Leestma makes most of opportunity

Hopewell Valley boys soccer

By: Jim Green
   Adam Leestma picked the perfect time to score the first goal of his varsity career.
   The hard-working senior, playing his first year with the Hopewell Valley Central High School varsity boys soccer squad, went scoreless throughout the regular season and the first two rounds of the state tournament. But in the second-seeded Bulldogs’ Central Jersey Group III sectional final match at top-seeded Monroe on Friday, he finally got on the board, booting in the game-winning goal off a pass from teammate Greg Reading with five seconds left in the first overtime period.
   "It’s kind of quality over quantity," Leestma said. "It’s great. It’s really indescribable."
   The golden goal gave Hopewell a 2-1 win and its first sectional title since capturing the Central Jersey Group II crown in 2002. It also earned the team a trip to Tuesday’s Group III state semifinal game against South Jersey Group III champ Ocean City.
   "The kid deserves it," Hopewell goalie A.J. Juiliano said of Leestma. "He’s so talented, and he works so hard."
   Juiliano was just as important to the cause, coming up with some acrobatic saves in the second half, barely staving off Monroe and preserving a 1-1 score.
   "You just have to get the job done," said Juiliano, who finished with 10 saves on Monroe’s quick turf field. "The defense played amazing. Matty (Lanouette) came up big. Aubrey (Holmes) came up big. The whole team played great."
   Ed Gola, who has guided the Bulldogs to the state tournament in each of his first three years as head coach, picked up the biggest win of his career.
   "I’m so happy for this group," he said. "You need to have talent, you need to have chemistry, and you need to have luck."
   The Bulldogs caught a break less than two minutes into the game, as a misplay between a Monroe defender and Falcons goalie Cory Notaro gave Hopewell’s Bryan Kuppe a wide open shot from the top of the box. With Kuppe bearing down on him, the Monroe defender attempted to tip the ball back to Notaro. But a diving Notaro couldn’t handle the pass, and the ball ricocheted to Kuppe, who fired the ball into the back of the net.
   "I thought it was great to score early," Gola said. "I think sometimes we get a little complacent early."
   The goal gave the Bulldogs all the early momentum, and they held it until Monroe finally got on the board with six minutes left in the half. The Falcons’ Brandon Sebastian led striker Justin Miller into the box for a one-on-one confrontation with Juiliano, and Miller rifled a shot into the goal to tie the game.
   But that was all the Falcons would get from Juiliano, who, as usual, was at his best in the biggest game. The All-Colonial Valley Conference First Team goalie, who posted 12 shutouts on the season, was a wall in the second half and overtime.
   "A.J. comes up with big saves in big situations," Gola said.
   Still, with three minutes left in the first overtime, Miller had a chance to win the game with a breakaway opportunity, but he blasted his shot off the left post.
   "I went and kissed my post a couple of times," Juiliano said. "I’m going to have to give credit to the post for that one."
   After Miller’s shot bounced off the post, the game seemed destined for a second 10-minute overtime period. But with just five seconds left, Hopewell finally struck.
   Henry Idowou took a throw-in from the right sideline with 25 seconds left and tossed the ball to Reading, who flicked it to a wide-open Leestma on the right. From just above the six, Leestma hammered the ball home, ending his personal scoring drought and lifting the Bulldogs to their biggest win in three years.
   "I was just hoping I wouldn’t hit it over," Leestma said. "I was kind of open the whole game. Their outside mid was pushing up."
   With a trip to the state semifinals wrapped up, the Bulldogs mobbed Leestma and thanked him for making all their hard work pay off.
   "I would be happy with anyone who scored at that point," Gola said. "But for him to get a game-winning goal in this situation, I couldn’t be happier."
   For seniors like Juiliano, Leestma’s goal meant their high school careers would last at least a few more days.
   "I can’t even describe it," Juiliano said. "To experience this with these teammates — you want to come up big for each of them. This is the greatest feeling game because of the importance and magnitude of it. It’s amazing."
• NOTES: In addition to Juiliano, Bulldogs who were named to the All-CVC First Team included Lanouette, a defender, and midfielders Jack Spencer and Idowou.
   Kuppe, a forward, and Reading, a defender, made second team, and forward Eric Doran and defender Mark Squicciarino were named to the third team.
   Defender Brian Williams received an honorable mention.