By Brandon Gould and Evan Slavit | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
George McNish | For NJ Advance Media
State tournament redefines order in state rankings
The state tournament has shifted the state rankings once again and in addition to a new team joining the list, there is also a new team at No. 1. The Top 20 has evolved and transformed every week this season and this week was no different. Scroll through to see the new look that the Top 20 took this week.
Remember that these rankings take into account recent games, but also are a reflection of a team's overall resume.
20-Morris Knolls (21-3-1)
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
Morris Knolls put together its best season in almost a decade, winning its first sectional title since 2009. The Golden Eagles also took home their first Morris County championship since 1988 this season. Overall, Morris Knolls only lost three times all season, including Tuesday’s 1-0 loss to Ridge in the Group 4 semifinals.
COMIG SOON: Top storylines from the 2017 state tournament
19-Union (13-6)
Alexandra Pais | For NJ Advance Media
Union became the clear No. 3 team in Union County this year and really put the state on notice with the way it played in a 2-1 loss to Ridge in the state playoffs. The Farmers’ biggest win came in the regular season when it topped Scotch Plains-Fanwood, 2-1.
FEATURED: Public semifinal results and links for Tuesday, Nov. 14
18-West Orange (13-0-5)
George McNish | For NJ Advance Media
West Orange was denied two titles it was favored to win this season because of penalty kicks. The Essex County squad did not lose a single game in regulation or overtime though and the turnaround has been amazing so far for the Mountaineers, who are set up for sustained success in the near future. Natalie Nevins is one of the best playmakers in the state and she’s a key foundation piece at West Orange.
17-Haddonfield (19-3-1)
David Gard | For NJ Advance Media
Haddonfield was spectacular this year on the way to the South, Group 2 final and the South Jersey Soccer Coaches Association final. The Camden County squad was unable to win titles in either game, but they gave Eastern and Cinnaminson a run for their money in those contests.
READ: How 16 girls soccer teams won a sectional title in 2017
16-Cinnaminson (19-1-3)
David Gard | For NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Cinnaminson was right there with Eastern in the semifinals of the South Jersey Soccer Coaches Association Tournament before falling short in penalty kicks. The Pirates used that experience to spark a postseason run that led the team to a South, Group 2 title. Cinnaminson’s season came to an end against Wall in the Group 2 semifinals, but once again, the South Jersey pushed the game into penalty kicks. That shortcoming did not diminish a special year for the Burlington County program though and just proved how skilled this team is.
15-East Brunswick (19-3-2)
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
East Brunswick gave Freehold Township all it could handle in the Central, Group 4 final. The Bears fell short, 2-1, in overtime, but held Freehold Township scoreless for the first 77 minutes of that game. Keeper Lauren Krinsky was awesome in net this year and helped her team put together one of its best seasons in a while. East Brunswick also added another Middlesex County title to its trophy case this year.
SEE: Which N.J. girls soccer programs have the most state titles?
14-Steinert (18-2-2)
Phil McAuliffe | For NJ Advance Media
Steinert did not get the sectional title that it wanted, but the Spartans did end the season with the Mercer County title in hand. Gianna Pietro led the charge on offense all year, but it was defender Gabby DeLisa who led the team with two goals against Allentown in the county final.
13-Toms River East (13-5-1)
Mark Sullivan | For NJ Advance Media
Jillian Conklin was amazing in the state playoffs, putting Toms River East on her back on the way to the Central, Group 3 final. Toms River East was competitive all year in a loaded Shore Conference and proved it was one of the state’s top squads with the way it played in the postseason.
MUST-SEE: Girls soccer homepage
12-Allentown (21-1)
Larry Murphy | For NJ Advance Media
Allentown has been full of first this year and just a few days after winning its first-ever sectional title, the Mercer County squad booked its first trip to the Group 3 final. The Redbirds will match up with Middletown South in the final this Saturday with a chance to win its first state title in program history.
11-Jackson Memorial (16-5)
Mark Sullivan | For NJ Advance Media
Alexis Casella and the defense helped Jackson Memorial stay in stride in a lot of big games this year and the Jaguars dropped their biggest win when they knocked off Toms River North in the regular season. Kylee Sullivan was another anchor on defense and played really well in net this season for Jackson Memorial, which was knocked out of the South, Group 4 playoffs in its third meeting with rival Toms River North.
CAN'T-MISS: Results & links for Non-Public finals, Sunday, Nov. 12
10-Toms River North (19-3)
Mark Sullivan | For NJ Advance Media
Toms River North came one win short of defending its South, Group 4 title, but left it all on the field in that overtime contest with Washington Township. The Shore Conference squad leaned on midfielder Jenna Royson as well as defenders Riley Kennett and Emily Royson this season. The team had playmakers all overall the field though and proved game in and game out how tough it was
9-Washington Township (18-4-3)
Al Amrhein | For NJ Advance Media
Washington Township had a banner year, collecting the program’s first sectional title ever in 2017. The Minutemen earned that championship with an overtime win over defending South, Group 4 champion Toms River North. Washington Township battled in the Group 4 semifinals against Freehold Township, but came up just short, 5-3, of the team’s chance to make its first state final - an amazing run for a team that battled injuries all season.
SEE: Statement wins, upsets & surprises so far in the state playoffs
8-Scotch Plains-Fanwood (15-4-1)
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
Scotch Plains-Fanwood lost to two teams all year and made up one of those losses by beating Union in the Union County semifinals. The other three losses came against Westfield, but the Raiders never made it easy, falling by just a single goal in those contests. Scotch Plains-Fanwood did hang on and earn a tie in the Union County final, however, and extended its streak of consecutive county titles with a share of this year’s championship. The Raiders gave Westfield all it could handle in a 3-2 game in the North 2, Group 4 semifinals.
7-Eastern (21-0-2)
Al Amrhein | For NJ Advance Media
Eastern was knocked out in penalty kicks in the South, Group 4 playoffs and, thus, ended the season with an unbeaten record. The Vikings were one of the most consistent teams in the state all year and the future looks bright with a couple of offensive stars in Kelli McGroarty and Riley Tiernan. Eastern will miss a senior class led by keeper Mikayla Ronczka and defender-turned-forward Madison Tyree.
READ: Middletown South stuns Northern Highlands in Group 3 semis
6-Northern Highlands (20-1-1)
George McNsh | For NJ Advance Media
One of the last unbeaten teams in the state saw its season come to an end on Tuesday in a 1-0 loss to Middletown South in the Group 3 semifinals. The game marked the second straight contest that Northern Highlands failed to score a goal. It was a tough break for a very talented squad that has one of the best resumes in the entire state.
5-Bridgewater-Raritan (17-2)
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
Bridgewater-Raritan came off an average campaign season ago and put together one of its best campaigns ever in 2017. The Panthers won the program’s first Somerset County title since 1995 and only lost one game on its way to the North 2, Group 4 semifinals, where they lost to rival Ridge in overtime. Bridgewater-Raritan’s defense was one of the best in the state this season and kept the Panthers in every game they played.
WATCH: Ridge takes home title in toughest section in NJ
4-Westfield (19-0-2)
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
For the second year in a row, Westfield ends the season without a loss on its record. Last season Westfield had its season come to an end in penalty kicks against Ridge in the sectional semifinals and suffered a similar blow against the same team this year, coming up short in penalty kicks against Ridge in the North 2, Group 4 final. Grace Elliott and Natalie Bond led this team to its first Union County title since 2012 though and once again proved that Westfield is one of the state’s elite programs.
3-Ridge (18-4-1)
Alexandra Pais | For NJ Advance Media)
Ridge is headed back to the Group 4 final for the third year in a row thanks to a 1-0 win on Tuesday over Morris Knolls. The Somerset County squad will meet Freehold Township in the final in a rematch of the 2016 title game, which ended in a scoreless tie.
READ: Freehold Township leans on seniors, outduels Washington Twp in G4 semis
2-Freehold Township (23-1)
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Freehold Township had four of its seniors combined to scored five goals in a 5-3 victory ove Washington Township in the Group 4 semifinals. That win puts Freehold Township into the Group 4 final for the second time in the last three years.
1-Wall (23-1-2)
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Wall had to battle to make it out of the Group 2 semifinals, but found a way to get the job done in penalty kicks. With Northern Highlands falling to Middletown South in the Group 3 semifinals, Wall takes over the top spot in this week's ranking.
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- Immaculate Heart hangs on, earns share of Non-Public A title
- Bishop Eustace scores late, earns share of 1st Non-Public A title
- Third time's a charm in Non-Public B final for Moorestown Friends
- Montclair Kimberley wins share of first Non-Public B championship
Brandon Gould may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrandonGouldHS. Like NJ.com HS sports on Facebook.
Ad Choices