Win over Wall sents Bulldogs to final

GIRLS SOCCER

By: Tim Falls
   The final few minutes of the first half set the tone for the second half.
   The Hopewell Valley Central High School girls varsity soccer team had a few scoring chances near the end of the first half of the Bulldogs’ semifinal game in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III playoffs. Third-seeded Hopewell found the back of the net not long after halftime to upset second-seeded Wall, 2-0, on Monday.
   Hopewell will play top-seeded Freehold Boro today (Thursday) at 2 p.m. in the Central Jersey Group III final.
   In the semifinal, Rosie Rarich gave Hopewell the go-ahead goal a few minutes after the team took the field in the second half. Rarich scored with an assist from Sam Germano four minutes into the second half to put Hopewell in control.
   Germano’s persistence paid off again shortly thereafter as she fired several shots off rebounds in quick succession before Rachel Muentener deflected one of Germano’s blasts into the net.
   All that action got its start with Hopewell’s efforts at the end of the first half.
   "The first half was pretty even," said Hopewell coach John McGinley, "but in the last 10-15 minutes we started getting some real good chances. We carried that into the second half. It gave us confidence."
   The Bulldogs out worked Wall to the lose balls to upset the higher seed.
   "We played on a smaller field so the 50-50 balls were more important," said McGinley. "Leah Kulp and Ali Newman and the defenders did a great job winning those balls and that gave us more opportunities because we had possession."
   The Bulldog defense did well in shutting down Wall’s shooters, limiting them to six shots.
   "Arielle Wolf marked their best player," said McGinley noting a reason the higher seed had trouble mounting an attack. "Gina Colati played as our sweeper, if there was a breakdown she stopped it and cleared the ball."
   Hopewell goalie Kim Fearnbach made four saves for her 14th shutout of the season.
   "She’s quick on her feet," said McGinley. "She’s able to come out and challenge. And, because she’s quick on her feet she’s can dive and a make those saves."
   Hopewell reached the semifinal after a 2-0 quarterfinal win over Ocean Township last Friday. Ocean Township eliminated the Bulldogs from the playoffs last season.
   Lauren Sheidler provided the go-ahead goal in the first half after Newman headed down a corner kick by Wolf.
   "It really was a team effort,’ said Sheidler. "It showed we can pull together as a unit and make it happen."
   Kristen Regan added an insurance goal in the second half. Colati lobbed the ball over Ocean Township’s defenders right to Germano with Regan at her side giving Hopewell a two on one against just the goalie. Germano slid the ball to Regan as the Ocean Township goalie came out to challenge and Regan fired into the open net.
   Fearnbach made seven saves in the shutout, while Hopewell led in shots, 17-15.
   The two playoff wins helped Hopewell return to the Central Jersey final for the first time since 2001.