Led by strong senior trio, Hopewell one of CVC’s top teams
The Hopewell Valley field hockey team is off to an impressive start and it hasn’t been just talented hockey it’s playing, it’s also smart hockey.
The Bulldogs are 6-2-1 and the losses are a one-goal game to Princeton Day and a setback against Lawrenceville.
Before the Bulldogs are anointed as one of the teams to beat they have a huge test on Thursday night when they travel to 7-0 Notre Dame for a 6:30 p.m. start.
“I have been most impressed with how quickly this team has come together,” said Hopewell Valley coach Pam Edwards. “They have a great sense of where each other is on the field and making smart passes. They work hard up and down the field.”
The core group at Hopewell includes Kileigh Pfluger, Kelsey Fithen and Gabriella Gomez who have been playing together for four years and their leadership can be notched in the younger players.
“Everyone is making contributions, working so hard and trusting each other,” said Edwards. “We want to still strive to improve every day.”
The Bulldogs tuned up for the Irish with a 3-1 win over Lawrence.
Fithen, who has had five goals in the last three games, led the way over the Cardinals with a pair. Bella DiNardo, who leads the team with eight, had one and Pfluger had a pair of assists.
Peyton Cefalone had five saves in the cage.
A Special Player
Every now and then a player who is a game changer comes along.
Robbinsville’s Shea Walsh has been one of those players.
“She is extremely competitive and naturally athletic,” said Ravens coach JennaMarie Colicchia. “She is easy to coach and never gives up. She always gives her best effort in every opportunity. Shea always pushes herself to improve and although she may be one of the best players in the area, she does not carry herself that way.”
A class act on and off the field, Walsh is headed to LIU Post next fall to play softball.
“Shea has always been a team- mate that has relationships with everyone,” said Colicchia. “She goes out of her way to make sure everyone feels as though they are a part of the team. I always say it’s the little things that make big things happen and Shea brings a lot of little things to our team that make her stand out as a leader.”
Walsh has 63 career goals, including 15 this year and the thing that always stands out about her goals is every one seems so effortless.
“She is a hustler and people feed off her relentlessness,” said Colicchia. “She pushes the defense in practice and puts herself against the best players to improve. Shea is a player that the younger kids look up to, regardless of her stats.”
SCORING LEADERS
4. Kileigh Pfluger (Hopewell Valley – 5
5. Several tied with four