GIRLS SOCCER
By Tim Falls, Sports Editor
The Lawrence High School girls soccer team fell to Hopewell Valley, 5-0, in the first round of the Mercer County Tournament on Saturday.
The Cardinals were scheduled to play Allentown in the consolation round on Tuesday, and that game was rescheduled to yesterday because of the weather.
Persistent rain and strong winds did not help Lawrence on Saturday in the loss to Hopewell, though the Cardinals came out strong and quickly put pressure on the Bulldog defenders.
”I thought we came out in the first 10 minutes and did very well,” said Lawrence coach Dave Boggs. “We created chances. We had shots on goal. We had corners.”
Still, despite those opportunities, Hopewell scored first and went on to shut out Lawrence for the second time this season. The Bulldogs won, 4-0, at a night game at Zimmer Field earlier in the year.
”Lawrence put great pressure on us early and we hung in there and did a nice job,” said Hopewell coach John McGinley. “Lawrence is coached well and they play good soccer. One or two breaks and we might have been down, 1-0.”
While the Cardinals gave up one more goal than they did in the teams’ last meeting, coach Boggs said he was pleased with his players’ effort.
”We definitely improved even though the scoreboard doesn’t show it,” said Boggs. “It’s a credit to our girls that they work hard no matter what he score is. I don’t think it is ever a question of us working hard.”
Hopewell managed to get a three goal lead in the first half and tallied twice in the second half. After getting the go-ahead goal in the first half, Hopewell put in a free kick and scored on a breakaway.
”There were a couple of goals where I think if we had them back, it would have given us more confidence,” said Boggs. “I think their second and third goals kind of broke our backs.”
Prior to the county tournament, Lawrence lost, 3-1, to Hightstown on Thursday.
Rachel Darbee scored the Cardinals’ lone goal in the first half.
The Rams scored twice in the first half and once more in the second half.
Lawrnce’s Nicole Krawczyk made 22 saves as Hightstown led in shots, 25-9.
The Lawrence girls were scheduled to play Allentown yesterday.

