West Milford field hockey wins county title

The wait is over for the West Milford High field hockey team.

Julia Plewa’s goal - off a pass from Addyson Seidner four minutes into overtime - lifted second-seeded West Milford to a dramatic 2-1 victory over top-seeded Pompton Lakes in the championship game of the 50th Passaic County Tournament on Friday night in Lakeland.

The title is the fifth overall and first for West Milford since 2017. The Highlanders lost to Pompton Lakes in each of the last three seasons - all by a 2-1 score. Pompton Lakes was seeking its fifth straight county crown and 19th overall.

“There were instant tears as Julia’s shot hit the back board,” West Milford coach Krista Provost said. “As soon as (Pompton Lakes) scored, I knew we would come back. We had been practicing 7-vs-7 overtime situations since the preseason with the same players and had total faith in them.”

Pompton Lakes (15-3) took a 1-0 lead with a goal 4:25 into the fourth period and that slim lead held before Seidner converted a feed from Ava Scrimenti off a penalty corner with 1:30 left in the quarter.

West Milford goalie Emmeline Kreutzer anchored the defense with an eight-save performance.

“(Emmeline) is a great goalie and an awesome human being,” said Provost, now in her 14th season at the helm. “In many of our games she’s not getting much action but when she’s called upon, her saves are incredible.

Kreutzer, a junior, has allowed just five goals this season and owns 13 shutouts this fall.

“Yes, you have to score but its defense that wins championships and our back line was phenomenal and understood that message,” Provost said.

Plewa, a junior, now leads the team in scoring with 29 goals and 11 assists and is followed by Addison Tyburczy (16 goals, 12 assists), Seidner (10 goals, 23 assists) and Taylor Keegan (nine goals, 12 assists).

West Milford (17-1) has now won 11 straight games since its only loss of the season - a 1-0 home loss to Pompton Lakes on Sept. 23.

Provost, a 2003 West Milford graduate, now has 195 career victories and could reach the 200-win milestone in the post-season.

“We like playing Pompton Lakes; they’re a great program,” said provost. “But these players have been working towards (a county title) for a while,” began Provost. “Its been a long time coming.”

West Milford Cross Country

Amanda Harvey placed second in 19:23.00 and was followed by Ciara Clinton (third place in 19:32.00) and Brenna Traverso (fourth place in 20:05.00) to lead the West Milford girls to a second place team finish at the Passaic county Championships on Thursday, Oct. 23 at Garret Mountain in Woodland Park.

The West Milford boys placed sixth overall led by Matteo Balestrieri, who was 22nd in 18:31.00 and Benjamin Torres, who was 29th in 18:58.00.

West Milford will next compete at the NJSIAA Sectional Championships on Nov. 1 at Garret Mountain.