HHS off to 0-3 start

GIRLS SOCCER: The Rams suffered setbacks against Hopewell Valley, Steinert and Nottingham in the opening week of play.

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   Colonial or Valley. Valley or Colonial. Whichever CVC division you choose, the Hightstown High School girls’ soccer team can be sure that the team wearing the other uniform is going to battle you from whistle to whistle.
   Hightstown might not suffer a more disheartening loss all season than the 1-0 setback sustained Monday afternoon at Hopewell Valley. The Bulldogs are the defending Central Jersey Group II champions, and once again are deep and talented. The Rams have not won at Hopewell since the 1995-96 season. It may be several years before they come as close as they did Monday.
   "We lost a tough one (Monday). The kids are playing their hearts out but can’t score," said coach Don Hess.
   Through regulation neither team was able to find the back of the net. And, with the clock winding down, it appeared that the first overtime would also be scoreless. But with thirty-three seconds left the Bulldogs converted off a corner kick for what would be the game’s only goal.
   Hightstown had some scoring chances of its own. More than once the ball was just lying there in front of the Hopewell net, just waiting for a Ram foot to boot it home. But the Bulldog defense always seem to get to the ball before a Ram attacker.
   "We had so many opportunities. We are just not finishing. It is a shame. It would have been a great achievement for us. I can see the frustration on the faces of the kids. They want to win," said Hess.
   Perri Weissman made 19 saves in goal for the locals. In all, the Bulldogs outshot the Rams, 22-10.
   "The kids are playing great defense," Hess said. "Perri Weissman was great in goal. Fantastic." The Rams, who lost last Friday’s season opener at former Colonial rival Steinert by a 4-0 final, are now 0-2. Said Hess, "I knew it would be tough at the beginning of the year. The kids deserved to win (at Hopewell Valley). They played so hard. I’m sure they’ll come back. They always do."
   Weissman (13 saves, two goals in the first half) and Kristin Healey (5 saves, two goals in the second half) shared time in net at Steinert. In that one the Rams had only six shots to 21 for the Spartans.
   "Both played very well in goal. They stopped some fantastic shots. I am pleased with the ‘keeping and the way the defense has played. They’ve worked very hard.
   "Steinert is Steinert," said Hess of the CVC’s perennial soccer power. "They play that short passing game. We didn’t have the opportunities we had (against Hopewell)."
   With the defense solid thus far, Hess’ attention must be on the offense. Now scoreless after two games Hess is looking for someone to step up and take charge on offense. Even if means mixing it up with the defense in front of the goalie and taking some bumps. Anything to jump start the attack and score some goals.
   "We need some kids to sacrifice themselves, to do whatever it takes to score."
   There was plenty of blame to go around Wednesday night in the Rams’ lopsided 6-0 loss to Nottingham at home. Nottingham is a decent team, but with a 0-1-1 record at game time, the Rams should have been more competitive.
   "It was our worst beating in years," said an incredulous Hess afterwards. "We played horrible."
   Surprisingly, this was very much a game after the first half, with Nottingham ahead by only 1-0. Each side had three shots. But all heck broke loose in the second half as the Rams allowed five goals. Some of the scores were on long shots, others by players who were unmarked, and still others by players who walked in on the Hightstown net.
   Hess had no explanation for his team’s poor performance.
   "It was a night game. You would think the kids would be up. We played terrible. I never saw us play like that. I played the same kids, everyone played, they all had a chance. No one stood out."
   In all, Nottingham outshot the Rams by only 14-9.
   The extent of the loss was all the more shocking because, although the locals were 0-2 coming in, they had played well.
   If there is an upside, it is this: the season is still young.
   "There’s lots of season left," Hess said. "There’s a chance to turn it around. It starts tomorrow."