Pennington girls hold off Lawrenceville
PENNINGTON >>Devon Duch surged down the right side, used her strength to shrug off a defender and lofted a perfect cross that set up the Pennington school girls soccer team.
That’s exactly the kind of attacking play cocoaches Dr. Bill Hawkey and Pat Murphy want from their right back.
“Outside back is a lot more getting forward and the recovering for your defense,” Duch said after the Red Raiders held off Lawrenceville, 3-1, in a prep clash Friday afternoon.
Duch, a senior from Yardley who wants to study architecture in col- lege, played primarily as a right winger last season, but has shifted to a fullback role.
But she hasn’t lost her instinct to get forward.
“I love to attack,” she said.
Nine minutes in, Pennington had the lead when Jaydin Avery jumped over her mark and headed home Duch’s cross.
Megan Porras doubled the Red Raiders’ advantage four minutes after the restart, and Ida Krook sealed the victory in the final minute off an Avery assist.
Lawrenceville (0-3) cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 48th minute when Julia Simkus glanced Ashley Chun’s free kick into the net.
Despite Pennington controlling possession, the Big Red nearly had a late equalizer when Isabelle Huang forced Carly Rice into a save.
But with Lawrenceville gambling, Krook and Avery combined for the dagger in the final minute.
The Red Raiders (6-0) remained perfect despite getting hit with the injury bug early and often.
Starters Laura Ensminger (ACL) and Olivia Mahony (hip) are out for the year, while both Andrea Amaro and Francesca Pellerito have been banged up.
“We have a few serious injuries with some our seniors and juniors,” Duch said. “It’s been a struggle to keep going, but a lot of our younger players have stepped up.” Simkus (L), Avery, Porrs, Krook (P). Chun (L), Duch, Avery (P). 9 (L), 17 (P). Durso-Finley 4 (L), Hessenthaler 2, Rice 2 (P).
HUN 2, EAST BRUNSWICK 2 EAST BRUNSWICK >> Hun received goals from Nicole Apuzzi and Julia Salerno in the first half before the unbeaten Bears matched them in the second half and held on for the tie. Apuzzi, Salerno (H), Apostolescu, Glasgow (EB). Gray (H), Constantin, Nguyen-Demary (EB). 8 (H), 12 (EB). Sutphen 8 (H), Krinsky 4 (EB).
HILLSBOROUGH 4, WW-P SOUTH 1 PRINCETON JCT. >> The Raiders handed the Pirates their sixth loss. Mazich 2, Curtis, Malebranch (H), n/a (WWS). Curtis (H), n/a (WWS). Diop (P). 3 (GA), 11 (P). Sternberg 7 (GA), Pinado 3 (P).
ROBBINSVILLE 3, BOUND BROOK 0 BOUND BROOK >> Johnny Morales and James Petagna had a goal and an assist as the Ravens got out to a quick start against the Crusaders and didn’t look back.
Brian Wojton also scored for R’ville in the first half. 5 (BB).
WW-P SOUTH 4, HILLSBOROUGH 3 (2OT) HILLSBOROUGH >> Anthony Amore’s second-half goal off a pass from Steve Ocampo knotted the score, then Leor Hecht’s 40-yard free kick found the back of the net with four minutes left in overtime to get the Pirates past the Raiders.
Amore 2. Moore-McGuinness (WWS), Jurkowich, Bedoshzili, Gadalbta (H).
Ocampo, Moore-McGuinness, Agarwal (WWS), Barrera (H). 27 (WWS), 10 (H). Valentine 6 (WWS), Burd 13 (H). Diop 2, Herrerais 2 (P). Panson, Charles, Nawn, Morales, Petagna, Wojton (R). Petagna, Morales (R). 8 (R), 5 (BB). WRomanow 5 (R), Matinez Florida St. at South Florida: Noon, ABC Wisconsin at Michigan St.: Noon, BTN Georgia at Mississippi: Noon, ESPN Iowa at RUTGERS: Noon, ESPN2 Nevada at Purdue: Noon, ESPNEWS Colorado St. at Minnesota: