LEADING BY EXAMPLE
Didun’s team-first attitude is powering Hopewell Valley this season
Jen Didun brings so much more than just talent and a love for the game to the hockey field.
The Hopewell Valley senior defender brings a quiet leadership, a winning attitude and a team-first mentality.
Toiling on the defense, Didun seeks wins, not attention.
“I just want to go out and play my hardest and leave it all on the field,” said Didun. “We ( seniors) just want to go out and have the best year we can for our last year.”
It’s a plan that has been working as the Bulldogs 7-1 with wins over highly regarded Princeton and West Windsor-Plainsboro South.
Despite spending most of her time on the back line, Didun has a pair of goals and a two assists. She participates in penalty corners and has taken strokes this season.
Didun is just fine doing her part for the team anywhere on the field.
“My mind set has always been to do whatever I can to help my team,” said Didun. “It doesn’t have to be shown on paper. If me and the other backs can stop a goal it is helping us score a goal. Even though it is not written down on paper, we still helped.”
A lot of what Didun does that is not written down. Still, she has been a major factor in the success at Hopewell.
“Jen is a positive, encouraging person,” said Hopewell coach Pam Edwards. “She is always ready and willing to help a teammate. She leads by example on and off the field.”
One of the Bulldogs captains, Didun is grateful for the opportunity.
“It is a great honor,” said Didun. “We have a lot of leaders on this team. To have that title is very humbling.”
Her performance and leadership, though, is more awe-inspiring than humbling.
South Soaring When West WindsorPlainsboro South dropped two of its first three games, you began to hear the whispers.
“What
was
wrong
at South?”
Considering both those defeats were by one goal, there was nothing wrong with the Pirates. Now they are proving it.
South has won four straight and stand at 5-2 after their thrilling 2-1 overtime win over sister-school WW-P North.
“We’ve made some important line changes,” said South coach Christine Cabarle. “The forwards have really stepped up their game and want to do their jobs well, and our midfield continues to do an excellent job keeping the pace of the game quick.”
Cabarle moved Sam McCormick to center back, which freed up Ashley Hasling to play in the midfield.
were
the
undertones. Colby Hussong is leading South with nine goals and six assists for 24 points. Yunah Park has seven goals and two assists.
Hasling, Cassie Perez and Kate McCormick and the rest of the Pirates are giving their all. McCormick scored the game-winner against North and goalie Emily Kramer has a sterling 1.71 goals against average.
The all-out effort was evident in the win over archrival.
“North is always a huge game for the girls,” said Cabarle. “Bragging rights is a great motivator.”
It’s beginning to look like winning is the best motivator for South. Rams Rebounding Since Allentown handed Hightstown its lone defeat, the Rams (6-1) have been on a rampage.
They are 3-0 and have outscored the opposition 15-1 through Tuesday’s game.
“The Allentown game really showed the girls what level they need to be at to be competitive in the CVC,” said Rams coach Nichole Tomasello. “I believe now they see how much hustle and heart they will need to play with from here on out.”
The transformation has been present throughout the lineup.
Dorothy Von Ahnen has an amazing 0.71 goals against average, Ricky Geisler has a team-high seven goals and Kelly Mankowich has 10 assists.
“It hasn’t been just one person,” said Tomasello. “They have done a great job as a whole unit playing together. I have really stressed how important it is that every line communicates with each other on the field.”
The Rams’ next test will be Ewing before playing Hopewell Valley and West Windsor-Plainsboro North next week.
“We are taking it one game at a time,” said Tomasello. “We focus on the team we are going to play and we play them.”
The Rams are definitely playing them at a winning level. Lawrence Lookin’ Good When the Cardinals started the season with three straight losses, it could’ve set the tone for the entire season. Carlee Cimorelli, the Lawrence coach, and players like Lindsey Frietag and Jenny Dwyer kept pushing forward.
“I’m very happy with the way the team has continued to work hard and improve as a team,” said Cimorelli. “They could’ve easily hung their heads and given up. They have kept positive and worked hard to come into this week 2-3.”
That schedule will get tougher as the season goes along. Another of the bright spots has been the play of sophomore Criswell Lavery in the cage. This is Lavery’s first season as a goalie and she has a shutout to her credit.
Another sophomore, Gina Gutierrez has kept the midfield settled and is among the Cardinals stepping up.
“I know the girls are going to continue to work hard,” said Cimorelli. “We are going to continue to step up our game.”
That game just keeps getting better. Heard Around the Cage
•Princeton Day School opened its new Jan Baker Field with a field hockey game between the Panthers and the Academy of the New Church. The field features FieldTurf technology.
•Princeton travels to South for a big test today. It is a pivotal game for both teams.
• There are six goalies with a goals against average under 1.00. They are Hayley Peterson (Allentown), Sarah Trigg (PDS), Kristin Olszuk (Hopewell Valley), Dorothy Von Ahnen (Hightstown), Reina Kern (Hun) and Breanna Hegarty (Princeton).