By: Sean Moylan
Based on her extraordinary play in field hockey and track and field, Hightstown’s Jessica Haughton can probably go to the college of her choice. Yet even if she decided to never play sports again, her academic accomplishments alone would get Haughton into almost any school of higher learning.
So while Haughton further cemented her ever-growing legend by stroking four more goals in the Hightstown High girls’ varsity field hockey team’s 5-1 win over Ewing at Hightstown on Tuesday, News 12 New Jersey was more interested in saluting "J-Hau" as a total package.
"Today (Wednesday) News 12 New Jersey came out to interview Jessica Haughton and film her shooting because she was selected as one of News 12 NJ and NJEA’s Scholar Athlete of the Week (a great honor)," noted Julie Reisig Howarth, Hightstown’s head coach. "Mr Bushelli (Hightstown’s athletic director) recently gave me the nomination form suggesting she would be a good candidate. So I prepared the recommendation, submitted it and she was notified on Monday night that she was selected as one of only 30 seniors in New Jersey based on academic performance and athletic achievements, as recommended by a coach or athletic director."
Haughton’s interview was shown this past Wednesday. However, for those who missed it, the piece will air again on Sunday evening. According to Reisig Howarth there will be a luncheon to honor the 30 selected scholar-athletes and plaques will be given out to each.
"Five finalists will be selected and duly honored, one of whom will receive a $1,000 college scholarship," added Reisig Howarth.
If kindness were a consideration for the $1,000 award, they would have probably given it to Haughton already. But the fact that she ranks 8th out of a class of 397 and has a 4.21 GPA will also help her cause.
But Haughton’s real strength may be skills as a leader and a caring teammate. When Kristin "K-Wall" Waller returned to Hightstown’s lineup late in the first half, after missing several games with a broken finger, Haughton was so excited to see her old friend she immediately scored her third goal of the game. After another Haughton tally, Crista Cummings wrapped up the Rams’ scoring with her first varsity goal, which came off a penalty stroke with 1:53 remaining in the game. Meanwhile Caitlin Fallon had a strong passing game and set up two of Haughton’s goals.
Because Ewing had a strong attack throughout, Reisig Howarth could not rest her starters the whole second half. Nonetheless, she was able to give all of her players playing time.
"We really need to step up our defensive play, though, because they still managed to get nine corners (to our 10) and they had nine shots on goal (Hightstown had 17). Heidi Nicklaus had a great game with eight saves and we were thrilled to get Kristin Waller back with 10 minutes left in the first half (she literally came from the doctors office in uniform hoping to make the game)," added Reisig Howarth, whose team needed the win after a tough 2-1 loss at Allentown last Thursday.
In that game Fallon scored the Rams’ only goal of the contest in the first half. And Allentown also had a slight edge in shots on goal (10-7). Nicklaus made seven saves.
Hightstown (4-4) was scheduled to have played at Lawrence yesterday (Thursday). It is scheduled to host Robbinsville on Tuesday. Next Thursday, Hightstown is scheduled at Steinert.
PEDDIE
Coming into this season people probably didn’t expect much out of the Peddie girls’ varsity field hockey team. After all, it was coming off a 2-14-1 season with a new coach, Allison Treese.
Treese and her girls believed in each other and, consequently, they’ve started the season 5-3 and they just might be Peddie’s best varsity team at the moment.
In the Falcons most recent game at Arch Bishop Ryan on Tuesday, Shannon Collins scored the game-winning goal with 17 minutes left in the second half to lift Peddie to a 1-0 victory.
Carolyn Horner had to make just three saves to pick up the shutout. Meanwhile, Peddie took 10 shots on goal. Lindsay Dioguardi played well and actually set up Collins’ goal with a great pass. However, Dioguardi was even better in Peddie’s 2-1 overtime home win over Ewing this past Saturday.
"Five minutes into a 10-minute sudden victory overtime Lindsay Dioguardi scored, assisted by Cristina Steglitz," noted Treese.
Peddie had taken a 1-0 lead in the first half on a Tina Sowah goal, which was assisted by none other than Dioguardi.
Peddie used Casey Waldeman in goal and she recorded eight saves to post the win. Peddie collected 14 shots while Ewing shot 10 times.
"Ashley Walton held the defense together and was instrumental in transition," added Treese.
On September 28th Peddie dropped a 3-0 decision at the Stuart Country Day School. Peddie took five shots on goal versus the powerful squad.
Peddie was scheduled to host Rancocas Valley yesterday (Thursday). It is scheduled to host the Hill School on Saturday and Hightstown on Monday. On Wednesday, Peddie is scheduled at Pennington.

