The Raiders ended years of frustration in the state playoffs with a thrilling 1-0 double-overtime victory Tuesday afternoon at Hunterdon Central.
By: Rudy Brandl
FLEMINGTON If anyone deserved a victory like this, it was the Hillsborough High field hockey team.
The Raiders ended years of frustration, agony and misery in the state playoffs with a thrilling 1-0 double-overtime victory Tuesday afternoon at Hunterdon Central. Playing on the very same field where their season ended the past three years, the HHS girls refused to lose this time.
Hillsborough senior Michelle Cilenti banged in the winning goal with 3:24 remaining in the second overtime to give her team a fourth shot at Bridgewater-Raritan in Friday’s sectional quarterfinals at 2 p.m. Michelle charged in from the left side to collect a feed from Liz Tafaro on a penalty corner and slammed it past Central keeper Stephanie Loizeaux.
When the ball clanged against the back of the cage, it set off a wild celebration that was long overdue for the Raiders and fourth-year head coach Peach Draper, who had never beaten the Red Devils. The Raiders lost at Central in last year’s sectional final and were knocked out in a gut-wrenching semifinal game that went to penalty strokes in 2003.
This time, it was finally Hillsborough’s day.
"This is the biggest game of our life," Michelle said after being mobbed by her teammates. "They ended our season three years in a row. We really wanted this. It’s the biggest game ever."
The Raiders dominated the first overtime with five penalty corners but couldn’t put one in the cage. Michelle ripped a shot off the left post so the game went to a second 10-minute sudden death session. There wasn’t as much action in the second overtime, but Liz hit the other post with just under four minutes left. The game seemed destined to go to strokes, but the Raiders had other ideas.
"They played their hearts out," Ms. Draper said. "They had corner after corner and kept working. We had to get one in."
The Raiders (12-6) are likely to play a similar game Friday at Bridgewater-Raritan, a team that’s beaten them three times by one goal, including once in a county semifinal shootout.
Ms. Draper’s team will be riding an emotional high, looking to continue their tournament magic.

