By Brandon Gould and Evan Slavit | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Which teams stole the show in the 2017 state playoffs
History was made throughout the state tournament this season and a lot of programs were able to achieve feats for the first time ever. NJ Advance Media has taken a look at the top storylines from the state playoffs and highlighted them below
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
2017 state champions
Non-Public A: Immaculate Heart/Bishop Eustace (co-champs)
Non-Public B: Montclair Kimberley/Moorestown Friends (co-champs)
Group 4: Ridge/Freehold Township (co-champs)
Group 3: Allentown
Group 2: Wall
Group 1: Shore
George McNish | For NJ Advance Media
North 1/North 2 sectional champions
North 1, Group 1: Mountain Lakes
North 1, Group 2: Westwood
North 1, Group 3: Northern Highlands
North 1, Group 4: Morris Knolls
North 2, Group 1: Glen Ridge
North 2, Group 2: Hanover Park
North 2, Group 3: Middletown South
North 2, Group 4: Ridge
Al Amrhein | For NJ Advance Media
Central/South sectional champions
Central, Group 1: Shore
Central, Group 2: Wall
Central, Group 3: Allentown
Central, Group 4: Freehold Township
South, Group 1: Pitman
South, Group 2: Cinnaminson
South, Group 3: Ocean City
South, Group 4: Washington Township
TOP STATE TOURNAMENT STORYLINES
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
Freehold Township wins share of program's 2nd state title
The Shore Conference squad brought home a share of its second state title in the last three years after a scoreless tie with Ridge in the Group 4 final. The finish was not exactly what Freehold Township was expecting, but the Patriots' play throughout the tournament confirmed that it is one of the premier programs in New Jersey right now. The Patriots needed a score in the 77th minute to push its sectional final match with East Brunswick into overtime, where Freehold Township found a way to strike again to win the Central, Group 4 title.
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
Ridge takes home share of 2nd state title in last 3 years
The Somerset County squad brought home a share of its second state title in the last three years after a scoreless tie with Freehold Township in the Group 4 final. Ridge made it out of the toughest section in New Jersey on its way to the final and earned either a win or a tie against five Top 20 teams on its way to winning the championship. Erin Keefe and Kaitlyn Madden were game-changers along with Maddie Lui and Gabby Allen on a defense that was anchored by Alley Lindsey.
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
Allentown wins program's first-ever state title
Allentown found a way to recover after falling in the Mercer County final this year and went on a five-game winning streak on its way to a Group 3 championship - the first state title in program history. The Mercer County squad held off Toms River East, 2-1, in the Central, Group 3 final and then took down Middletown South, 2-1, in the Group 3 final.
FEATURED: Championship results & links from Saturday's state final
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Wall wins 1st outright state championship
The Shore Conference squad wasn't at its best in the Group 2 final, but Wall found a way to counter every time Westwood scored in order to push the game into overtime. Hailee Reinhardt played her part in the win by booting a 40-yard free kick that hit off a defender and in for the game-winner. The 4-3 victory over Westwood gave Wall its first outright state title in program history and second crown overall. The Knights won a share of the Group 3 title a season ago after a scoreless tie with Northern Highlands.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Shore storms back, wins 3rd straight state title
Frankie McDonough, Julia Eichenbaum and Hannah Birdsall make up one of the most explosive offensive trios in the entire state and that core was on point as Shore came back to beat Glen Ridge, 5-4, in the Group 1 final this season. Shore trailed 4-3 in the 77th minute, but then Eichenbaum found a way to score twice, sending home the game-winner with just nine seconds left. Birdsall also finished with two goals and McDonough found the net once as Shore collected its third consecutive state title.
MUST-SEE: Shore girls soccer wins third-straight Group 1 title
Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media
Middletown South pulls upset during best season in 17 years
Middletown South pulled off one of te biggest upsets in state history when it knocked off previously unbeaten Northern Highlands - then No. 1 in the NJ.com Top 20 - in the Group 3 semifinals. The Shore Conference squad took an early 1-0 lead when Emma Laudisi sent a long pass to Grace Massell, who took advantage of the opportunity and scored. The defense made sure that goal was enough and finished the job in the semifinal upset. The state title run came to an end in the Group 3 final in a 2-1 loss to Allentown, but that game just proved that Middletown South could hang with any team in Group 3. That final appearance was Middletown South's first since 2000.
Andrew Miller | For NJ Advance Media
Westwood's 'Refuse to Lose' mantra, carries it to brink of state title
Westwood cashed in during the Group 2 final and scored on all of its shots on goals, finding the net three times in the state championship game. Wall battled back and pulled out a 4-3 win in overtime, but the grit that Westwood showed in that game is something that program will never forget. Westwood refused to lose on so many occasions this season and finished the year an 18-2-3 record on the way to its first-ever state final appearance.
