By: centraljersey.com
Heartbreak was becoming commonplace for the Hopewell Valley High football team this season, but the Bulldogs made completely sure there would be no chance of that last Friday night.
Hopewell finally got its first win of the season with a 45-0 dismantling of Princeton on Homecoming under the lights.
The Bulldogs (1-3) were coming off two straight one-point losses in which missed extra points were costly.
"It felt really great to get our first win after losing by one point in the last two games," said running back Matt Pagano, who rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries. "And winning in front of all those fans at Homecoming made the win that much more important."
The Bulldogs jumped on top in the first quarter on Tim Sutton’s three-yard touchdown run. That was followed by the first of six successful extra-point kicks by Chas Bell, who also booted a 32-yard field goal. For his efforts, Bell was named the CVC 12th Man TD Club’s Special Teams Player of the Week.
Bell and Pagano had plenty of help on the night. Sutton finished with 89 yards and two touchdowns, Kyle Hoehn rushed for 65 yards on seven carries, Travis Reed had a 14-yard TD run and Alec Jackson romped in on a 20-yard score.
"This showed us what we have to do to win games," Pagano said. "As long as we keep playing hard I think we can ride this momentum for the games to come."
One of the keys to this year’s team has been its attitude, which coach Dave Caldwell has praised on numerous occasions. Pagano felt the overall mindset helped keep things together during the tough start. "Even though we were 0-3 we never got down on ourselves," Pagano said. "We knew that we were a good team and that we just had to come out and execute what we have been working on in practice since August.
"This year is a much closer group than last year. We say ‘Family’ at the end of every practice and games and I think that everyone on the team really takes that to heart." GIRLS SOCCER
Leigh Applestein scored the game’s lone goal from Lori Genovesi in a 1-0 win over Notre Dame last Thursday. Elise Fengler recorded nine saves for the shutout.
Fengler had six more saves in a scoreless tie against in-town rival Pennington, as both teams remained undefeated.
"That was a great game," coach John McGinley said. "Both teams played well and fought hard the entire way. It would have been nice to win, but at the end of the day it was a regular-season game. Win or lose you are looking to get better and improve so you’re ready for the county and state tournaments."
The Bulldogs have certainly looked good this season having 7-0-2 to start the campaign. McGinley said the key to the strong start has been Hopewell’s commitment to defending throughout the field.
"From the forwards to the mids and defenders, they realize how important it is to defend as a team," he said. "Also, the girls have a great connection with each other. They are a team on and off the field and we have great senior leadership."
Being a veteran team has also helped, as each girl understands its role.
"Whitney Bickford and Leigh Applestein are setting the table for others to score," McGinley said. "For some it is coming off the bench and providing a spark, for others it is sacrificing their personal game for the team.
"Jenna Kalwa could play anywhere on the field, but is playing in the back to combine with Lori Genovesi, Elise Fengler, Lexi Rodney, Katrina Finkernagel, and Amanda Toto to form a strong unit."
The coach added that seniors Danielle Stout (five goals) and Becca Flesch (strong defense, three assists on corner kicks) have emerged after playing JV last year. Several others have also been unsung heroes.
"Megan Haggerty and Megan Nehila provide great energy on the outside midfield and while they do not get much attention, they are invaluable," McGinley said. "Cait Williams and Miranda Mackey have provided a great spark off the bench when we sub for Leigh and Kelly Williams (no relation to Cait) as forwards."
On Tuesday, Fengler got her third straight shutout in a 3-0 win over Trenton, as Genovesi, Kalwa and Stout all scored. BOYS SOCCER
Mike Barr made seven saves but couldn’t save the Bulldogs from a 1-0 loss to crosstown rival Pennington. Chandler Fraser-Pauls, a Pennington resident, had the Red Raiders goal. FIELD HOCKEY
Alicia Wagner’s two goals and one each from Anna deDufour and Colby Hussong helped the Bulldogs to a 4-0 win over Hightstown. Ellie Yusko had an assist while Natalie Winters made 13 saves for the shutout.
Hopewell moved to 9-0 Saturday with a 5-0 win over West Windsor-Plainsboro South, as Hussong had three goals while Jenna Rovner and Yusko had one each. Alicia Wagner notched two assists and Winters made five saves for the shutout. BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
The Bulldogs finished 10th in the Varsity C Division at the Shore Coaches Invitational at Holmdel Park with 293 points. Ryan Fredericks led the way with a 16th-place time of 17:24, followed by Nigel Bates (17:45), David Shaffer and Chris Gutierrez (82nd, 83rd, 18:53) and Eric Barbera (99th, 19:13). GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
The Bulldogs finished fifth in the Varsity C Division at the Shore Coaches Invitational at Holmdel Park Saturday with 189 points, as Casey Quinto led the way with a 13th place finish (20:29). She was followed by Katie Caulfield (38th, 21:49), Hana Kita (41st, 22:00), Cassie Whitebread (49th, 22:17), Megan Clemm (57th, 22:29), Sarah Toussant (63rd, 22:38), and Janet D’Anna (98th, 23:38).
Hopewell finished third in the JV B meet with 98 points as Julia Rockey finished sixth (22:35) and Michaela Qvale was ninth (22:51). Emma Schoenberger finished 20th (23:20), followed by Rachel Brogle 25th (23:35), Caitlin Henderson 50th (24:34), Caroline Toth 55th (24:44), Anne Farina 83rd (25:36) and Tania Ryseck 98th (26:08). TENNIS
Willa Sweeney-Aubrey West reached the semifinals of the Mercer County Tournament, helping Hopewell to a fourth-place team finish.

