Mahwah junior Taylor Herrmann struck for eight points in the Thunderbirds’ 18-5 win over Wayne Hills, the defending Passaic County tournament champion. Mahwah improved to 4-0.
No. 1 Ridgewood improved to 4-0 and all four wins have been impressive, the most recent coming Wednesday in a 12-5 victory over Mountain Lakes. The Lakers went 23-2 last year, won the Morris County tournament and reached the Tournament of Champions semifinals. Outscoring Mountain Lakes 6-2 in the first half and 6-3 in the second, Ridgewood got three separate hat tricks from Hannah Cermack, Jordan Ford and Katie Borque, two goals from Baker Earl and one from Chelsea Trattner.
No. 2 IHA defeated Group 2 title contender West Essex, 10-8, and is now on a three-game winning streak after an opening day overtime loss to Glen Ridge. The Blue Eagles featured seven different scorers, including two a piece from Hailey Bossolina, Christine Weber and Gabriella Vinci and one each from Samantha Marmo, Josie Zinn, Margaret Zied and Tara Cassidy. IHA outscored Glen Ridge, 6-4, in the first half before playing to a 4-4 tie over the final 25 minutes, as Blue Eagles goalie Kate Rice finished with five saves.
No. 3 Mahwah remained unbeaten (4-0) with its 18-5 win over Wayne Hills (0-4) — its third double-digit win in four games. Junior Taylor Herrmann continues scoring at a prolific rate, striking for four goals and four assists on Wednesday, while Caelie Batelli also added four scores and one assist. Kelly Pushie provided a hat trick and Brianna Spencer and Casey Feeney both scored twice for the Thunderbirds, who will see No. 4 Northern Highlands on Saturday at the IHA’s Autism Awareness Day.
No. 9 Saddle River Day won a high-scoring thriller on Wednesday, taking down Cranford, 20-18, in overtime. It was the Rebels’ second straight overtime win after defeating New Providence in extra time on Monday. Freshman Michaela McMahon posted nine goals and three assists, but it was Alexa Tsahalis who scored two of SRD’s three goals in overtime to propel the Rebels past Cranford. Tsahalis finished with five goals, Daniella McMahon recorded a hat trick and Kelly Hannigan scored twice for Saddle River Day, now 4-1.
River Dell, knocking on the door of the Top 10, improved to 3-0 on Wednesday, as the Golden Hawks knocked off Demarest, 16-4. Kirsten Wozniak provided four goals and two assists, Gabrielle Davidson added a hat trick and three assists and Gabrielle Toohey also scored three, as River Dell opened up a 14-2 halftime lead.
Pascack Valley, another team close to the Top 10, won its second straight after an 0-2 start, as the Indians defeated Scotch Plains-Fanwood, 9-6. Katie Gallagher posted a hat trick and one assist, Lydia Christiano and Shannon Solotar each scored twice and Natalie Bade and Juliet Alves both added one goal, while goalie Julia Vichio made eight saves.
Paramus improved to 3-0 with a 10-5 win over Wayne Valley, getting five goals and one assist from Nicole DiPasquale and four goals and an assist from Julia Koenemund. Spartans goalie Angela DiPasquale made 14 saves.
Glen Rock also moved to 3-0 on Wednesday, taking down Clifton, 19-5. McGara DeWan broke out for seven goals and two assists, Caitlin Callahan added four goals and three assists and Jordan Russo, Fiona Higgins and Julia Gaffey all scored twice for the Panthers, who jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first half.
Holy Angels defeated Fair Lawn, 9-2, to move to 3-1 (lone loss to Waldwick on Monday) and received three goals from Melanie Walsh, two each from Danielle Stephens and Devin Toolen and one a piece from Patricia Krissan and Lauren Miceli.
After an 0-2 start, Westwood picked up its first win of the year on Wednesday with a 17-2 victory over Eastern Christian, as Morgan Connon struck for six goals and an assist for the Cardinals, who jumped out to an 11-1 halftime lead. Melissa Carmilani, Brooklyn Colon and McKenzie Knapp all scored twice.