Lightning halts Hopewell, Lawrence in scoreless draw

HOPEWELL TWP. » Neither the Hopewell Valley nor Lawrence girls soccer teams wanted a key division clash to end this way.

The lightning in the area had another idea.

The Bulldogs and Cardinals played to a 0-0 draw after the game was stopped due to lightning with 31:49 remaining in the second half. NJSIAA rules state that a game is considered completed after 40 minutes are played.

“I thought it was a good match and we were matched up well,” Lawrence coach Emily Palombo said. “I thought they had spurts of possession and we had spurts of possession, and it’s a shame we didn’t get to finish it out.”

The tie left Lawrence (43-2) still the surprise leader in the CVC Valley as it remained two points ahead of the Bulldogs (6-2) and Nottingham, which had its game against Hamilton postponed.

“Winning the division isn’t out of our reach when we play well and play as a group,” said Palombo, whose team is down two starter due to season-ending injuries. “We have to pay attention to the details because that’s what matters in certain games, especially in a game like this against Hopewell on this huge field that they are very good on.”

Emily Mihov had the best chance for the Cardinals in the opening 40 minutes, but her left-footed shot was parried away by Bulldogs goalkeeper Braylee Walters.

The sophomore finished with five saves.

“We have a lot of confidence in Braylee,” Hopewell coach John McGinley said. “She’s in the right position, she’s athletic and when she’s been called upon she’s responded.”

The Bulldogs created pressure from corner kicks and were unlucky not to grab the lead as the ball often ping-ponged around the box before it was whipped away by a Cardinals defender.

Charlotte Hare had an opportunity late in the first half for Hopewell, but curled a left-footed shot just wide of the post.

Palombo made it a point to sure up a back line that conceded three times in a 3-3 draw with Hightstown on Monday and sophomore center backs Brianna Audet and Joelle D’Angelo were key to repelling Hopewell’s attacks.

Senior goalkeeper Antonia Karpontinis finished with three saves for the Cardinals.

“We can’t give up a goal and then have that be the spur for what we need to do,” Palombo said. “We need to start from the very beginning and that was a big focus. I thought they executed that.”

This was the second game time Hopewell had a game influenced by lightning. The season-opening 4-1 win over West Windsor North was delayed 45 minutes before it resumed.

This time the weather worsened and the game was halted.

“Obviously, you want to play the full game and give yourself a chance to get that winning goal,” McGinley said. “It’s been a crazy fall with weather. We just have to learn from it and maybe being a little more urgent to score some goals.”

Lawrence (4-3-1) 0 0 - 0 Hopewell (6-2) 0 0 - 0

Shots: 5 (L). 5 (HV); Saves: Karpontinis 3 (L). Walters 5 (HV).

CVC GIRLS SOCCER STANDINGS

Thru Sept. 26 (overall)

Colonial

Allentown (7-0) Notre Dame (7-2) Princeton (4-2-2) Hightstown (5-3-1) WW-P South (2-5) Trenton (1-8) WW-P North (0-7)

Valley

L

0 2 2 3 5 7 6 Lawrence (4-3-2) 4 1 Nottingham (4-1) 4 1 Hopewell Val. (6-2-1) 4 1 Steinert (4-1) 4 0 Robbinsville (4-2-1) 3 2 Hamilton (1-6) 1 5 Ewing (0-8) 0 6 *3 pts for a division win; 2 pts for a cross-division win; 1 pt for a tie T Pts

0 17 0 13 1 12 1 8 0 5 0 0 0 0

2 12 0 10 1 10 0 8 1 7 0 3 0 0