Hillsborough teams poised for big-time events

October will be very exciting for Raider fans

By: Rudy Brandl
The middle of October usually brings about some important scholastic sports action. The county soccer and field hockey tournaments are in full swing, people are starting to calculate football power points and cross country runners and gymnasts are getting ready to peak for the championship meet season.
Many of Hillsborough High’s athletic teams will be right in the thick of this heavy action in the next two weeks. Here’s a sport-by-sport preview of some of the Raiders’ biggest challenges:
FOOTBALL:
Two wins needed
A three-game winning streak has put the Raiders (3-3) back on level ground. But that’s not good enough to produce another state playoff berth.
Hillsborough must turn its two longest road trips into happy bus rides by defeating Phillipsburg and Warren Hills. Both Warren County opponents have given the Raiders fits in recent years. In fact, Warren Hills was the last team to beat Hillsborough during last year’s championship season.
The Raiders can’t be concerned with the Blue Streaks just yet. They’ve got plenty to worry about this Friday night when they travel to Phillipsburg.
"They’re big and they’re strong," HHS head coach Rick Mantz said. "It’s not going to get any easier for us. We know we can’t lose."
This sense of desperation has propelled the Raiders to victories over Watchung Hills, North Hunterdon and Bridgewater the past three weeks. Losses to Hunterdon Central and Franklin knocked the Raiders out of contention for the Delaware Division title, but that race could open up again if Central falters and the Raiders win their next two games. The Stateliners and Blue Streaks each have one loss in the conference, so both are still fighting Hunterdon Central for the division title.
Phillipsburg likes to pound the ball with halfback Leonard Brice and fullback Ryan Sokolowski. The Raiders have played better up front in recent weeks and must continue to be physical. They also showed a little diversity on offense last Friday with Colin Bruno tossing two touchdown passes.
"We’re pumped," Bruno said. "We’ve won three straight games and we’re back in the playoff hunt."
BOYS’ SOCCER:
Familiar foe waiting
Two of Hillsborough’s toughest games this season have come against county and conference rival Franklin. The Raiders emerged with 1-0 and 4-2 victories and must defeat the Warriors for a third time in Saturday afternoon’s Somerset County Tournament quarterfinals.
Franklin (8-4-1) reached the quarters with a 6-0 victory over Gill St. Bernards. The Raiders beat Franklin three times last year, including by a 1-0 score in the county tourney. That game was played in Franklin and was considered a mild upset. The top-seeded Raiders will be favored and at home this time, but that doesn’t guarantee anything.
"They’ll play with desire and a great deal of energy and enthusiasm," HHS head coach Rob Richard said. "We need to put more energy into winning midfield so our defense isn’t under pressure. We have to play with patience."
Franklin likes to force the tempo with a kick-and-run style, while the Raiders will try to play their attractive brand of soccer with possession and ball movement. If Hillsborough sticks to its game and plays with discipline, it should advance to the semifinal round at Raritan Valley Community College on Oct. 27.
"It’s going to be tough," said Lamar Spencer, who scored the goal in last year’s county win over Franklin. "They’re going to come out twice as hard as last time. We have to come ready to play."
GIRLS’ SOCCER;
Big county test
Saturday will be a busy day at the Auten Road School fields, with the HHS girls also playing an important SCT soccer game at 2 p.m.
The third-seeded Lady Raiders (9-3) will host No. 6 Watchung Hills (8-3-1) in a very tough quarterfinal battle. The teams were scheduled to play this afternoon in a regular season game, their first meeting of the year since a previous game was postponed due to rain.
Carla Lunardoni and Jen Grys are Watchung’s most dangerous weapons. The HHS girls hope to have Danae Risoli, their most talented player, back in action for the tournament. Risoli has missed nearly a month of action with an MCL sprain.
"This is my most major injury so far," Risoli said while watching her teammates drop a 3-1 game to Hunterdon Central. "It’s very frustrating. Both Nina (Lombardi) and I are very anxious to play. We have to support the team and they know our hearts are with them."
First-year head coach Cindy Vacacela knows this year’s county tournament won’t be an easy road. In order to win, the Lady Raiders must defeat Watchung, Ridge and Bridgewater.
CROSS COUNTRY:
Time for peaking
Both HHS cross country teams will face tough competition in Monday’s Somerset County Championships at Pleasant Valley Park.
The three-time defending champion girls won’t be favored this year, but will look to surprise a wide-open field that includes Immaculata, Pingry and Ridge. Hillsborough sophomore Ashley Uniszkiewicz will be one of the individual favorites and she’s looking forward to the challenge.
"I want to go out there and try my best to win it," said Uniszkiewicz, who has won all her races at Pleasant Valley this fall. "I want to stay with the two girls from Immaculata and see how it goes."
Immaculata’s Erin and Liz Geiger will try to lead their team to the title and take individual honors as well. Uniszkiewicz is confident after her victory at the Shore Coaches Invitational in Holmdel two weeks ago and hopes to continue her winning ways at the team’s home course.
The boys’ county championship is shaping up as a dual meet between Hillsborough and Bridgewater. The Panthers served a little notice with last week’s 25-30 regular season victory at Pleasant Valley, so the Raiders are poised to avenge that setback.
"I don’t know if I’d call it an advantage. I don’t think losing is ever an advantage," HHS head coach Rich Refi said. "(Bridgewater) ran a good race. It was more them winning than us losing. We’ll see how bad they want it."
Hillsborough juniors Nick Vaccaro and Mike Klueber are capable of winning the individual title. If the HHS duo could somehow manage a 1-2 finish, the Raiders would be in great shape.
GYMNASTICS:
Meets gettougher
The Raider gymnasts welcome Skyland Conference and Section 2 rivals Hunterdon Central and North Hunterdon to their gym for a huge tri-meet tomorrow at 5 p.m. Hillsborough will face these teams again the following two weekends, but this regular season challenge should be very exciting.
Kim Yates has been recovering from her back injury and Ashley Miller expects to resume full competition so the Raiders are poised to make another late season charge to prominence on the state circuit. Tomorrow night’s meet could serve as a springboard.
"That’s how we’re planning it," HHS head coach Beth Murrin said. "It’s a double-edged sword. We want to take a break, but we have to get ready for the big meets."
Hillsborough (6-1) will have one more regular season meet before the Skyland Conference (Oct. 27), Central 2 Sectional (Nov. 3) and State Championship (Nov. 9) meets.