Bednar’s clutch goals lift girls

RAIDER ROUNDUP

By: Rudy Brandl
   
   Mary Bednar scored two huge game-winning goals for the Hillsborough High girls’ soccer team last week.
   The senior forward propelled the Lady Raiders (8-3) to victories over Montgomery and Bridgewater-Raritan, two teams ranked in the state’s top 20. Bednar’s goals also enabled the HHS girls to take sole possession of first place in the very competitive Delaware East Division.
   Bednar scored with 14:36 remaining in regulation in Thursday’s game at Bridgewater. Fellow senior Katie Marino picked up the assist on the winning goal.
   HHS junior Lauren Cusick put the visitors ahead in the first half but B-R tied the score before the break. Goalkeeper Taryn O’Connor made seven saves for the Lady Raiders, who split the regular season series with B-R.
   Bednar scored off a feed from senior Jess Young in Hillsborough’s 1-0 home victory over previously-unbeaten Montgomery. Bednar’s goal came very early in the game, with just over five minutes gone. The HHS defense, led by 10 saves from O’Connor, held on for the rest of the game.
   Hillsborough was scheduled to host Immaculata and play at Watchung Hills this week in regular season action. The HHS girls open Somerset County Tournament play Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. vs. Somerville at Soccer Centers.
Tennis players, team
advance in states
   
Hillsborough’s tennis week was big enough with all the excitement of winning the team’s first county title in a decade. The HHS girls were also busy winning state matches on both the team and individual levels.
   The Raiders blanked Howell and Colts Neck to reach Tuesday’s Central Jersey Group 4 semifinals. If they win, they’ll likely face top-ranked East Brunswick in Friday’s sectional final.
   Hillsborough did not lose a single set and dropped very few games in the first two rounds of team state competition. First singles player Emily Mannix and the first doubles team of Mae Ling Strang and Caitlin Katzelnick also remained alive in the NJSIAA individual tourneys, while second singles player Paige Aiello was knocked out in the third round.
   Mannix breezed into this Saturday’s state quarterfinals with four straight set victories. Mannix, the fourth seed in the state singles bracket, lost a total of only four games in those matches.
   The Strang-Katzelnick tandem has also been dominant, wining at love in Saturday’s opener before posting 6-1, 6-1 and 6-2, 6-0 victories Sunday. The HHS duo is seeded second in the state.
   Aiello won two matches by 6-2, 6-2 margins in Saturday’s action but suffered a 6-3, 6-1 elimination loss to Moorestown’s Kate Penziner Sunday. Aiello, who made the state cut despite being a second singles player, was competing in her first NJSIAA tournament.
Wilson goal lifts
field hockey team
   
Victoria Wilson scored early and the HHS field hockey team made the goal stand up for a 1-0 victory over Montgomery. Hillsborough’s fourth straight win moved the team over .500 for the first time this season.
   Wilson took a pass from Emily Rothschild and fired it into the cage with only four minutes gone in the first half. The Raiders continued to apply pressure but couldn’t get an insurance goal.
   Senior goalkeeper Ellyn Griggs made five saves to post her fourth shutout of the season.
   Two days later, the Raiders were blanked at Voorhees by a 1-0 score so they entered this week’s play with a 5-5 mark. HHS hosts Bridgewater-Raritan and Warren Hills this week before traveling to Mount St. Mary Academy for the Somerset County quarterfinals Saturday at 2 p.m.
Boys endure
tough week
   
The HHS boys’ soccer team saw its seven-game win streak end with a loss and a tie against two powerful foes last week. After dropping a 3-2 decision at Montgomery, the Raiders returned home for a rematch of their season opener vs. Bridgewater-Raritan and played a 1-1 tie.
   Hillsborough played catch-up for most of the game at Montgomery, which scored in the first minute of play. Yannick Smith tied the game later in the half but the Cougars scored the next two goals to take a 3-1 lead. Chase Barbieri started the team’s rally with a goal with 15 minutes to play but the Raiders couldn’t come all the way back.
   Smith gave the Raiders a 1-0 lead in the first half vs. B-R, but Panther star Matt Kassel tied it in the second half. Neither team could produce a goal in overtime, so the game ended in a tie. Casey Koplik made five saves for Hillsborough.
   The Raiders (7-2-1) were scheduled to play at Immaculata and host Watchung Hills in regular season action this week. HHS will begin county tournament action Saturday vs. Somerville at Soccer Centers. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
Galera propels
volleyball unit
   
Christina Galera continued her fine season as the primary setter for the HHS girls’ volleyball team in Friday’s match at Warren Hills. Galera recorded 10 assists to fuel a 25-16, 25-16 sweep for Hillsborough.
   The Raiders (9-6) had dropped consecutive straight set matches to Voorhees and Bridgewater-Raritan earlier in the week and needed Friday’s victory to get back on track. Patty Manhart (6 kills, 2 aces) and Samantha Jackson (5 kills) also contributed to the victory.
   Hillsborough was set to host Hunterdon Central Tuesday before going on the road to face West Windsor Plainsboro North and Mount St. Mary Academy later this week.
Gymnasts sweep to
remain undefeated
   
The Hillsborough gymnasts swept North Hunterdon and Seneca and defeated Ridge in a dual meet to raise their record to 7-0.
   Mary-Kate Lynch (36.775) and Christina Rhoades (36.475) led the way in the sweep at North Hunterdon. Lynch was particularly impressive on floor (9.65), while Rhoades did her best work on floor (9.5) and vault (9.45).
   Other contributors at the meet included Jess Leinbach, who scored 35.175 in the all-around with a 9.225 on beam. Nicole Cicero established a new personal best on vault (8.525).
   Thursday’s meet vs. a young Ridge team gave many of the lesser experienced Raiders to compete on the varsity level for the first time. Shannon Melick led the way with 31.9 in the all-around. Melick scored 8.2 on beam for her highest mark.
   Other first-time varsity competitors in the meet included Kayla Lotierzo (8.275 on vault, 8.55 on beam, 8.4 on floor), Megan Goldschmidt (8.45 on vault), Jaclyn Marangella (7.05 on bars, 7.8 on floor) and Alyssa Russo (8.0 on beam).
   The Raiders face North Hunterdon again in a home meet Thursday.