Barbieri comes through with winning goals
By: Rudy Brandl
The Hillsborough High boys’ soccer team showed some real mental toughness and maturity last week.
After not being tested in some of their recent victories, the Raiders had to work hard to extend their winning streak to seven straight games. HHS posted a 3-2 victory over Hunterdon Central in overtime Sept. 26 and edged Franklin by a 2-1 score Thursday night at Noonan Field.
Senior forward Chase Barbieri scored the winning goals in both games to run his team-leading season total to 11. Barbieri headed in a ball that was bouncing in the penalty area for the game-winner vs. Central. Two days later, he ripped a right-footed blast from just inside the penalty area into the lower left corner with 23 minutes remaining in regulation.
"We’re feeling pretty confident," Barbieri said after Thursday’s victory ran the team’s record to 7-1. "The team is playing great together. Everyone kept their composure really well. We stuck together as a team."
Hillsborough outplayed Franklin for most of the game but wasn’t able to finish enough chances to build a comfortable lead. The Warriors, who always play tough vs. the Raiders no matter what the talent level, tied the game on a deflected shot early in the second half.
The Raiders stuck to their attacking game plan. They didn’t sulk or point fingers. They kept working and eventually took the lead.
Barbieri was stopped on a breakaway and had another hard shot tipped over the bar before he finally put the Raiders back in the lead. Sean Kelly started the play with a nice rush up the field.
"Sean got the ball in the back and I saw him play it through, so I just started running," Barbieri said. "It was a good ball and I just tried to put it in front of the goal."
The Raiders dominated the rest of the game and finished with huge advantages in shots (15-5) and corner kicks (7-2). Franklin pulled its goalkeeper all the way up to midfield in the final three minutes but it didn’t make a difference. Hillsborough goalkeeper Casey Koplik, who made four saves in the victory, had to kick one long ball out of danger late in the game to thwart a threat by the visitors.
"Franklin played well, but I don’t think the score reflects how well we played," HHS head coach Eric Puma said. "We created a lot of opportunities. We just couldn’t finish them all. The boys showed a lot of patience and intelligence. They played smart."
Hillsborough controlled the midfield and defenders Alex Miska, Ben Klein, Eric Benson and Kelly were impressive as usual. The versatile Kyle Downey, who can do everything from stop opposing attackers to launch long throw-ins into the opposing goal area, did a superb job containing Franklin’s extra forward late in the game.
Trailing by just one goal, the Warriors still were hanging around. The leadership of Hillsborough’s back line of defense kept the visitors off the board until one of the home team’s playmakers could connect for the go-ahead goal.
"Everyone knows we have to give it our best," Miska said. "We know that one goal isn’t going to keep us from playing strong. We just keep going and play through it all. We like to get our players forward."
Barbieri was the main man forward last week, but he won’t take all the credit. Guys like Yannick Smith, who scored the first goal vs. Franklin, and Joey Caratozzolo, John Marcsisin, Achille Confuorto and Mike Argueta have also made big contributions.
"Everyone’s stepping up," Barbieri said. "We’re playing more soccer than kick-and-run. It’s been a real team effort."
"We’re getting there," Puma added. "We’ve got a ways to go but we’re learning to trust each other on the field. Every game and every practice is a step forward for us."
The Raiders (7-1) were scheduled to play a key divisional road game at Montgomery Tuesday before returning home for the much-anticipated rematch with Bridgewater-Raritan, the only team to beat them this year.

