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Sports

Roundup: The Week in Sports and a Look Ahead

How was your week? This is how the week went for the Bridgemen and Lady Bridgemen.

Football:

The Bridgemen fell to 1-5 on Friday when they lost at Ramsey High School by a score of 35-0. Ramsey improved to 5-1 with the win. Fort Lee head coach Bill Straub hopes the team can learn from games like this.

“We hope to use some of these tough losses to get better for the rest of the season,” he said.

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The team will return to action on Friday, Oct. 21, for their last home game of the season against Englewood at 7 p.m.

Boys Soccer:

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The Bridgemen defeated Dwight Morrow on Tuesday on the road by a score of 4-0. Fumio Himeno scored two goals, while Ron Locker and Nikola Gogic also scored for Fort Lee. Ron Locker, Yu Yu Fhamy, Nikola Gogic and Alessio Guacci all had assists during the game. Bridgemen goalkeeper Matt Hernandez had six saves on the day, as Fort Lee improved to 7-3-1. The Bridgemen picked up another huge win on Friday, when they defeated Ridgefield Park, 4-3. Ron Locker scored two goals, while Nikola Gogic and Fumio Hemeno also scored. Hemeno also had three assists during the game. Hernandez recorded seven saves in that game. Head coach Bob Ciccone was very pleased.

“Big win," he said. "Keeps us in first place with three league games left. Overall the whole team played well.”

The team hits the field on Monday when they host Dumont at 4:15 p.m.

Girls Soccer:

The Lady Bridgemen picked up an exciting 1-0, overtime win on Wednesday afternoon at Ridgefield Park. The game-winning and only goal of the game was scored by sophomore Caitlin McKenna, who was assisted by Natalie Mateus. Head coach Phil Zappel feels the win was a big momentum boost for his club.

“It was a great feeling to be on the winning side of an overtime game this time," said Zappel. "We really received a huge boost from all of our players who were subbed in off the bench. Hopefully this hard fought win will prove to be just what we needed to generate some momentum throughout the remainder of the season.”

The team visited a tough Westwood team on Saturday morning and lost 6-0. The team returns to the field on Tuesday when they host Dumont High School at 6 p.m.

Girls Volleyball:

The Lady Bridgemen kicked off the week on a high note by defeating Immaculate Conception 2-0 Monday with set scores of 25-23 and 25-21. Nicole Farber had 11 digs, Defne Guvenc had five kills and Nicolette Pappas recorded six assists. The success continued Tuesday, when Fort Lee hosted Dwight Morrow and defeated them in two sets as well. Both set scores were 25-13. Nicolette Pappas had four aces and six assists, while Defne Guvenc contributed with five kills and Nicole Farber with four digs. Fort Lee was defeated by Ridgefield Park Thursday afternoon, 2-0 (25-20; 25-13). The week did not end on a high note as the team fell again on Saturday afternoon to a talented Academy of the Holy Angels team, 2-0 (25-17; 25-16). The team’s record is now 12-6. The girls will look to bounce back this week when they host Dumont on Tuesday at 4:15 p.m.

Girls Tennis:

The Lady Bridgemen improved to 5-1 on the season, defeating Dwight Morrow on Tuesday, 4-1. The team also found their third singles player this week in Leah Salnave. Head coach Sheri Steckler liked what she saw from her team.

“We’re looking very strong, and we should finish our season strong,” she said.

The team returns to action Monday October, when they visit the Lady Cardinals of Westwood at 4:15 p.m.

Cross Country:

The boys and girls cross country teams participated in the Big North American Division 7 Championship Meet on Wednesday afternoon. The boys team finished in third place overall with 81 points behind Ridgefield Park and Cliffside Park. The boys team finished in a tie for second place in their division with a 4-1 dual meet record. The girls team finished in second place after a 6-point performance. They finished behind Westwood High School, who are the defending division champs. The girls team finished with a 3-2 dual meet record, which put them in second place in their division. Jenya Dyagilev led the way for the boys team and Melanie Plattner led the way for the girls team. The teams will return for action on Saturday at the Bergen County Cross Country Championship set for a 10 a.m. start.

Athlete of the Week: Melanie Plattner

Sophomore Melanie Plattner had a great meet at the Big North American Division 7 Championship this past week. Plattner, who was originally a soccer player made the transition to cross country after achieving success in outdoor track.

”At the end of the outdoor track season, Coach Garrison spoke about the great success that I had running track last year, and the members of the cross country team encouraged me to give cross country a shot," said Plattner. "Although it was a very tough decision giving up soccer, but with my soccer coach’s encouragement, I decided to join the cross country team.”

Plattner finished in seventh place at the championship meet as she fought through to the finish.

“Once I hit the last hill at Garrett Mountain, I was feeling a lot of pain," she said. "And then I thought of the quote, ‘Pain is temporary, but pride lasts forever,' and it got me through the tough final hill. When I had found out that I had finished in seventh place and made First Team All-Division, I knew that I had made the right decision.”

Head coach Ed Garrison has known for a while the talent that Melanie Plattner possesses.

“As soon as we saw Melanie running for the first time during the Indoor Track season as a freshman last year, we knew she was tough and was going to do very well," Garrison said. "Although she started her first cross country season slowly, she is getting better and better. Hopefully, she will continue to peak in the Bergen County and New Jersey State Championship Meets.”

Plattner will compete at the Bergen County Championship meet next week with hopes of qualifying for the Bergen County Meet of Champions.

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