— The small-school North Jersey Interscholastic Conference will be well represented with five teams in Sunday’s round of 16 at the Bergen County girls soccer tournament: Waldwick (28th seed), Emerson (25), Glen Rock (19), New Milford (18) and Park Ridge (16).
“It just goes to show that just because we’re small schools, Group 1 schools, it [doesn’t mean we can’t] compete with these bigger schools,” said Park Ridge coach Molly Jaffe, whose team plays at top-seeded and defending champ Northern Highlands. “It makes me excited and inspired to have our girls keep working as hard as they’re working.”
— Waldwick, at No. 28, is the lowest seed in the round of 16 and advanced with Sunday’s 1-0 victory at No. 12 NV/Demarest. Senior goalie Amanda Craven was stellar in goal. Also playing well were junior center-backs Lauren Toolen and Danielle Burke.
— New Milford (9-0) has received contributions all over the field and it showed during Sunday’s 2-1 Bergen tournament win at No. 15 Holy Angels. Senior Amanda Gouldsbury had a goal and an assist, and she and junior Fiona Matthews and senior MaryKate Doran have combined for more than 20 goals. “Our attack this year has been a little more balanced,” said coach Joe Albanese, whose team plays at No. 2 Immaculate Heart.
— Hawthorne became the final team to book a trip to the Passaic County tournament quarterfinals, thanks to Monday’s 3-2 victory over Passaic Tech.
Here is Saturday’s schedule: (8) Hawthorne at (1) Wayne Valley, noon; (5) West Milford at (4) defending champ Wayne Hills, 2 p.m.; (6) Pompton Lakes at (3) DePaul, 10 a.m.; (7) Lakeland at (2) Clifton, 11:30 a.m.
— Becton-Wallington is the No. 1 seed among nine teams competing in the inaugural NJIC tournament that culminates with the Oct. 29 final at Riverside County Park in Lyndhurst.
Becton-Wallington on Oct. 15 will host the winner of Saturday’s opener featuring No. 9 Ridgefield at No. 8 Wood-Ridge. Here are the other Oct. 15 matchups: (5) Leonia at (4) Rutherford; (6) Lodi at (3) Hasbrouck Heights; (7) Garfield at (2) North Arlington.
