BOYS SOCCER
By: Mike Molaro
When the Hopewell Valley Central High School boy’s soccer squad was having challenges putting things together earlier this season, Ed Gola laid out a simple yet effective edict.
"I told the guys that we want to play our best soccer in October," the Bulldog head coach said after HoVal won its fifth straight game and raised its record to 9-4 with Tuesday’s solid 2-0 triumph at Ewing. "I told the guys it was up to them. The guys knew that what we did the rest of the year depended upon them."
The Bulldogs raised their intensity level, tightened their defensive armor, and started scoring key goals. Those three key ingredientsalong with their growing confidence with each winhave transformed them into one of the area’s better units.
With sophomore forward Nick Maida and junior forward Ryan Brost each scoring a goal in the second half and sophomore goalie Aaron Utman making six saves, HoVal shut down the Blue Devils and raised its winning streak to five.
"We were moving the ball extremely well," added Gola, whose team fired off 25 shots. "We are starting to play well as a unit. Our defense has solidified and we have minimized opponents’ opportunities."
With the Ewing game following last Saturday’s emotional 4-3 Homecoming victory over visiting South Brunswick, the Bulldogs were on guard for an emotional roller coaster dip.
"I was worried a little bit about a let down," Gola said. "But we came out ready to play against Ewing and never gave them a chance to get into the game. I think that is a result of our maturation process and part of how much we have grown and developed as a team."
Senior midfielder Tim Kianka had a pair of goals and an assistincluding the game winner five minutes into the first overtimeas HoVal knocked off perennial state power South Brunswick and clinched a berth in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III Tournament.
Brost had a goal and an assist and senior midfielder Sakhil Nepal tied the score at 3-3 with nine seconds remaining in regulation time. Senior forward Eric Doran and senior defender Aubrey Holmes each contributed an assist and Utman was strong in goal with 10 saves for the Bulldogs’ fourth consecutive win.
"This was a crazy game," added Gola. "We thought we scored off a penalty kick with nine seconds left but that was called back. We had another kick and Sakhil scored off the free ball. It was our Homecoming and there was a lot of emotion in the stands and on the field. We also clinched a state tournament berth. This was a big win for the team, not just record-wise but overall. South Brunswick was 9-1 going into this game and was ranked among the top 25 teams in the state. The guys have the feeling now that they can beat the big-time teams. This win was good for our morale and for team chemistry."
In picking up their second shutout in their last three games, the Bulldogs recorded a 2-0 victory at Trenton on Oct. 5 behind goals from Brost and Doran and an assist from Nepal while Utman recorded 10 saves.
"We were able to move the ball though their midfield and kept attacking," Gola said. "We were much better at possessing the ball."
One of the surprising pieces in the Bulldog picture this season is the play of Utman, who stepped into the nets when senior goalie Kris Ryan suffered a ruptured spleen in the third game of the season.
"Aaron has done a solid job," added Gola. "It’s tough for a sophomore to step in right away. His first year on the varsity level was to be a learning experience. Now he’s learning as he goes.
"He’s very comfortable and confident back there and a very vocal goalie. The team is confident in Aaron and they know he is going to the job. Assistant coach Ed Balog has done a great job working with Aaron every day."
Although the Bulldogs have that state tournament berth in their back pocket, there’s no slowing down."We still have a lot of work to do," Gola said. "We want to get as many wins to get good seeds in the state tournament and the county tournament. The teams we have remaining are fighting for state tournament berths, so they will be coming to play."
HoVal will be ready and waiting.
NOTES: The county tournament begins on Oct. 21 with first-round CJ III action set for Oct. 31. "We want to have some busy weeks ahead," added Gola. "That’s the plan."

