So. F Cassidy North

Outlook: West Morris is counting on young players to step up quickly.

NJAC-National

MORRIS KNOLLS

Coach: Patricia Fornaro, seventh season

Last year: 14-6-1, 9-2-1 NJAC-National

Returning letter-winners: Sr. F Mackenzie Comprelli; Sr. F Mady Barchetto; Sr. D Eva Critchley; Sr. M Riana McNally; Sr. G Nicole Penna; Jr. F Elizabeth Boyle; Jr. M Abby Gerdes; Jr. M Brynn Weldon; Jr. Ava Sahiwal

Newcomers: Jr. Lauren Matzinger; So. Addison Robbins; So. Mattingly Eckoff; So. Juliana DeCongelio; Fr. Delaney Robbins

Outlook: Morris Knolls lost 12 to graduation, but expects to contend in the NJAC-National and MCT.

ROXBURY

Coach: Kate Williams, third season

Last year: 11-10, 8-4 NJAC-National

Returning letter-winners: Sr. D Ava Pennisi; Sr. F Brooke Franetovich; Jr. F Avianna Zanni

Newcomers: Jr. G Amanda Katz; Fr. M/F Juliana Billings

Outlook: Experienced Roxbury expects to compete for the NJAC-National title.

SPARTA

Coach: Corinne Healy, seventh season

Last year: 6-12-1

Returning letter-winners: Sr. M Leah Albers; Sr. M Sophie Ku; Jr. M Annie Soreco; Jr. G Kaitlyn Rodriguez; So. M Cassie Ailara; So. M/D Emma Muller; So. D Elizabeth O'Brien; So. F Caroline Weiss; So. D Kourtney Zekunde

Newcomers: Sr. D McKenna Wines; Jr. F Caitlin Carmody; Fr. D Ella Devore; Fr. F Mia Lopes; Fr. F Olivia Mooney; Fr. F/M Lucia Salmon; Fr. G Abigail Wainwright

Outlook: The Spartans aim to score at least one goal per game, and improve upon last fall's record.

NJAC-Freedom

HACKETTSTOWN

Coach: Rachael Carpenter, seventh season

Last year: 12-9, 5-3 NJAC-Freedom

Returning letter-winners: Sr. M Emma Olsen; Sr. F Ava Castner; Sr. D Kylie Kaminski; Sr. G Katie Tunnington; Jr. M Abby Iansito; Jr. M/D Emily Schneider; Jr. M/D Eleni Nicholas; So. Kourtney Lynch

Outlook: The Tigers are building around 17 sophomores and freshmen.

JEFFERSON

Coach: Katelyn Cannarozzi, eighth season

Last year: 12-7, 6-0 NJAC-Colonial

Returning letter-winners: Sr. M Samantha Young; Sr. D Ella Young; Sr. M Gianna Fox; Jr. M Silvana Melone; Jr. G Kacey Osterhout; So. M Mariana Montoya; So. M Gabriella Fitzsimmons; So. M Amelia Makepeace

Newcomers: Jr. Devon Flammer; Fr. Stella Maffei; Fr. Reese Malakuskie

Outlook: Jefferson is small and young, but competitive.

KITTATINNY

Coach: Karen Ruitenberg, third season

Last year: 10-10

Returning letter-winners: Sr. D Grace Fusco; Sr. F Samantha Ruitenberg (4g, 5a); Sr. D Cadence Sorg; Jr. D Maddy Holdt; Jr. D Hannah Makowski; Jr. M Naila Watley Gonzalez (2g, 4a); So. M Bella Belardo

Newcomers: Sr. F Lauren Salokas; So. M Kaila Leahy; So. F Hailey Lake; So. D Veronica Moss; So. F Chelsea Rivera; So. F Cameron Sorg; So. G Lizzie Albert

Outlook: The young Cougars hope to qualify for the NJSIAA Tournament.

NEWTON

Coach: Ashley Tashjian, fourth season

Last year: 19-4; 7-1 NJAC-Freedom champion; Group 1 North champion

Returning letter-winners: Sr. F Kaitlyn Harding; Sr. M Allyson Maffia; Sr. M/D Emma Trout; Sr. F Jaclyn Vena; Sr. M Caitlyn Neill; Sr. D Taylor Benson; Sr. M/D Jordyn Young; Sr. D Haley Morodan; Sr. G Abbie Paglia; Jr. F Meadow D'Annibale; So. G Ava Kithcart

Newcomers: Sr. F Arianna Stroppa; Sr. D Marya Qarmout; Sr. D Tamara Taylor; Jr. F Becca O'Brien; Jr. M/D Brooke Farrence; Jr. M/D Nicole Benson; So. F Alaina Mancuso; So. M/D Christina Roque; So. F Kayla Seeger; So. M/D Madison Schick; Fr. M/D Claire Mountford

Outlook: Nearly everyone returns from the squad which lost the Group 1 title in a shootout.

More: Newton surprises Madison, adds another sectional title to field hockey legacy

VERNON

Coach: Kieran Killeen, 10th season

Last year: 12-8, 5-3 NJAC-Freedom

Returning letter-winners: Sr. F Kaylee Free; Sr. F Teagan Ressler; Sr. F Elise Giroux; Sr. D Abby Cawley; Sr. D Sabrina Conklin; Sr. M Kayla Jurewicz; Jr. D Kaitlyn Hordych; Jr. F Madigan Van Blarcom; So. F Samantha Janus

Newcomers: Jr. G Alexis Inoa; So. D Carolyn Rugel; Fr. M Reese Baumann.

Outlook: The Vikings are planning to score 50% more goals than last fall, including on 25% of attacking corners.

More: Vernon field hockey coach Kieran Killeen celebrates 100th victory, growth of sport

NJAC-Colonial

HIGH POINT

Coach: Erin Bang, first season

Last year: 6-12-1

Returning letter-winners: Sr. D Jenna Gianuzzi; Sr. F Chloe Kinney; Sr. D Lauren Lazier; Sr. D Leah Romash; Sr. F Kennedy Shepherd; Jr. F Abby Amick; Jr. G Alex Amick; Jr. F Madison Cary; Jr. M Claire Gushea; Jr. D June Pecoriello; Jr. M Jocelyn Torres; So. F Meadow Davis

Outlook: Bang inherits an experienced team from Kelly Reynolds, the coach for seven years.

LENAPE VALLEY

Coach: Emily Wisneski, second season

Last year: 5-14

Returning letter-winners: Sr. F Bella Alonzo; Sr. M Faith Catalano; Sr. F/M Camryn D'Agostino; Sr. D Erin Dietz; Sr. M Sadie Fagerlin; Sr. M Abby Norberg; Sr. F Daniella Ortiz; Sr. D Lauren Tracey; Jr. G Sophia Salerno; Jr. F Zoey DeOliveria; Jr. F Kaidyn Gomez (8g, 4a)

Newcomers: Sr. D Izzy Becker; Sr. D Scarlett Zapata; Sr. M Emily Lotito; So. M Hope Catalano

Outlook: The veteran Patriots expect to show significant progress.

This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: NJ field hockey: Morris/Sussex 2025 high school previews