RAIDER ROUNDUP
By: Rudy Brandl
The Hillsborough High boys’ soccer team opened the 2006 season with a showdown at Bridgewater-Raritan.
While the Panthers prevailed by a 3-2 margin in overtime, this certainly won’t be the last battle between these Skyland Conference and Somerset County rivals. Both highly-touted teams are also considered among the top Group 4 teams in the state.
Matt Kassel scored in the fourth minute of overtime to win it for B-R, which had taken a 2-0 lead in the first half before the Raiders took control. Hillsborough created its share of chances throughout the game but finally got on the board in the second half.
Joe Caratozzolo netted the team’s first goal of the season on an assist from Yannick Smith at the 15-minute mark of the second half. Fifteen minutes later, Mike Argueta tallied an unassisted goal to tie the game. The Raiders missed a few chances to win it in regulation and wound up losing a tough one in overtime.
HHS senior goalkeeper Zach Zamek made eight saves in the loss.
The Raiders were scheduled to travel to Phillipsburg Tuesday and play their home opener vs. Immaculata Thursday afternoon on the stadium field.
Girls split
tennis matches
After opening the season with an impressive 5-0 blanking of Watchung Hills, the HHS girls dropped a 3-2 decision at Bernards Monday.
The first singles showdown between state contenders Lindsay Clark of Bernards and Emily Mannix of Hillsborough went Clark’s way again. The two-time defending Somerset County champ posted a 6-2, 6-2 victory.
Bernards second singles standout Chelsey Kohler also prevailed in a good match vs. HHS sophomore Paige Aiello by a 6-1, 6-4 score. The deciding match came at second doubles, where the Bernards team of Taylor Theiss and Megan Masuret posted a 6-4, 7-5 win over Alary Price and Justine Turnbull.
Hillsborough won at third singles and first doubles. Reciel Arribe made short work of Haley Lighteap 6-2, 6-0 and the team of Caitlin Katzelnick and Mae Ling Strang won by a 6-3, 6-3 margin.
The Raiders allowed only one set in Friday’s home match vs. Watchung. Mannix, Aiello and Arribe swept through their matches with ease, giving up a combined total of only nine games.
Katzelnick and Strang also won in straight sets, while Price and Turnbull prevailed by a 6-0, 4-6, 6-4 score.
Hillsborough (1-1) was set to host Montgomery Wednesday and Bridgewater-Raritan next Monday.
Field hockey team
loses opener to B-R
Bridgewater-Raritan continued its recent field hockey mastery over Hillsborough in last Friday’s season opener. The Panthers scored twice in each half and prevailed by a 4-1 score.
Senior link Lauren Griggs scored an unassisted goal for the Raiders. Twin sister Ellyn Griggs made seven saves in the loss.
The Raiders (0-1) were scheduled to play at Phillipsburg Tuesday and at West Windsor Plainsboro South Friday before finally coming home for a Saturday morning battle with Ridge on the stadium turf.