On Saturday, West Essex is coming to town.

The top-seeded Knights travel to Watchung Field to face second-seeded Montclair at 2:30 p.m. in the Essex County Tournament (ECT) final. A Wessex/MHS final is an annual rite of autumn, as both teams are the class of the county each year.

The Mounties (8-2-2) won their last ECT title over the Knights in 2005, snapping a 16-year title drought. West Essex was victorious in 2006 and ’07, and Montclair is intent on stopping West Essex from embarking on another county-title run of domination.

"We are learning that teamwork is the most important thing. We are beginning to show that more and more with each match," MHS forward Bev Hersh said. Hersh scored twice during her team’s 4-0 win over Millburn in the semis this past Saturday. "It’s a big week for us and it’s our time to win."

Today’s contest will be Montclair’s third in six days. Following the Millburn win, the Mounties lost to Oak Knoll, the No. 1 team in New Jersey, 1-0, on Monday.

A scrappy Northern Highlands team gave MHS all it could handle in a September match before the locals pulled away with a 2-1 victory. Coach Mary Pat Mercuro isn’t worried about a letdown today despite the county final peeking over the horizon.

"A tough week of competition isn’t ideal, but you are only going to get better by learning and looking forward to the challenge," said Mercuro. "I’m ready for it. I think the girls are, too."

Montclair kept the pressure on Millburn goalie Erin Langan throughout the first half, but couldn’t sneak a shot past the Miller backstop until the 27:56 mark. Hersh took a long feed from sophomore Dakota Sikes-Keilp and tallied on a breakaway for a 1-0 halftime lead.

Earlier in the half, the Mounties had a goal disallowed off their newly designed corner set.

"We had been waiting to get home and work on the new corner plays on turf because they involve a lot of passes," Mercuro said. "I thought we kept possession on the goal that was called off. Luckily Bev was able to get one before the half."

Senior Emily Kaplan received a feed from Hersh and Kaylan Ellman in front and stuffed the pass home for a 2-0 lead five minutes into the second half. Just over three minutes later, Hersh notched her second goal off a feed from junior Maeve O’Leary.

The Millers had their first corner opportunity with 16:10 remaining, but Mountie junior Jena Silverman turned away a shot for her third of three saves during the game. A minute later, senior midfielder Kristen McKenna thwarted a Millburn breakaway to maintain a comfortable lead.

Keara McMahon fed Catherine Taibi with 6:10 remaining to close out the scoring for the locals.

TOUGH TEST

Oak Knoll entered Monday’s match at Watchung with a 13-0 record and wins against several of the top teams in the state. It exited with a narrow victory.

Montclair aggressively worked the ball into the offensive end against the Royals, generating three corner chances during the match’s first 15 minutes. Once Oak Knoll’s Michelle Cesan subbed into the match, possession shifted to the Mounties’ defensive end.

Cesan departed Mexico City early Monday and arrived in New Jersey fresh off the field from the Junior Pan American Games Under-21 World Cup qualifier. She didn’t factor in the Royals’ goal with 14 seconds remaining in the first half, but did draw two Montclair defenders to her. The extra attention allowed Grace O’Connor to feed a wide-open Seton Hartnett in the slot for the tally.

Ellman made a run to set up a Mountie corner with 5:04 showing on the second-half clock, keeping the ball in Montclair’s offensive end.

MHS sent several shots toward the goal during the remainder of the game but couldn’t solve Royal goalie Mary Kate Spawn.

Silverman registered seven saves for the Mounties.