Vernon's balancing act trips up Pope John

SPARTA -- Kayla Turner-Boss says she lost quite a bit with the graduation of star forward Lauren Poppe, who led Vernon with 23 goals a year ago.

This season, Turner-Boss is trying to lead the Vikings' attack in the same fashion. With five goals in two games, she's off to a pretty start. The senior forward added to her total with a pair of goals in Vernon's 4-0 win over Pope John on Tuesday in a Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference American Division field hockey clash.

"[Lauren] is like my sister, it was like losing my little partner," said Turner-Boss, who had a hat trick in Vernon's 4-2 season-opening win over Montville. "Each goal [is scored] with the whole team, not just one person. Everyone has worked well together."

Vernon (2-0, 2-0 NJAC), ranked seventh in the Open Mike area Top 10, is looking to get back to the sectional playoffs and make a title run in the North 1, Group 3 bracket. Last year, coach Hollyce Schoepp's team reached the North 1, Group 4 final where it lost to Montclair, 5-0. The Vikings, who won their first state game since 1995 a season ago, reached the title game despite an 8-1 semifinal loss to Phillipsburg, which was disqualified for playing too many games.

Now, Vernon is out to prove it belongs with the top teams in and out of Sussex County.

Offensively, Turner-Boss, senior forward Melody Prisco and senior midfielder Steph Peterson have led the charge early on. Prisco scored the opening and ultimately the winning goal against Pope John off a feed from junior forward Rachel Colvin with 14:32 left in the first half.

Prisco's speed was a huge factor in the game and was on full display on Vernon's second goal before the half. The speedy right wing got loose on a breakaway down the right sideline, and upon entering the circle, made a beautiful cross pass to the left side. Waiting for the ball was Turner-Boss, who deposited it in the cage for a 2-0 lead with 11:10 on the clock.

Peterson all but iced it with her first goal of the season -- a beautiful reverse stick that split the legs of Pope John goalie Jenna Gloria -- off a penalty corner with 11:08 remaining in the second half. Turner-Boss capped the scoring with 6:48 left to play.

"We have a bunch of girls that can score," Peterson said. "We practice a lot of corners. That was the first time I got [the reverse stick shot] in."

Goalie Rhonda Richardsen, in her first year as the full-time starter after splitting time as a junior in 2010, was outstanding in the victory. Richardsen stopped 12 shots, including several diving attempts in front of the cage and held off a Pope John charge right before halftime.

"I've only been playing for four years," she said. "I'm liking [being the starter] a lot. I just try to get the ball out [of harm's way]. This is my place [in front of the cage]."

No. 10 Pope John (1-1, 1-1), which won its opener, 5-1 over Mount Olive, had numerous chances in the first half but couldn't cash in. The Lions outshot the Vikings, 12-8 for the game and had a 6-2 edge on corners.

"We came out a little rusty in the beginning, but I felt like we really came back in the second half and showed Pope John what we have," Peterson said.

Vernon (2-0)                   2                             2                 --   4
Pope John (1-1)              0                             0                 --    0

Scoring

First half -- V, Melody Prisco, 2nd, (Rachel Colvin), 14:32; V, Kayla Turner-Boss, 4th, (Prisco), 11:10.

Second half -- V, Steph Peterson, 1st, 11:08; V, Turner-Boss, 5th, (Jessica Lambert), 6:48.

Shots -- Vernon 8, Pope John 12.

Saves -- Rhonda Richardsen 12 (V); Jenna Gloria 4, Sam Scalibrini 0 (PJ).

Penalty corners -- Vernon 2, Pope John 6.