Notre Dame handles Ewing
EWING » The Notre Dame High and Ewing High boys soccer teams are two squads that understand quite well the trials and tribulations of the Colonial Valley Conference schedule.
Neither of these clubs lost to CVC power Princeton High this season, yet neither would say this was one of their best campaigns.
Though the Irish held the Little Tigers to a scoreless tie in their third game of the season and the Blue Devils defeated Princeton three games ago, Notre Dame and Ewing have struggled to reach .500 in 2017.
It’s one of the harsh realities of playing in such a tough league. But when they met for their final regular season game at Bruce S. Martz Field in the John B. Housman Athletic Complex Saturday, the Irish showed they are much closer to evening their record by defeating the Blue Devils, 5-1.
Not only was it ND’s biggest offensive output of the year, but it also marked their sixth consecutive game without a defeat. Suddenly the Irish’s 2-7-1 start doesn’t look as bad, heading into Mercer County Tournament play at 6-7-3.
“We had a lot of injuries in the beginning of the season,” Notre Dame senior Myles Kowalski said. “More than that, I think it was just the bitter taste of defeat. It didn’t sit well with us. So our mentality changed, and the guys worked harder.”
As one of the veterans playing for first-year head coach Rich Leedom, Kowalski exudes the work effort the team seeks. He produced a goal and an assist in the second half versus Ewing after his teammates pointed ND toward victory.
The big offensive day began in the 15th minute when junior Gabe Fajardo tucked away a penalty kick, then with 7:35 left in the first half, senior Evan Harris bounced another in. Before intermission, sophomore Gianluca Pozzo knocked in a rebound when junior Brendan Rath had his shot attempt knocked away by Blue Devils goalie Kyle Marks at the top of the box to give the Irish a 3-0 lead at the half.
“We’ve been waking up since midseason,” said Kowalski, who assisted junior Kyle Dixon’s goal in the 57th minute, then headed in a free kick from senior Tom Prummer in the 72nd minute. “We’re getting pumped up for the postseason.”
At 2-9-2, the Ewing players are not happy despite upsetting Princeton, 2-1, Oct. 6. Coach Dave Waseleski’s squad was hoping to knock off Notre Dame as it did a year ago. But the Blue Devils, who have only scored 10 goals in 14 games, continued to struggle at connecting.
“We have a younger team and a younger mindset,” Blue Devils senior Alex Jesseman said. “Some are not used to playing 80 minutes. I’m trying to help them get better for their senior year.”
Jesseman showed what he can do by ripping a perfectly placed free kick into the net’s upper-90 from 40 yards out in the 59th minute for Ewing’s only tally.
Notre Dame (6-7-3) Ewing (2-10-2) Goals —
Fajardo, Harris, Pozzo, Dixon, Kowalski (ND), Jesseman (E). Kowalski, Prummer (ND). 16 (ND), 6 (E).
THogan 4 (ND), Marks 8 (E).
Assists — Shots — Saves — 3 2—5 0 1—1