By Andy Loigu

After finishing last season as the runner up in the Skyland Conference, Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament and in Group 3, the Warren Hills field hockey team intends to not settle for second place this time around.

Winning their first eight games, despite facing a tough early schedule, the Blue Streaks find themselves with the ninth ranking overall in New Jersey (all groups) according to NJ.com at this stage of the season.

“We all want it really bad,” said Samantha Dugan, who scored two goals to lead the hungry Blue Streaks to a 5-1 win over visiting Pingry on Friday. “It is about us switching it on and having the mentality that we can’t lose. Last year, we were basically second in everything and that’s just not an option this year.”

The Blue Streaks had a young roster last year and have been more focused on improving their passing game this season, eliminating the turnovers which proved costly in big games last fall.

Sarah Korczukowski and Paulina Georgoutsos have been harder to defend against, than they are to spell. Both had assists in the win over Pingry.

In a recent 2-1 win against number 12 Bridgewater, against aggressive defenders, Korczukowski cleared a ball, maintained possession and sent a shot through several enemy sticks into the goal for the game tying score.
With 12:21 left in the half, Dugan received the ball off the corner and the senior quickly one-timed a shot over the masses, into the back of the cage for a lead the determined Blue Streaks did not surrender.

Earlier, Warren Hills got big wins over two longtime Hunterdon County rivals, number 17 Voorhees and a North Hunterdon squad which always plays a disciplined, well coached game with a minimum of mistakes.

The Blue Streaks have been able to beat tough teams after starting slowly and giving up the first goal. “Last year, we weren’t able to come back,” Dugan said, “but this year we are able to figure things out, even if we’re not playing at the peak of our game, or if the other team is doing something we didn’t expect. Everybody knows the Warren Hills tradition and comes out all fired up when they play us. We never face a flat team. We’ve been able to take their best shot and come back this year, that’s the difference.”

With wins over ranked opponents the Blue Streaks have affirmed that they are making strides and moving forward.

….Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building.