Boys lacrosse
By: John E. Powers
The Hopewell Valley Central High School boys lacrosse team is coach Rob Donovan figured would have to fight through some rugged ground as the 2003 season wore on.
That stretch has now extended to six games. The losing streak reached six after a rain and lightning-shortened 7-0 loss to St. Joseph of Metuchen last Friday followed by an 11-5 loss to East Brunswick Monday.
"We’re young, and we don’t have much depth," Donovan said. "We know it’s a learning process. The kids we’re playing now will be faster and stronger in a couple of years. We have a core now. We are basically using freshmen and sophomores."
Freshman attack Freddy Wightman had two goals in the loss to East Brunswick, while Pete Carroll and Scott Kuppe had the others.
"That was Freddy’s first varsity start," Donovan said. "Last year we had a couple of freshman playing."
Another freshman, Greg Redding, was sick, so Wightman was able to get a start.
"The kids are staying positive; it’s rolling off their backs," Donovan said. "They don’t like losing, but they’re working hard and trying. We had a better effort against East Brunswick. The score really didn’t indicate the effort. We just got beat in transition."
Donovan said that he has seen improvement. He has seen improved defense from players like junior Pat Swiatocha and sophomores Ian Driscoll and Matt Gregg.
"They’re coming along," Donovan said. "I think our team realizes that we have to work twice as hard to beat teams. We just don’t have the bodies to play with some of them. We don’t have any stars or standouts, so we have to stay within our team concept."
The team has played well in a slower game but has continually struggled when its opponents are adept at playing a fast break game, Donovan said.
"When we’re in settled situations we’re OK, but when we get into those transition games, we make more mistakes and give the other team a lot of opportunities," Donovan said.
Last year, the Bulldogs suffered through a six-game losing streak that spanned from April 27-May 20 (between wins against Princeton Day and a season-ending win against Rutgers Prep). That capped a 5-10 season.
At 3-6 and with away games against Notre Dame (Friday), Voorhees (Tuesday) and Ridge (Wednesday), the Bulldogs will have to quickly turn it around if they want to get to the .500 mark.
"We have Notre Dame," Donovan said. "And they’re competitive. They’re in their first year of lacrosse, and their numbers are good. That’s not going to be a pushover. And then we have Voorhees and Ridge back-to-back. We’re talking about three tough games."

