Hackettstown Field Hockey Team 'Aims To Do Well In Conference, Division,' With 3-3 Start

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ — The Hackettstown field hockey team is off to a solid start and hopes to do as well in the postseason as it has the last several years.

“We have been playing pretty well so far this year,” said Rachael Gorski, who is in her third year as head coach after being an assistant coach for three years. “We are 3-3 right now with losses to strong teams: Warren Hills, Lenape Valley, and Vernon.”

Hackettstown earned the fourth seed in the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament and earned a first-round bye. The team will take on No. 13 Vernon in the second round on Oct. 2. The Tigers last won the championship in 2018.

The team’s captains, senior Amy Wood and junior Ali Cetani; goalie Emily Newton; and sophomore forwards Kiara Koeller and Skyler Sciaretta are leading the team.

“Our captains are competent leaders, and our goalie has also been emerging as a leader in the back,” Gorski said. “Kiara Koeller and Skyler Sciaretta lead by example during practice and on the field.”

The Tigers’ first victory came over Newton, 2-1, on Sept. 11.

“Against Newton, Skyler Sciaretta returned from an injury late in regulation―which left her with a black eye―to score the game-winning goal in overtime,” Gorski said.

Koeller scored the team’s other goal, while Newton made 10 saves.

The Tigers defeated High Point, 2-1, on Sept. 18 and Wallkill Valley, 1-0, on Sept. 20.

Sciaretta and Koeller also scored the team’s goals against High Point. Newton made six saves. Emma Patton scored the team’s only goal against Wallkill Valley. Newton again made six saves in the victory.

Gorski said the Tigers are a young team.

“We are a young team with only three seniors,” she said. “This is also the first year in our program that we have been able to field a separate freshman team.”

She added that freshman Brynn Otto, Koeller, Sciaretta, and sophomore Savannah Davis are all expected to do well this season.

“Brynn Otto has a lot of potential on our forward line,” Gorski said. “Kiara Koeller and Skyler Sciaretta should be among the top scorers on the team this year. Savannah Davis is new to the varsity team this year and has been doing well as a mid and back.”

Gorski said the team is facing some challenges.

“We have some trouble communicating and effectively passing the ball,” she said.

Last season, the Tigers advanced to the semifinal round of the NJSIAA Field Hockey - North West B tournament. In 2019, they advanced to the semifinals of the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2 tournament, and in 2018, they appeared in the championship game of the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2 tournament.

Gorski said the team’s goal is to play well and advance in the state and county tournaments.

“We aim to do well in our conference and division (Newton, Vernon, and Lenape Valley), get through a few rounds at least of Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex, and go as far as we have been the past few years in the state tournament,” she said.

The Tigers are scheduled to play Morristown-Beard on Sept. 28, Vernon on Sept. 30, Randolph on Oct. 5, High Point on Oct. 7, Kittatinny on Oct. 9, West Morris Central on Oct. 11, Jefferson on Oct. 13, North Warren on Oct. 15, Newton on Oct. 19, and Belvidere on Oct. 22. The state tournament is expected to begin on Oct. 25.