Pennington girls edge Lawrenceville
PENNINGTON — They may not be as good as the Pennington School girls soccer teams that have won eight Mercer County Tournament titles and nine consecutive Prep A state championships. . .but give them time.
Veteran coaches Bill Hawkey and Pat Murphy sure have plenty of that.
So as they continue to build a Red Raiders team they hope will be a title contender in another month they remain patient as the wins mount.
“We’re still trying to find our identity,” said Hawkey as Pennington made it three straight wins after seasonopening losses to nationallyranked sides by outlasting Lawrenceville, 2-1, in a match played at the Raiders Harold Poore Field yesterday.
Cydney Staton’s goal with 16:05 remaining won it for Pennington, which also beat L’ville by a goal (4-3) to win the Prep A crown last November.
After what both teams showed yesterday they could be title rivals again this season.
First-year coach Christian Sanje’s Big Red could have easily pulled this one out had Nelly Spigner’s 20-yard shot to the far upper corner got in under the crossbar instead of slamming off the far post. L’ville had several other dangerous runs that were either covered by goalie Jess Ratner or cleared from danger by a Pennington back line that continues to improve.
Of course it might not have been so tight had the 3-2 Raiders been able to put one of their early shots past L’ville goalie Sophia Lattanzio. Along with defenders Sarah Milby and Erin Volpe she was under almost constant pressure after Erika Murphy had scored from a Staton assist 2:50 into the game.
Kristen Gatti equalized with 12 minutes left in the half, and for the rest of the match the two sides played evenly with some good runs from midfield that kept both defenses on their heels.
Midway into the second half Murphy had a penalty kick saved by Lattanzio who dove low to her left to smother the ball on the line. It was the first goal Pennington had allowed in three matches
Four minutes later Staton broke the tie when she controlled Anna Soccorsi’s pass on the left of the 18-yard box, turned quickly on her defender and dribbled into the goalmouth where her shot squeezed under Lattanzio on the line.
“We’re still trying to find that finishing combination in the final third,” explained Hawkey. “They (L’ville) are a solid team. It absolutely could have gone the other way.
“We’re still trying to find a support group that can come off the bench. The first 20 minutes we got in six times oneon-one with the ‘ keeper and either gave it right to her or hit the post.
“That’s been our problem. We get inside and either bang it off the post or put shots at the ‘keeper or take them from bad angles. That’s been the story of our first five games. We have to be more patient,” said Hawkey, who knows with games against L’ville’s other MAPL contenders Peddie (tomorrow) and Hun (Tuesday) up next Pennington must mature quickly to remain the class of Mercer County girls soccer.