Notre Dame keeps Mayor’s Cup
LAWRENCEVILLE >> Even though the Notre Dame High varsity boys soccer team had scored 16 goals in its last four games, senior forward Chris O’Neill was not sure what to expect from his club when it met up with crosstown rival Lawrence High in the Mayor’s Cup game at Rider University Saturday.
The problem was that it was a packed house of loud, raucous fans at Rider’s Ben Cohen Field. It was the biggest crowd to watch their team, so O’Neill was not sure how the Irish would react.
But after O’Neill got ND on the board in the first half by converting a pass from Aiden Hoenisch, the Irish came out much more relaxed in the second half and found their touches to take a 4-0 win over the Cardinals.
For the second year in a row, Notre Dame took home the AngebranndtPerone Trophy in the popular event’s third year of existence.
“We have been scoring,” O’Neill said, “but this was a different atmosphere with this crowd being so big. It was really a lot of people.”
The gathering of close to 300 people filled the stands, sidelines and parking lot to create one of the more enjoyable atmospheres in front of which the players will compete. And head coach Dan Donigan’s players took full advantage in the second half.
One minute and 40 seconds after intermission, sophomore forward Danny Bensch knocked in a ball moved along by seniors Matt Jakim and Eli Thomas. Then, 13 minutes later, Bensch scored again, this time off a corner kick from O’Neill.
“The first goal got us started,” O’Neill said. “Once the first one went in and the second half began, we began rolling from there.”
The Irish spent most of the second half in Lawrence’s end. With 8:26 to play, Thomas completed his team’s scoring by connecting on another pass from Hoenisch.
The Cardinals’ best chances came in a flurry with just under four minutes remaining. Edwin Garcia hit the post with a shot, then, before the ball could be cleared, Damian Szumigraj hit the crossbar with another shot.
But a goal was not to be for Lawrence as ND goalkeepers Nick Wilke and P.J. White combined on the shutout.
Lawrence (4-7-1) 0 0 — 0 NotreDame (10-2) 1 3 — 4
Goals: CO’Neill, Bensch 2, Thomas (ND); Assists: Hoenisch 2, Jakim, Thomas, CO’Neill (ND).Shots: 6 (L), 16 (ND); Saves: Wakeman 10 (L), Wilke 2, White 2 (ND).