Mercer County Tournament Seeds/Capsules

1999

1. Peddie

Nickname: Falcons

All-time record in MCT: 8-5 (.615)

Number of championships: 1 (1996)

Notes: The Falcons have been putting up immense offensive numbers, thanks to the stick of TopOfTheCircle.com Top 50 player Julia Croddick. This is a team that has worked in the off-season to get better, as host of the Tri-State league.

2. Stuart Country Day School

Nickname: Tartans

All-time record in MCT: 11-12-1 (.478)

Number of championships: 1 (1995)

Notes: The defending NJISAA champs, the Tartans are relying on the skills of Sara Driscoll and the goalkeeping of Hannah Murnen. The question is, who else will step up and contribute? As head coach Missy Bruvik seems to get more from less than any coach in America, you get the feeling that this team will get a new heroine in this tournament.

3. Lawrenceville

Nickname: Big Red

All-time record in MCT: 23-5-1 (.821)

Number of championships: 7 (1987-89, 93-94, 97, 99)

Notes: The Big Red boasts TopOfTheCircle.com Top 50 player Sam Somach, but has so much more, including forward Lauren McDermott (no relation to their excellent center-mid from a few years back). Eliza McClaren is a sure thing in the goal cage, having demonstrated tremendous physical and mental toughness in last year's final.

4. Hun

Nickname: Raiders

All-time record in MCT: 11-15-1 (.423)

Number of championships: 1 (1990)

Notes: This team did not look good at all at the beginning of the season, but has come together quite nicely, thank you very much. This is a team to watch.

5. Lawrence

Nickname: Cardinals

All-time record in MCT: 13-11-1 (.542)

Number of championships: 1 (1983)

Notes: For the first time in seven years, the Cardinals are in the MCT. The lineup is solid, of course, with forward Kathy Kotowski as well as the twin towers of Kelly and Kim Mangini in the back seven. You get the feeling that Lawrence and head coach Shannon Carroll are making up for lost time.

6. Allentown

Nickname: Redbirds

All-time record in MCT: 0-0 (.000)

Number of championships: none

Notes: Though Allentown is actually located outside of Mercer County, it was agreed that Mercer County Tournaments would include all Redbird athletic teams. In field hockey, this makes Allentown an instant contender, given their championship history. However, without several tremendous athletes from that 1997 championship team, it is a rebuilding effort. Without head coach MaryEllen Clemencich on the sidelines, Allentown was able to win five straight 1-0 games. With her presence, who knows how good they could be?

7. Princeton Day School

Nickname: Panthers

All-time record in MCT: 16-15 (.516)

Number of championships: 2 (1986, 1998)

Notes: This Panther team may be a better all-around unit than some of its teams of recent vintage, because it is a team with talent spread around the field. Courtney Bergh is going to be one of the all-time great regional goalkeepers, and Alley Welsh is a smooth, fluid forward.

8. Princeton

Nickname: Little Tigers

All-time record in MCT: 20-15-1 (.571)

Number of championships: 1 (1987)

Notes: The Tigers have hit a downslope after gaining the MCT finals in 1997 and 1998, graduating a passel of skilled, solid players. The 2000 team is an enigma, but the coaching of Joyce Jones -- especially in MCT play -- could engineer a major upset or two.