Marino goal backs O’Connor shutout
By: Rudy Brandl
FRANKLIN The Hillsborough High girls’ soccer team has learned how to battle through difficult situations this season. That mettle was put to the test again in Saturday’s Somerset County Tournament quarterfinal game vs. Somerville at Soccer Centers in Franklin Township.
Playing without leading scorer Mary Bednar, who sustained two broken bones in her face in the previous game at Watchung Hills, the Lady Raiders had to find a way to beat an undefeated opponent. Despite playing a weaker schedule, Somerville was primed and ready to eliminate Hillsborough from the tournament.
The HHS girls wouldn’t let it happen. They found a way to prevail by a 1-0 score to advance to Saturday’s SCT semifinals vs. top-ranked Montgomery.
Senior forward Katie Marino scored the game’s only goal with 1:10 remaining in the first half. Center defender Julia Paget delivered a 40-yard assist when her free kick bounced off the crossbar and found the feet of Marino, who drilled the rebound into the center of the net.
"I was a little nervous but I just hit it as hard as I could away from the keeper," Marino said. "Our main scorer, Mary Bednar, was out so we had to win it for her. We wanted to keep playing."
Bednar is only the latest HHS standout to suffer an injury. Sweeper Noelle Neall has missed the entire season with after ACL surgery on her right knee during the summer. Other key players have operated at less than full capacity due to illness or injury.
"They battle and they fight," HHS head coach LeeAnn Wyble said. "They weren’t ready to lose in this tournament. They battled the full 80 minutes. They like the feeling of winning and giving a team their first loss."
Wyble sensed the opportunity for a goal when Paget lined up for the long free kick. She instructed her defender to shoot on goal and Paget launched a rocket toward the net. Somerville goalkeeper Erica Midgely, who is usually a field player, jumped but couldn’t reach the ball. Marino was there to pounce on the deflection.
"I wanted Katie to crash the net," Wyble said. "Julia did a great job putting the ball up there."
"I heard my coach say Julia was going to try to score," Marino added. "They put a field player in goal, so I thought maybe she would bobble it. I just tried to get there and put it in."
The HHS defense and senior goalkeeper Taryn O’Connor made the 1-0 score hold. Paget and marking backs Ali Leifer and Nikki Smartt shut down the Pioneers. O’Connor, who notched six saves for the shutout, made her biggest stop in the closing seconds of the first half.
Somerville (14-1) nearly tied the game right away with a free kick blast by Miranda Maniscalco, but O’Connor got in position to deflect it away.
"I was setting up the wall and it just came," O’Connor said. "It was a hard shot, but I was able to follow it."
The Lady Raiders controlled the second half but couldn’t add to their lead. Anna Spaniol launched a shot that was tipped over the bar by the keeper. Kelly Nagel nearly scored twice early in the half but Midgely made the saves. Jenna Stickle ripped a long shot that hit the underside of the crossbar but was not ruled a goal.
Saturday’s victory kept the Lady Raiders alive in another title quest. They’re in the lead in the Delaware East Division race, with Montgomery and Bridgewater-Raritan right there to take it away. Now, the HHS girls are one victory away from making it back to the county finals.
"We’ve made it to the finals the last two years and lost," Marino said. "We want to win it all this year."
Hillsborough (11-3) must defeat Montgomery in Saturday’s SCT semifinals at 2 p.m. at Bridgewater-Raritan to reach the title game for the third straight time. The Lady Raiders played a superb defensive game in a 1-0 victory over Montgomery back on Oct. 3.
"We beat them 1-0, but it can go either way," O’Connor said. "We just have to work our hardest."
As it turns out, HHS and Montgomery will play twice in three days. Thursday’s game in Montgomery has division title implications, while Saturday’s battle in Warren determines who plays for the county crown.
"Montgomery is the No. 1 seed and they’re real strong," Wyble said. "Every game is so important now. We have to look at one game at a time. We can still play for the county and the conference championship."

