Oak Knoll has built a field hockey powerhouse, and it seems no one can stand in the way of its destiny – the North Jersey non-public title.

The goal is much further, however, since he has his eyes set on the non-public group championship.

Second-seeded Oak Knoll, No. 3 in the NJ.com Top 20, has been in the spotlight at the North Jersey Non-Public Field Hockey Sectional Tournament stage since 2013, and has once again, for the 11th consecutive season, claimed the title with a 7-0 victory over top-seeded Pingry in Bernards Township.

Senior Lilly Venezia, a Dartmouth College commit, led the charge with three goals, an assist and totaled a game-high seven points for Oak Knoll (16-6-1).

Oak Knoll entered the game outscoring its opponents 14-0 throughout its playoff run and capped the sectional run with another shutout.

Venezia said: “Our efforts today reflect how much we want this, today is a testament to our work and how we overcame difficulties this season. Our defense is the best in the state, the only way our offense can be successful is if we have a strong defense.

Oak Knoll defeated Pingry (18-4) by a final score of 8-0 in the North Jersey, Non-Public Sectional final a season ago, and it looked like Oak Knoll had its fingerprints all over that game in the start to finish with the help of his experience mixed with youth.

Sophomore Phoebe Laferriere contributed two goals and two assists, totaling the first four of an eventual six-point first-half performance.

Oak Knoll head coach Ali Good explained, “The future is bright for this program and it is so exciting to see these young players learning from the juniors and seniors. That’s what we hope for as coaches, to continually develop our young players as a group, they have improved tremendously.

Winning doesn’t happen by chance. There are many common denominators that are revealed when a program wins year after year.

Coach Good added, “Our team constantly wants to play for each other, that spirit, that energy, that camaraderie is something I can’t coach. It’s something we learn from each other day in and day out, it goes beyond field hockey and it shows when times are tough.

Lilly McMahon added a goal, assisted by Melina Voliotis, and Hadley Rand found the back of the net in the victory.

Pingry lost four starters to injury, Lolly Ackermann (torn calf), Bridget Troy (pneumonia), Alexis Glasofer (broken hand) who played through injury and Annabelle Ouzounian who suffered a torn ACL on Monday against Kent Place in semi-final. .

While these losses were devastating, it was a great opportunity for players to step up and make an impact, while keeping the “next man up” mentality strong.

Pingry head coach Julie Delinsky said, “We will return eight starters next season, including a sophomore class (juniors next season) that makes up half of our roster, so there are plenty of things to build on. Having this young talent mixed with college playing experience is really going to help us.

Pingry finished his season with an undefeated record in the division while also avenging two of his losses from earlier in the season.

No. 3 Oak Knoll will face the winner of No. 1 Camden Catholic vs. St. Joseph (Hamm.) in the NJSIAA North Jersey Non-Public Group final.

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