DIVISION 3 BOYS
Regent Floor 3, Robbinsville 0
On Nov. 8 Hopewell hosted the pre-Inter County League Championship Game for D3 Boys. Hopewell Valley’s Regent Floor Covering beat Robbinsville, 3-0, to end the pre-ICL season at 8-0.
The teams were deadlocked through the first half with impressive saves by the Robbinsville goalkeeper.
In the second half, Regent Floor’s attacks yielded a goal when striker Dan Polvererjan headed a bullet to the back of the net off a long, arching corner kick by midfielder Chris Sawicki. Later, off a set play, striker Juan Carlos Perez booted an indirect kick from 30 yards, which Dan deflected into the net from the 6-yard line. To complete his hat trick, Dan scored off an assist from striker Alex Botero late in the second half. Midfielder Louis Azara controlled both the offensive and defensive tempo for Regent.
The impenetrable defensive line led by Benjamin Veale, Saahith Kusupudi, Samuel Roth and Jonathan Sharma protected the 3–0 lead. Goalkeepers Emerson Hoagland and Hunter Boggess combined for a perfect game.
Union Line 4, Robbinsville 3
Union Line beat Robbinsville SA 2 in their first playoff game on Nov. 8. Bradley Cohen played a strong first half in goal with help from defensive players Matthew Tunkel, Rowan John and Daniel Sonzogni. Miko Kubiak played strong in midfield and Dominic Chila assisted Finn Murray-Campbell, who scored Union Line’s first goal.
In the second half, Mason Scall defended the goal while the offensive team of Dominic Chila, Derek Van Brunt and Matthew Tunkel successfully brought Union Line to a win.
Dr. McDonough’s 1, Brooks Landscaping 0
Brooks Landscaping played Dr. McDonough’s Live Wires in a competitive playoff matchup. The Live Wires took a 1-0 lead and held on the rest of the way to victory. Brooks had multiple chances on the offensive end, but could not convert any goals
Brooks Landscaping 4, Union Line 1
Union Line lost to Brooks Landscaping on Saturday. Mason Scall defended goal in the first half with help from Rowan John, Jay Shah and Daniel Sonzogni. Offensive players Bradley Cohen, Derek Van Brunt, Matthew Tunkel and Miko Kubiak tried to keep the heat on. Union Line scored a second-half goal when Finn Murray-Campbell shot on goal with an assist by Mason Scall.
The defense remained strong in the second half.
Regent Floor 5 , Jack’s Nursery 0
On Nov. 7 Regent Floor Covering notched its 14th win, beating Jack’s Nursery. Regent’s midfielder Louis Azara converted a breakaway into a goal to open the game. Striker Dan Polverejan found a loose ball in the box to close the first half at 2–0.
In the second half, striker Juan Carlos Perez lobbed a perfect corner kick into the box, which Dan headed in for his 16th goal of the season. Later in the half, Juan Carlos nailed a direct kick from 25 yards out. To close out the game, midfielder Chris Sawicki shot from the top of the box, assisted by Dan.
Striker Alex Botero almost converted a goal and Regent’s tough defense once again held a perfect game. Stopper Benjamin Veale and defenders Saahith Kusupudi, Samuel Roth and Jonathan Sharma protected Regent from Jack’s offense. Goalkeeper Hunter Boggess blocked many Jack’s Nursery shots.
Callaway Henderson 2, Jack’s Nursery 0
Callaway Henderson/Sotheby’s defeated Jack’s Nursery and Landscaping, 2-0, on Nov. 8. Leo Jimenez scored the first goal with an assist from Nils Gungor, who also scored a goal of his own.
Mike Stroman, Christian Barnes, Fedia Tenbarge, and Sathya Kummarapurugu played hard offensively for Callaway. Jacob Orlando and Finn Malloy were unstoppable defenders with support from Bharat Cherukuri. Cutter Swanson played phenomenally as goalkeeper for Callaway.
DIVISION 2 BOYS
Hopewell Express 4 , Princeton Nassau 0
In the first round of the playoffs, fourth-ranked Hopewell Express beat fifth-ranked Princeton Nassau Pediatrics, 4-0, on Nov. 7. Lucas Sweetman, Jack Gabe and Rich Kiefer (2) scored for Express. The story of the day was the defensive play by Express, led by Emiliano Fernandez with tough play by Ryan Szustakowski, Mateo Franco-Valverde, Luke Hemmer, Jason Laliwala, Joseph Troiano and goalie Jackson Blackwell.
DIVISION 3 GIRLS
Dahlia Floral’s 2, Robbinsville 0
Dahlia Floral’s Pink Flamingo Ninjas defeated Robbinsville 2 in the Inter-County League championship finals on Sunday, Nov. 8. The first goal was scored early by Carly Brant’s penalty kick, resulting from a trip in the box. The second goal was scored in the second half by Sophia DiDonato, who broke out of the pack at midfield, to take it in for the goal.
Outstanding midfield played came from Chelsea Kent, Emily Wessler, Emma Coyer and Sierra Mitchell, who consistently pressured the attack on Robbinsville’s backfield. Holding the line on defense were Beth Hooks, Piper Brant, Annie Stocks and Faith Doldy, with their relentless protection at the midfield line. Goalkeepers for the clean sheet were C. Brant and S. DiDonato.
