Hopewell advances past Matawan to quarterfinals
HOPEWELL TWP. >> It has been quite a story that Kelsey Fithen has written these last four years at Hopewell Valley.
On Tuesday afternoon, Fithen and her Hopewell Valley teammates began the final chapter of the 2018 season as they faced Matawan in the state tournament.
Fithen and the rest of the No. 6 seeded Bulldogs are continuing the season as they blanked Matawan, 3-0, on a beautiful fall day on the Ackerson Field turf in the opening round of the North Jersey 2, Group II section.
The penalty corners were the difference for Hopewell Valley (12-5-1) as all three goals came off corners. Fithen set the tone by getting a pair and Kileigh Pfluger added the other.
Bella DiNardo assisted on both Fithen goals and Fithen assisted on the Pfluger goal.
“Everyone really doesn’t want this to end,’’ said Fithen. “These guys have been a great support for me and I don’t want to leave them. It’s nice to have a good season in my senior year. We’ve fought hard and we always give it our all.’’
Next up for the Bulldogs is a trip to No. 3 Madison (15-2), which has lost only to Oak Knoll and Eastern.
But, anything can happen in a game and if the Bulldogs control the play like they did against Matawan (6-11-1) anything is possible.
Fithen’s two goals give her a team high-13 on the season and 40 for her career, and she has a careerhigh 11 assists this season.
The two she caged came off inserts by DiNardo, and she made a great pass to Pfluger on the final goal of the game.
Fithen’s second goal of the game was a beauty as the senior used a sweep move and found the back of the cage.
“When we got the corner I heard all the fans cheering and I got such anxiety,’’ said Fithen, who calmly found the backboard. “The team told me to just think of the ball going in the goal and it went really well.’’
Hopewell Valley had 18 corners and was successful with them.
“Kelsey came up huge for us,’’ said Hopewell Valley coach Pam Edwards. “We had more opportunities but being able to keep it down in our end was big. We played really well. When we had opportunities we really elevated.’’
The Bulldogs were perfect on defense too as Peyton Cefalone led the way in goal and the backs, Gabby Gomez, Kate Jackson and Mia Carrell kept the Huskies off the doorstep.
“We want to keep playing and stay together,’’ said Fithen. “It’s was awesome to get the goals, but no matter who gets them it’s always the same feeling as long as the team wins.’’
This has been another successful season at Hopewell and a team that has enjoyed playing together.
“Kelsey, Kileigh and Gabby have been great captains and all the seniors have been stepping up,’’ said Edwards. “We have some younger kids stepping up too. This has been a very cohesive group.’’
A group led by Fithen, Pfluger and Gomez that doesn’t want the season to end.
Matawan (6-11-1) 0 0 – 0 Hopewell Valley (12-5-1) 1 2 – 3 Goals: HV: Fithen 2, Pfluger. Assists: HV: DiNardo 2, Fithen Shots M: 1, HV 12. Saves: M: Balletta 9, HV: Cefalone 1.