Girls complete unbeaten regular season, win Skyland title

RAIDER ROUNDUP

By: Rudy Brandl
   
   It didn’t take the Hillsborough High girls’ lacrosse team very long to come back and regain its offensive swagger.
   After suffering their first loss of the season in the Somerset County semifinals the previous day, the HHS girls stormed back and took out their frustrations on Hunterdon Central. Hillsborough’s 19-7 triumph, which came on Senior Night under the lights on the home turf stadium field, assured the team its first Skyland Conference championship.
   Hillsborough (16-1) had been hoping to clinch two titles last week, but defense of the county title was lost when Bridgewater-Raritan shocked the Raiders with a 6-4 upset. The Raiders couldn’t generate much offense after the first four minutes when they took a 2-0 lead.
   HHS head coach Beth Murrin reminded her players that the entire season wasn’t about the county tournament. The team had many other goals, including wrapping up a perfect regular season and winning the conference crown.
   "Everyone was stunned because we only scored four goals and we definitely told them to use it as motivation," Murrin said. "It was Senior Night and we unloaded."
   Sometimes, the best way to recover from a devastating defeat is to play again the very next day. The Raiders certainly feel that way after their performance vs. Central.
   "We were tremendously lucky to play another game the next night," Murrin said. "We were very excited to be able to come right back and play."
   Senior attack wing Ali DeLuca, who was held to just two goals in the county loss, ignited the offensive resurgence with seven goals and two assists. She also contributed five draw controls to lead the team, which bolted to a 12-2 lead at the half.
   Katie Marino tallied three goals and one assist, while Liz Tafaro, Lindsey Watts and Kelsey Palmer each scored twice. Sarah Nagel and Dorian Gilmartin added single goals for the winners. Tafaro, Watts, Katie DeLuca and Sara DiClemente posted assists. Goalkeeper Lauren Griggs made six saves.
   The Raiders completed their perfect regular season with Thursday night’s 18-10 road victory at Watchung Hills. Ali DeLuca tied her career-best for goals in a game with 10 to lead the Raiders. She scored all five of her team’s goals in a sloppy first half that ended in a 5-5 tie and also finished the game with four assists.
   Hillsborough dominated the second half with many other players getting involved in the scoring. Marino (2 goals, 3 assists) and Tafaro (1 goal, 3 assists) also helped open it up in the second half. DiClemente, Katie DeLuca, Watts, Palmer and Nikki Smartt added goals and Griggs made eight saves in the regular season finale.
   "It’s a nice feeling to go undefeated in your conference," Murrin said. "We dominated in the regular season."
Laxmen win twice,
peak for states
   
The HHS boys’ lacrosse team posted two home victories last week and appears to be playing its best heading into the state playoffs. The team defeated West Windsor Plainsboro North (9-1) and edged state-ranked Hopewell Valley (7-6) to go 2-0 in the same week that head coach Vince Coviello was named the school’s new head football coach.
   Brandon Wilk and Chris Livelli each scored twice in a balanced attack that made the difference in Thursday’s exciting home win over HoVal. The Raiders took a 5-2 lead at the half but were clinging to a one-goal lead before Livelli connected to make it 7-5 with 3:57 to play in regulation.
   Ryan Kloss, Ryan Buerkle and Graham Lewis each tallied once for the Raiders, while Brian Yepez dished out a game-high two assists. Senior goalkeeper Brendan White made 15 saves for the winners.
   Wilk and Kloss each netted hat tricks in the blowout win over WWPN, which scored in the first quarter and trailed 3-1 at the half before the Raiders rolled. White, who made 10 saves, blanked the visitors for the final three quarters.
   Hillsborough (8-9) earned the No. 5 seed in the Group 4 playoffs and was scheduled to host Washington on the stadium field Wednesday. The second round of the tourney will be played either Friday or Saturday at a site to be determined.
Volleyballers fall
one victory short
   
The HHS boys’ volleyball team, in just its second year of existence, just missed qualifying for the state playoffs.
   Hillsborough gave itself a chance with a 25-16, 25-22 victory over Plainfield but needed to defeat Hunterdon Central on the road to reach .500. Central spoiled it for the Raiders in a grueling three-set match.
   The Raiders dropped the first set 25-16 but stayed alive with a gritty 25-23 win to even the match. Central avenged a loss at HHS earlier this spring by taking the third set by a 25-16 score.
   Hillsborough completed a season sweep of Plainfield at home the previous day. Joe Sheridan had four kills and two blocks, Evan Schwab posted three kills and seven digs, Conor Corcoran notched four kills and six digs and Jake Lefevre added three kills and four digs for the winners.
   The Raiders finished their season at 9-11.
Golfers avenge loss
on home course
   
The HHS golfers played another tight match vs. Ridge last week but this time came out on top. After dropping a road match by one stroke at New Jersey National the previous week, the Raiders returned the favor and edged the Red Devils by three shots in the rematch.
   Aaron Schiffman, Steve Cannon and Andrew Borsuk all shot 38 to lead the Raiders to a 195-198 triumph. Logan Cecchine (39) and Ed Ziolonka (42) rounded out the scoring for Hillsborough, which will take on Immaculata at Roycebrook in Thursday’s season finale.