BOYS SOCCER
By: Mike Molaro
Ed Gola knew it would take time for his Hopewell Valley Central High School boy’s soccer squad to mesh and find its identity.
It seems that the Bulldogs (6-4) are starting to put the pieces together and rounding into a solid club.
"I expected us to go up and down early," Gola said after HoVal defeated Hamilton, 3-1, Tuesday. "My hope was for the team to gel together in the second half. We are starting to play well. We are starting to put out some good efforts. We are starting to play with more composure."
With junior forward Ryan Brost, sophomore midfielder Nate Pappermann, and senior midfielder Sakhil Nepal each scoring a goal, the Bulldogs won their second consecutive game.
Senior midfielder Matt Spoth, senior midfielder Tim Kianka, and senior defender Mark Squicciarino each added an assist and sophomore goalie Aaron Utman turned aside seven Hornet shots.
After a scoreless first half, HoVal got things going late in the game.
"Hamilton’s field is smaller and there are patches where there is no grass," added Gola. "We were moving the ball well but we couldn’t finish our plays. We scored with 16 minutes left in the game and took it from there."
Nepal, senior defender Aubrey Holmes, and Pappermann scored a goal in last Saturday’s 3-0 triumph over Princeton Day School at Mercer County Community College. Holmes and senior forward each contributed an assist and Utman had two saves for the shutout.
The Bulldogs, who held a 22-4 advantage in shots, opened the field on the artificial turf and the Panthers never had a chance.
"We played with a lot of composure," Gola said. "We moved laterally rather than just vertically. We also shut them down defensively."
Senior defender Chris Tantum had HoVal’s lone goal in a 3-1 home setback to Princeton on Sept. 28. Doran had an assist and Utman made 10 saves.
"We hung in there," added Gola. "We had our opportunities. We have to learn that we can’t start playing when we are down. We need that sense of urgency from the beginning."Princeton is a talented team. Hopefully we will see them again."
With upcoming games this afternoon at home against Trenton and Saturday’s Homecoming Day action against South Brunswick, the Bulldogs know that a slot in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III bracket is theirs for the taking.

