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…
