BOYS SOCCER
By: Tim Falls
The Lawrence High School boys varsity soccer team deserved better than its seventh-seed in the Mercer County Tournament.
The Cardinals had two tough games in the county playoffs, a shootout win over 10th-seeded West Windsor-Plainsboro South in the opening round and a 4-2 loss to Hun, the second seed in the quarterfinals.
Being the seventh-seed put Lawrence in a difficult situation.
"I thought we got a tough seed," said Lawrence coach Keith Fithen. "We’re better than a seventh-seed, but there are a lot of good teams in this tournament."
As the higher seed, the Cardinals hosted WW-P South at Mercer County Community College stadium Saturday night in a game that featured plenty of intensity. The nightcap to four county tournament games at MCCC, the match-up between Lawrence and WW-P South had drama enough to spare, ending in a 10-9 shootout victory for the Cardinals after the two teams remained scoreless through regulation and two overtime periods.
"South’s ability is no where near their record," said Fithen who thought the Pirates had earned lower seed than they deserved. "They have fantastic skills."
Fithen knew his tournament opener would be tough after edging WW-P South in a Colonial Valley Conference regular season game on Oct. 10. Junior Justin DeMarco scored the game-winner in the final five seconds of a double overtime after junior Brian Pillsbury tied the game in the final minutes of the first half.
With that game in mind, Fithen expected plenty of pressure from the Pirates.
"I had heard they had a real tough practice the next day," said Fithen. "We knew they would throw everything at us to let everyone know that loss was a fluke."
Lawrence senior goalie Dave Schindewolf handled the brunt of WW-P South’s opening attack and denied the Pirates’ shooters.
"They came at us with everything they had in the first 15 minutes," said Fithen. "Dave Schindewolf really saved us. In that first 15 minutes he stopped four shots from point blank. All of those probably should have been goals."
Schindewolf had 13 saves and held WW-P South scoreless through regulation and both overtimes.
"He’s been in a zone," said Fithen. "He’s been leading us from that keeper position."
WW-P South’s onslaught slowed as the Cardinals’ defense responded to each attack.
"We got comfortable playing against how West Windsor was playing offense against us," said Fithen. "We stopped them at each position."
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, WW-P South’s defense had just as much success in stopping the Lawrence shooters.
"I had a feeling we would go to shootouts," said Fithen. "It wouldn’t be an easy 80 minute game."
Fithen said he asked his team on the bus ride over to MCCC who wanted to take the shots if it came down to penalty kicks. He had about eight volunteers and as the game remained scoreless and time wound down in double overtime Fithen made his selections.
The Cardinal’s fate fell to the feet of Schindewolf, Jason Zegarski, Bobby Hallowell, Doug Franc and Pillsbury. They all proved worthy selections.
All five Cardinal shooters converted their first five penalty kicks just like the shooters from WW-P South.
All five connected again as Pillsbury, Lawrence’s back-up goalie, sank his shot for the win after the Pirate’s 10th shot soared over the net.
"Brian went out and just coldly put one in," said Fithen. "He got the chance we needed."
That win kept the Cardinals undefeated in eight straight games, but that streak fell as Lawrence faced Hun in the quarterfinals.
Zegarski scored twice, once in each half, against the Raiders, but Hun stayed ahead with two goals each half to advance to face Princeton in the semifinals.
Michael Forker had an assist on one of Zegarski’s goals, while Schindwolf had 10 saves as Hun led Lawrence in shots, 16-10.
Prior to the Mercer County tournament, Lawrence recorded two ties as the CVC season wrapped up.
Schindewolf recorded his fifth-straight shutout in a 0-0 tie to WW-P North last Wednesday.
Lawrence then tied Hopewell Valley, 1-1, on Thursday. Zegarski got a go-ahead goal in the first half, but Hopewell tied the score in the final five minutes of regulation play.
NOTE: The Cardinals were scheduled to play Hightstown yesterday (Wednesday) and have qualified for the NJSIAA playoffs which start next Wednesday.

