GIRLS LACROSSE
By: Tim Falls
It takes a total team effort to win three games a week.
That’s what the Hopewell Valley Central High School girls varsity lacrosse team provided when playing Robbinsville, West Windsor-Plainsboro North and Kent Place.
It’s what head coach Pam Edwards is hoping for again as her Bulldogs play Hun today (Thursday), Hunterdon Central on Saturday and Notre Dame on Tuesday.
"We want another very strong week," said Edwards. "We need contributions from everyone, because that’s what we got all week."
Katie Cahill led the Hopewell attack in its last three games. The sophomore scored nine goals in the Bulldogs’ last three victories.
Cahill scored five goals in Hopewell’s 11-3 win over West Windsor-Plainsboro North on Friday.
Hopewell senior Claire Grimwood had a hat trick against the Knights while juniors Kyle Pagano and Lauren Sheidler and sophomore Alison Cahill all scored once.
"They were a feisty team," said Edwards. "They were aggressive and they were tough. Even though the score doesn’t necessarily show it, our kids had to play tough.
Edwards said her defenders were especially stingy and kept the Knights from scoring.
Hopewell took a 5-1 lead in the first half and then led WW-P North, 6-2, in the second half.
"In the first half we realized we were forcing the goals a little bit," said Edwards. "We talked at halftime and said we couldn’t force it in. We started pulling it out further and we were able to work the ball around more and we took advantage of that."
Against Robbinsville last Wednesday, Hopewell took advantage of openings in the midfield to accelerate its transition to offense.
"It seemed like it went: pass, pass, shot," said Edwards describing how quickly Hopewell went on the attack in the 18-5 victory over the Ravens.
"We were very good on the transition from the defensive end to the offensive end," said Edwards. "We had open players in the midfield and we took advantage of that."
Hopewell sophomore Ally Squicciarino led the scoring against Robbinsville with four goals, while junior Leah Kulp and sophomore Ali Hilderbrandt both had hat tricks. Grimwood and Katie Cahill scored twice and Allison Cahill, junior Taylor Oor, Pagano and senior Eileen Carroll all scored once.
Senior goalie Becs Beyer made eight saves in the win and held Robbinsville to one second-half goal.
"It was a good team effort," said Edwards. "I think everybody contributed. We took advantage of the things they were giving us. We were open in the midfield and I was happy our kids saw that and used it."
Hopewell satisfied Edwards’ 3-for-3 goal from earlier in the week by defeating Kent Place, 10-6, on Saturday.
Carroll had a hat trick to lead the Bulldogs’ attack, while Katie and Allison Cahill scored two goals each and Kulp, Squicciarino and Hilderbrandt all tallied once.
"The kids seemed to really be in sync," said Edwards. "It looked like they were trusting each other."
Kent Place took a brief lead early in the game, but Hopewell took control, 5-3, by half time.
"Kent Place came out and scored first," said Edwards. "I was proud of my kids, they didn’t get frazzled. They started to get control by getting the ground balls and looking for the open player downfield."
Winning ground balls helped Hopewell continue to control the game in the second half.
"In the second half, we really took advantage of winning the ground balls," said Edwards. "Lauren Sheidler came up big on defense by getting a lot of the ground balls and using her speed. She’s very fast and carried the ball into the offensive end."
Kent Place led the Bulldogs in shots, 20-19, but Beyer recorded 10 saves to keep Hopewell ahead.
"Becs came up huge," said Edwards. "That’s what we needed from her and that’s what we got. She had some really good saves."
Hopewell’s game scheduled for Tuesday against West Windsor-Plainsboro South was postponed because the torrential rain saturated the field.
Edwards will be looking for more of the same teamwork she saw in Hopewell’s last three wins when the Bulldogs take on Hun.
"We played as a complete unit," said Edwards. "Everyone played so well."
The rain washed out Hopewell’s game against West Windsor-Plainsboro South on Tuesday. While there was some sun showing during the day, the rainfall soaked fields across the area creating unplayable conditions.
As long as the weather holds off and the fields dry off a bit, the Bulldogs should be able to take on Hun today to start a six-game home stretch.

