Butler Heads into MCT as No. 18 seed

It's been a rough start to the season for the Butler field hockey team, as losses in four of five games this year have saddled the Bulldogs with a No. 18 seed in this years' Morris County Tournament, beginning Saturday, Oct. 1.

Butler will look to turn its season around as they face off against No. 15 seeded Morris Knolls (2-4-1) in a preliminary round matchup in the MCT.

With Madison locking up the first spot for the upcoming MCT, it leaves West Morris Central (6-1), Chatham (7-2), Pequannock (5-2-1) and Randolph (5-2-1) rounding out the top five seeds.

After a visit to the Morris County Tournament finals in 2010, the Madison field hockey team again looks primed to make an impact in the annual county tournament, after starting the season with wins in seven of its eight games played.

Madison will play the winner of Morris Hills vs. Mendham, who face off in the preliminary round on Saturday.

West Morris Central comes off of wins over Morristown, Morris Knolls, Mendham and Roxbury, with its only loss this season coming by way of a 1-0 loss to fifth seeded Randolph High. Through seven games this season, the West Morris defense boasts a less than one goal per game average, proving good enough for the No. 2 seed.

West Morris will play the winner of Morris Knolls vs. Butler, who face off in the preliminary round on Saturday.

Chatham, the reigning 2010 MCT champs, has kept up its form in 2011, cruising to a 7-2 mark heading into this seasons’ tournament. With losses to Madison and West Essex their only blemishes of 2011, the Cougars No. 3 seed in the MCT is a clear indicator of the potential for a repeat performance this season.

Like West Morris, Chatham’s defense has remained stout in 2011, allowing just over one goal per game, while the Cougar offense has averaged just under four goals per game.

Chatham will play the winner of Morristown-Beard vs. Mt. Olive, who face off in the preliminary round on Saturday

Here’s a look at the complete seeding setup for the MCT:

1. Madison (7-1)

2. West Morris Central (6-1)

3. Chatham (7-2)

4. Pequannock (5-2-1)

5. Randolph (5-2-1)

6. Jefferson (5-2)

7. Morristown (4-2)

8. Boonton (5-3)

9. Mountain Lakes (4-3)

10. Parsippany (4-3)

11. Montville (4-3)

12. Whippany Park (4-3)

13. Roxbury (3-4)

14. Morristown-Beard (2-3)

15. Morris Knolls (2-4-1)

16. West Morris Mendham (2-5)

17. Morris Hills (2-4-1)

18. Butler (1-5)

19. Mount Olive (1-6)

20. Parsippany Hills (0-6)

The tournament is set to begin on Saturday, Oct. 1 with the preliminary round matchups being played at the higher seeded teams’ home field. 

Here’s a schedule for each round of the tournament:

Preliminary Round – Play by October 1, 2011 @ TBD

First Round – Play by October 8, 2011 @ TBD

Quarter-Finals – Play by October 15, 2011 @ TBD

Semi-Finals – Play by October 19, 2011 @ TBD

Championship Game – October 22, 2011

• Location: Boonton High School

• Time: 6:30 p.m.