Hopewell finds rhythm in win over Hightstown
HIGHTSTOWN » Every team wants to set the pace in a soccer game.
The Hightstown High varsity boys soccer team was doing that very well in the beginning of the season, but Monday when Hopewell Valley visited, the Bulldogs were just a little bit better at pacing the game.
By controlling the midfield, Hopewell Valley won its 10th game, posted its fourth consecutive shutout in its sixth straight victory and held the Rams without a win for the sixth time in their last seven games.
“They were very good at playing through the middle, so our midfield had to stay really tight,” Bulldogs junior Luke Tartaglia said after his team’s 3-0 victory. “We found their weakness. We had success when we clogged the middle and got the ball out wide.”
After going, 3-2-1, in its first six games, Hopewell has found a rhythm which is hard to break. Head coach Ed Gola’s squad has become very adept at adjusting to what the opposition throws its way. But the key is pace and plenty of pressure.
The Bulldogs got on the board 14 minutes into the game when Tartaglia found fullback Owen Burnett on a push forward. In the 38th minute, Burnett’s twin brother, Jared, got into the act when he banged in a restart from Max Wills.
“We keep our formation, and we’ve been getting a lot of communication from everyone,” Tartaglia said. “That used to be a problem in the beginning of the season.”
As the Hopewell Valley players grew more accustomed to each other, they learned how to get the best out of each other. Head coach George Wolkiewicz’ Hightstown players looked just as impressive in starting the season 5-0-1. Yet, the last 17 days have seen the Rams fall to 6-5-2 overall.
“Before when we touched the ball, we got past teams. That’s not happening as much anymore,” Hightstown junior back John Chuqui said. “Overall, the biggest change has been our communication. We need to work as a team to link up again.”
The Rams found a little more of the pace they sought in the second half, yet were unable to put one in the net for only the third time this season. Instead, Tartaglia helped the visitors complete the scoring when he sent in a corner kick, which was headed home by senior Trey Lauricella with seven minutes to play.
Goalkeeper Domenic Zangrilli and the Bulldogs’ equally stingy defense set the pace to combined on the team’s seventh shutout.
Hopewell Val. (10-2-1) Hightstown (6-5-2) Goals —
(HV).
2 1 — 0 0—
OBurnett, JBurnett, Lauricella
3 0 Assists — Shots — Saves —
Tartaglia 2, Wills (HV).
9 (HV), 5 (Hi). DZangrilli 5 (HV), Forst 6, Connolly 0 (Hi).
HILL 2, PENNINGTON 0 PENNINGTON » The Blues scored twice in the second half and got eight saves from senior goalie Chris Kingston to surprise the Red Raiders, who were dealing with the hospitalization of junior back Timmy Coe after a second half collision.
Hill (7-3) Pennington (8-3) Goals — Assists — Shots — Saves —
Zimmerman, Dlamini (H). Tullman, Wallace (H). 8 (H), 8 (P). Kingston 8 (H), Matson 3, Pinado 3 (P).
2 0
PALMYRA 2, NEW EGYPT 0 NEW EGYPT » Liam Brett posted his 11th shutout in 13 games as the Panthers played through a rain storm to defeat the Warriors.
Palmyra (12-1) New Egypt (6-4) Goals — Shots — Saves —
BMaute, Goldschmidt (P). 9 (P), 5 (NE).
Brett 5 (P), Blomgren 7 (NE).
2 0
POSTPONEMENTS
Trenton Catholic Academy’s home game with Riverside was postponed indefinitely Monday because of inclement weather. The Lawrenceville School’s nonleague game at Moorestown High was cancelled. SUNDAY
L’VILLE 1, MERCERSBURG 0 LAWRENCEVILLE » Meinhardt Rentrup’s goal midway through the second half helped the Big Red snap the Blue Storm’s seven-game winning streak.
Cameron Desnoes earned the shutout in goal.
Mercersburg (8-2) Lawrenceville (3-6-1) Goal — Shots — Saves — 0 2— 0 0— 1 1— 0 0— 0 0— 0 1— 0 1
Rentrup (L).
8 (MA), 8 (L).
Goldman 7 (MA), Desnoes 8 (L).