CAN'T-MISS: Wall tops Westwood in overtime in Group 2 final
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
Glen Ridge makes 5th state final in the last 6 years
Glen Ridge went from rebuild to ready to roll in a hurry this year, creating the chemistry that led it back to the Group 1 final for the fifth time in six years. The Essex County squad left it all on the field in the final, but fell short as Shore came back to win, 5-4. Lindsay Jaiyesimi found the net three times in the title game, which marked Glen Ridge's third straight appearance in the Group 1 final. Glen Ridge beat Mountain Lakes in overtime in the Group 1 semifinals to book its return flight to the final.
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
Morris Knolls wins 1st sectional title since 2009
The Golden Eagles put together an amazing run in 2017 and sophomore Madison Palma has one of the best offensive threats in the state during the sectional playoffs. Morris Knolls fell, 1-0, to Ridge in the Group 4 semifinals and finished the year 21-3-1. The banner campaign also included the program’s first Morris County title since 1988.
FEATURED: Ridge holds Freehold Township scoreless, earns Group 4 co-championship
Al Amrhein | For NJ Advance Media
Washington Township takes home 1st ever sectional championship
Washington Township fell short in the semifinals of the South Jersey Soccer Coaches Association Tournament, but the Minutemaids didn’t seem to mind as they regrouped and went on a historic run in South, Group 4. The Gloucester County squad collected the program’s first-ever sectional title with a 2-1 win over defending sectional champ Toms River North in the 2017 final. Washington Township lost in the Group 4 semifinals, but gave Freehold Township all it could handle in a 5-3 contest.
George McNish | For NJ Advance Media
Northern Highlands wins 7th straight sectional title
The season ended one game sooner than Northern Highlands would have hoped, but the Bergen County squad did keep its consecutive streak of sectional titles alive, beating Roxbury in penalty kicks in the North 1, Group 3 final. The Highlanders only gave up five goals all season and ended the year with a 20-1-1 record.
MUST-SEE: Allentown wins Group 3 final behind its seniors
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
Ocean City wins in PKs, collects 1st title since 2001
Ocean City made it to the Group 3 semifinals this year thanks to a win in penalty kicks against Cherry Hill West in the South, Group 3 final. The Raiders’ triumph marked the first time since 2001 that the program collected a sectional title and star freshman Faith Slimmer played a leading role in the historic season for Ocean City, which started the year with an upset win against Shawnee
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
Hanover Park uses 2nd half goal to win North 2, Group 2 title
Hanover Park overcame its No. 4 seed to win the North 2, Group 2 title. The Morris County squad knocked off defending Group 2 champ Parsippany Hills in the sectional final. Gabriella Barquin was spectacular during the state playoffs, with three goals and seven assists.
CAN'T-MISS: Cinnaminson earns its revenge on Haddonfield in sectional final
David Gard | For NJ Advance Media
Cinnaminson wins South, Group 2 title, goes to PKs in state semis
Cinnaminson has been one the best teams in the state this season and proved that again in the Group 2 semifinals, pushing Wall, No. 1 in the NJ.cpm Top 20, into penalty kicks before having its season come to an end. Cinnaminson topped Haddonfield to win the South, Group 2 title to make the state semifinals. The Pirates also impressed earlier in the season, pushing unbeaten Eastern into penalty kicks in the South Jersey Soccer Coaches Association Tournament.
George McNish | For NJ Advance Media
Mountain Lakes wins historic sectional title
Just a few years removed from a hazing scandal, Mountain Lakes brought the program into a positive light, winning in the North 1, Group 1 final and securing the program’s first-ever sectional title. The Lakers almost made the Group 1 final for the first time as well, but fell, 1-0, in overtime against Glen Ridge.
FEATURED: Freehold Township ties Ridge, earns share of 2nd title in 3 years
Tim Hawk | For NJ Advance Media
10th-seeded Pitman puts together Cinderella run, wins sectional title in OT
Pitman defied the odds and got revenge round after round on its way to winning the South, group 1 title. The Panthers were outscored 14-3 in games against Haddon Heights and Pennsville in the regular season, but that didn’t seem to matter as Pitman knocked off both those teams in the playoffs on the way to a sectional championship. Annie Sanker and Emily Galvin led the team offensively this season and finished with a combined 53 goals and 38 assists.
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Immaculate Heart earns share of Non-Public A state title
Immaculate Heart was two minutes away from an outright state title and was also inches away from losing its championship shot all together against Bishop Eustace in the Non-Public A final. The Bergen County squad found a way to hang on for a 1-1 tie, however, and put itself back on the map in the Non-Public scene. Immaculate Heart finished the year 7-3 in one-goal games and set the foundation for what could be another championship streak.
MUST-SEE: Results & links for Non-Public finals, Sunday, Nov. 12
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Bishop Eustace brings home share of historic Non-Public A title
Bishop Eustace almost put together the pieces for a game-winning goal against Immaculate Heart in the 100th minute of what ended as a 1-1 tie in the Non-Public A final. The South Jersey squad actually found the back of the net, but the goal was waved off due to an offside call. The tie Bishop Eustace gave Bishop Eustace a share of its first-ever Non-Public A title at the tail end of a season that also included the program’s first sectional title since winning South, Non-Public B in 2008.
Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Montclair Kimberley goes 4-for-4 in 2017 title pursuits
Montclair Kimberley won a share of the Essex County title, a share of the Prep B title and a share of the program’s first-ever Non-Public B title this season. The state title came after a 3-3 tie against Moorestown Friends in the final. Montclair Kimberley had to battle back in that game and respond every time Moorestown Friends scored. The Cougars also won a North, Public B title this season - another program first - and that sectional crown booked their spot in the state final against Moorestown Friends.
FEATURED: MKA wins share of 1st ever title | MFS makes history in tie
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Moorestown Friends heads back to the Non-Public B final, makes history
Kieran Lees finished with a hat trick in her final high school game and gave Moorestown Friends the offense it needed to earn a 3-3 tie with Montclair Kimberley in the Non-Public B final. This year’s trip marked the third time in the last four season that Moorestown Friends had made the final. The Burlington County squad fell, 1-0, to Villa Walsh in both the 2014 and 2015 final, but changed its fortune in 2017 with share of the state title with Montclair Kimberley. That “co-win” was special for Moorestown Friends, which had never won a state title before this season.
George McNish | For NJ Advance Media
Britt Cunningham helps Ridgewood make the North 1, Group 4 final
Ridgewood threw its No. 9 seed to the side on its way to the North 1, Group 4 final this season. Britt Cunningham was inspiring in net, making 40 saves in four state tournament games. Ridgewood knocked off top-seeded Montclair, 1-0, in the quarters and then bounced fourth-seeded Livingston in penalty kicks after a scoreless tie.
MUST-SEE: Immaculate Heart hangs on, wins share of Non-Public A title
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
Westfield's 41-game unbeaten streak intact, but no title once again
Westfield has technically finished the last two seasons with an unbeaten record, but the Blue Devils were knocked out by Ridge both years in penalty kicks in the North 2, Group 4 playoffs. The Union County squad came up short against Ridge in the semifinals in 2016 and then saw its season come to an end in the sectional final in 2017. Westfield has proven it is an elite program, however, and is coming really close to win its first sectional title since 2009.
George McNish | For NJ Advance Media
West Orange's season ends without a loss, but also without a state title
West Orange technically ends the season with no losses on its record, but a pair of promising title runs ended in penalty kicks this year. The final shortcoming in kicks came in the North 1, Group 4 quarterfinals as West Orange fell short, 4-1, against Livingston in the shootout. West Orange ends the year with a 13-0-5 record, which also includes a tie with a penalty shootout that favored Montclair Kimberley in the Essex County Tournament.
CAN'T-MISS: Bishop Eustace scores late, finishes as Non-Public A co-champ
Clearview takes down unbeaten Eastern
Eighth-seeded Clearview found a way to score against top-seeded Eastern and then knocked off the state power in penalty kicks in the South, Group 4 quarterfinals. Elizabeth Bonomo found the net for Clearview in that game and helped push the game into extra time. Neither team could score in overtime and then the game came down to kicks. The shortcoming against Clearview ended a 21-0-2 season for Eastern.
Andrew Miller | For NJ Advance Media
North 2, Group 1 becomes a hotbed for upsets
One of the craziest upset frenzies happened in North 2, Group 1 as four upsets were pulled off in the first round of a tournament that saw three-double digits make the semifinals. Verona made the sectional final as a No. 11 seed and topped 10th-seeded Dayton on the road to make it there. Whippany Park was also impressive, making the semifinals as a No. 12 seed before falling against top-seeded Glen Ridge, 1-0. Whippany Park made it to the semifinals after a win over 13th-seeded Secaucus in the sectional quarters.
PHOTOS: 11th-seeded Verona beats 10th-seeded Dayton 3-2 in sectional semis
Programs pick up first playoff wins in over a decade
*Freshman helps Lawrence win first state tournament game in 17 years
Lawrence hadn't won a state tournament game in 17 years. So while Lawrence was the higher seed, it was still a big deal when freshman Kendra Dempsey put Lawrence ahead 10 minutes into its first-round game against Nottingham. That goal stood as the game-winner as Lawrence topped Nottingham, 1-0.
*Collingswood makes sectional semis, wins program's first playoff game since 1999
The South Jersey squad moved into the Central, Group1 bracket and the results paid off for Collingswood, which picked up its first playoff victories since 1999. Taylor Perkowski scored twice in the first round against New Egypt and Lindsey Cole found the net once in the historic playoff triumph.
If there were any other playoff victories that ended long postseason losing streaks, let us know in the comments section and we will add them to this post.
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
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Brandon Gould may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrandonGouldHS. Like NJ.com HS sports on Facebook.
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