Boys Soccer: HWS Tournament final preview – Hackettstown vs. Delaware Valley

  • 10/27 - 3:30 PM Boys SoccerFinal
    Delaware Valley 0
    Hackettstown 1
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HUNTERDON/WARREN/SUSSEX TOURNAMENT FINAL
BRACKET
Saturday, Oct. 27 at Vernon
3-Hackettstown (13-4) vs. 4-Delaware Valley (15-3), 3:30

HOW THEY GOT HERE: Third-seeded Hackettstown, with revenge on its mind after last year's one-goal loss to Hunterdon Central in the tournament final, returned back to the championship game with shutout wins over Belvidere (5-0) and Phillipsburg (2-0) before a stunning 2-1 result over Hunterdon Central in the semifinals last weekend.

After losing two of its first three games this season, few teams have been better in this area than Hackettstown. Hackettstown racked up seven straight wins before a loss to Jefferson in the middle of the season.

Delaware Valley, one of the biggest surprises in the Skyland Conference this season, reached the HWS final as the No. 4-seed with a 5-1 win over High Point, a 2-1 win against Newton and a 1-0 win over No. 8-seed North Hunterdon in the semifinals last weekend.

Like Hackettstown, Delaware Valley dropped two of its first three games this season, but has only lost one other time since on its way to stardom in the Skyland Conference. A win in the county tournament would be a big confidence boost before Delaware Valley kicks off play in the Central Jersey, Group 2 state tournament.

Delaware Valley won just three games last season.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS: This will be the first meeting between Delaware Valley and Hackettstown since Oct. 12, 2015, a 1-1 draw.

CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: With Hackettstown's win over Hunterdon Central, there will be a new champion in the HWS for the first time in three years.

Delaware Valley last won a HWS title in 2011 and Hackettstown's last tri-county tournament title came 2003.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Shane Davies (nine goals, 10 assists) and Colby Clark (nine goals, two assists) have led Hackettstown's two-pronged offensive attack this season.

Chase Reardon and Cartlon Prant have been major contributors for Hackettstown and Tyler Gorczyca and Issac Javier have added four goals apiece.

Sammy Giraldo has scored once and posted eight assists as a legitimate chance-producer for Hackettstown. Vinny Coccaro has been strong in net all season for the Tigers.

Delaware Valley has a lethal dual-threat attack of their own in Anthony Fancera (16 goals, five assists) and Caleb Bush (11 goals, nine assists).

Alejandro Silva has played off Fancera and Bush well with eight goals this season, while Nick DiBetta, Brett Howard, Chris Jacob and Kevin Reinhart have all been important pieces for Delaware Valley.

Kevin Zipay has seen the ball well in net all season.

HACKETTSTOWN WINS IF: It's offense keeps rolling.

Hackettstown's offense has been firing on all cylinders late in the season and will need to carry that into the HWS final against a team that, like them, can score in bunches.

A quick goal early or any type of sustained offense in the first half could help Hackettstown get over the mental hump from last year's loss and win its first tournament title in 15 years.

DELAWARE VALLEY WINS IF: It can get Fancera and Bush involved early.

This duo is a big reason why Delaware Valley enters the county final 15-3 and will have a say in whether Delaware Valley can capture its first title in seven years.

Delaware Valley will need to get those players into space, especially early, in an attempt to set the tone and put Hackettstown back on its heels a bit.

PREDICTION: Delaware Valley 2, Hackettstown 1

Brian Deakyne may be reached at bdeakyne@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrianDeakyne. Like NJ.com High School Sports on Facebook.

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