Wind helps Group 4 soccer champs beat HHS
By: Rudy Brandl
The Hillsborough High girls’ soccer team’s fine season came to and end Thursday afternoon at Brick Memorial High in Brick Township.
Hillsborough (12-6-2) gave the three-time defending State Group 4 champions a battle in the first half but couldn’t get anything going against a stiff wind in the second half and dropped a 3-1 decision. Brick’s Jessica Fuccello scored the winning goal on a breakaway in the seventh minute of the second half and the home team continued to apply the pressure for the rest of the game.
"We knew that it was going to be a problem in the second half," HHS head coach LeeAnn Wyble said afterward. "We didn’t even have chances in the second half."
Hillsborough controlled the action for most of the first half after Brick took a 1-0 lead, tying the score with 22:08 to go when Lauren Ebert knocked in a cross from Mary Bednar that was tipped by Dana Rokoszak at the far post. The HHS girls needed to build a lead with the wind at their backs but settled for a 1-1 tie at the intermission.
Brick used long throw-ins as a devastating weapon throughout the game. The Lady Raiders had trouble clearing them and they produced the first and third goals for the winners, who moved into Monday’s CJ 4 semifinals.
For a full account of all the tournament action, see Thursday’s edition of the Hillsborough Beacon.