Jack’s Nursery 4, Desimone Orthodontics 2
Jack’s Nursery and Landscaping had a huge win on Saturday, securing their position in the Hopewell Valley championship game.
Amanda Flanders scored the first goal and Emilie Sawicki scored the remaining three with one assist from Caitlyn Bergman and another assist from Amanda Flanders.
The defense was secured by Zoe Dec, Katie Orlando and midfielder Jaina Jackowski. Lily Panzita and Tayler Wert both shared a half as goalkeeper. Natalie Kasprzyk and Lyla Malloy worked hard as midfielders.
Jack’s Nursery 4, Lawrence 0
Jack’s Nursery and Landscaping’s victory over Lawrence helped secure the third-place slot in the ICL league on Sunday. Emilie Sawicki scored the first two goals for Jack’s. Caitlyn Bergman scored after a corner kick, while Amanda Flanders worked hard to score a final goal.
Katie Orlando and Zoe Dec were unstoppable defenders with strong support from Jaina Jackowski, who controlled the midfield. Natalie Kasprzyk and Taylor Wert played hard taking turns as midfielders and forwards. Lyla Malloy, Sophia Chin, Olivia Dougherty and Lily Panzita took turns playing as midfielders while Panzita also played as goal keeper for half of the game.
DIVISION 2 GIRLS
PQM Flower Shop 3, Diana’s Epiphany 0
On Sunday the Diana’s Epiphany girls’ soccer team lost, 3-0, against PQM Flower Shop in a playoff game. Jaelyn Krin had two amazing saves on goal. Charlotte DeLorenzo and Sofia Swindell had great passes in midfield and Sofia played great defense. Josie Blankstein played great offense.
Hurricanes 14U
The Hopewell Valley U14G Hurricanes remained undefeated in JAGS Premier flight play with a 2-1 road win against the West Morris SC Premier Lightning on Sunday.
The Hurricanes controlled much of the possession in the first half, with passing through the midfield by Julia Peters, Fiona McCaffrey, Anna Neal, Julia Alito, Adelinne Danieluk, Molly Rhoads and Kerry Buglino, but could not find the back of the net.
In the second half Charlotte Hare delivered two scores for the Hurricanes, the first off a feed from Ellie Hawkey where she sliced through two defenders, and the second a strike from distance that rattled the upper 90. West Morris battled back and scored midway through the second half, but the Hurricanes defense of Carly Sison, Emily Cooke, Chloe Mummert, Anna Cappucci, Kate Allen, Jolene Evich and Maddie Schrader in goal locked down the West Morris attack to secure the victory.
Riptides 10U
Kieran Karp scored two goals and Lukas Ansari had two assists as the HVSA Boys U10 Riptides picked up a 3-0 win over Westfield. Brandon Napoleon added a goal, and Charlie Stocks-Natalias and Matthew Whitlock recorded the shutout as goalies. Garrett Wille and Daniel Golian helped the Riptides control the midfield, while Alex Romano and Rex Peters were solid on defense. Cameron Velez and Christian Mayer each helped create chances on offense.
Tsunamis U11
The Hopewell U11 Tsunamis scored in the final minute to cap a dramatic 2-1 come-from-behind victory over the West Windsor-Plainsboro Ajax. With their second win over the Ajax this season, the Tsunamis improved to 4-2-2 in MNJYSA Flight 1 league play.
Down, 1-0, in the second half, Ava Brass scored off an assist by Kathryn McCabe. In the closing minute, Andie Cappucci fed Leah McManimon who scored off of a strike from the 18.
The Tsunamis were anchored in goal by Kirsten Ruf and Cappucci. Addie Sullivan, Rory Danieluk, and Mae Fesmire shut down the Ajax offense while Madison Ayres, Maggie Buglino, Charlotte Tellier and Ruf distributed the ball from the midfield. Caroline Mormile, Maura Graham, and Emma Smith provided offensive support for the Tsunamis.
Lightning 8U
Lightning (7-0-1) defeated Bayonne’s Peninsula City SC America, 5-3, on Saturday.
Scoring the first goal of the game, Tyler Yadamiec set the tone and send a message at the end of the first half.
Coming back during the second half, Bayonne returned with two quick goals. However, it was Dylan Napoleon earning a total of four goals during the remainder of the game.
Goalies Ty Becker and Ethan Nau proved vital in securing the win. The coaches continued deploying their strategic method of quickly rotating boys on and off the field. This method of coordinating positions has worked well this season.
Jeremy Siegelheim, Michael Whitlock, Dylan Napoleon and Kyle Yadamiec proved a strong offense during the first half of the game. On defense Gavin McCaffrey, Noah Rodriquez, and Logan Gonsalves fought back the aggressive play and quick reversals of the Bayonne boys. Gavin and Noah used long and high kicks down the line. Logan, never afraid to take back the ball, had excellent one-on-one retrievals.
In the second half, Eshaan Doshi and John Jaihan showed style and skill with quick moves, speed and reversals. Jackson Sub continued his fast-paced defense into the second half of the game. Finally, Kyle Yadamiec and his brother Tyler proved to be a strong defensive duo with Milan Desai toward the better end of the game.