Hopewell falls to Somerville in semifinals
SOMERVILLE >> As much as the Hopewell Valley boys lacrosse team wanted redemption in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group II semifinals, the task was simply too exhausting Wednesday afternoon.
Second-seeded Somerville flashed its elite speed and eliminated the sixthseeded Bulldogs from states for the second straight year with a 14-7 win.
“Offensively I thought the pace they played at early on was great, and a pace of play that wasn’t what we’ve seen in a lot of games this year,” Hopewell coach Matt Foret said. “I think it took our defense a little bit to just adjust to their off-ball play and their ball movement. I think they’re different than a lot of teams where they really rely on offball movement as opposed to one or two guys dodging.”
Once Somerville punished an errant Hopewell pass on the first possession with two quick goals, Foret felt his team began to press offensively. But the Bulldogs battled back from a 6-1 deficit as Devin Higgins assisted three second-quarter goals by Spencer Bell, Dylan Tomarchio and Kenny Abey.
“I think our guys just got under control, got a feel for the zone and how the zone was working and where the open spots were going to be,” Foret said. “I just think it just unfortunately took us some time to just get comfortable with what we were asking them to do, and once they settled in we did a nice job.”
Down only two goals at halftime, Hopewell had an upset within striking distance before more problems surfaced in the second half.
Somerville’s Andrew Muller won 10 of the final 13 face-offs and attackman Ryan Pierson caught fire, netting three of his gamehigh five goals in the first six minutes of the third quarter.
Hopewell’s defense, playing without standout junior Chris Hollander because of injury, yielded eight of the first nine goals after the intermission. Meanwhile, Duke commit Evan Barr finished with 11 saves in net for Somerville.
“I think we probably expended a lot of energy trying to come back, and then when they get the first couple in the third quarter that really saps a lot of the energy out of us,” Foret said. “We could see our defense was really getting tired in the fourth quarter with their great off-ball play.”
Still, for Hopewell to even reach this stage again was impressive.
The Bulldogs won four state games the last two springs — more than any other Colonial Valley Conference school. And they were underdogs in five of the six postseason games.
Along the way this season, Hopewell earned nonconference wins against East Brunswick, Johnson, Eastern, Hillsborough and Northern Burlington. It then defeated Ocean Township and won at Wall in the sectional bracket.
“I think it’s a testament to our kids, and I think it’s just, as a coaching staff our mentality is to just try to get better every day,” Foret said. “Even in our practice yesterday we spent 80 percent of our practice working on fundamentals. As a coach, that’s sort of my mindset is just to keep teaching, to keep building our players.”
Next season, the Bulldogs will return most of its offense besides Tomarchio, who graduates with 97 career goals. They must find some pieces defensively and in the faceoff circle, but the program is proving it knows how to develop lacrosse players. Hopewell (12-8) 1 3 1 2 — 7 Somerville (13-7) 6 0 4 4 — 14
Goals — AAzara 2, Abey 2, Tomarchio, Bell, Doldy (H), Pierson 5, Dupras 4, Sanchez 3, Rosen, Varona (S). Assists — Higgins 3, AAzara, Bell, Crow (H), Pierson 5, Dupras 2, Quade, Rosen, Varona (S).
Shots — 16 (H), 18 (S).
Saves — Pisauro 5 (H), Barr 11 (S).
RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN 16, ALLENTOWN 6
Fifth-seeded Allentown fell to top-seeded RumsonFair Haven in the other South Jersey Group II semifinal, officially ending the boys lacrosse season for The Trentonian’s coverage area.
The Redbirds, who beat Jackson Liberty and Seneca in the first two rounds, finish their campaign at 10-6.
Rumson will host Somerville on Saturday for the sectional title.