Girls lacrosse
By: John E. Powers
The season ended in rain and mist for the Hopewell Valley Central High School girls lacrosse team Friday. It also ended with disappointment and thoughts of what could have been.
The team’s scheduled last game of the season against Montgomery was called off early in the first half because of rain. The Lady Bulldogs thus finished the season with a 5-10 record, one that could have been so much better.
The team was 5-6 at one point after what turned out to be its last win of the season an 18-8 win over Stuart Day. They followed that victory by leading Hunterdon Central with a chance to qualify for the state tournament for the fifth straight season under coach Sara Wagner, but the Red Devils rallied to win 10-9.
"That was really a devastating loss," said Wagner, whose team finished last year with a 15-3 record and went 12-5 in 2001, 9-6 in 2000 and 8-6 in 1999.
Wagner’s first team finished 4-7, and the Lady Bulldogs made four straight playoff appearances before this year’s disappointing season. The team also lost a game with South Brunswick last week because of rain. The team felt it had a good chance to win both of that game and the one with Montgomery.
"The way the season ended was devastating for the seniors and juniors, the kids who had gotten used to playing in the state tournament," Wagner said. "We had gotten to the point where it was almost a given that we’d make it, but now not making it feels like a failure."
The season ended with a 15-7 loss to West Windsor-Plainsboro North. Katie Lincoln had two goals, while Charlotte Farewell, Maggie Rarich, Alissa Molinelli, Beth Hagerty and Nichole Stevens had a goal apiece.

