RAIDER ROUNDUP
By: Rudy Brandl
The Hillsborough High girls’ lacrosse team opened the Somerset County Tournament with a 15-7 victory over Bernards Monday afternoon.
Hillsborough (9-3), the second seed in the tourney, will host No. 3 Ridge in next Monday’s semifinals at 5:30 p.m. on the Noonan Field stadium turf. It’s a rubber match between the Skyland Conference rivals, who split two regular season games earlier this season.
"I think both teams are going to be hungry for it," HHS head coach Beth Murrin said. "They’re definitely going to be motivated. It’s going to be an intense game."
Ridge has also split with Bridgewater-Raritan, the No. 1 seed in the county tourney, so the Raiders remain alive in their quest for a share of the conference crown. But for now, their focus in on the county tournament.
Hillsborough won the title in 2005 and was eliminated by B-R in the semifinals last spring. The HHS girls, a younger but still very talented group, would love to get back to the county final this year.
"We’re definitely getting better and the younger ones are contributing more," Murrin said. "We’re ready to contend."
Junior Lindsey Watts scored three of her game-high six goals during a 5-0 spurt that put the Raiders in early command. Dorian Gilmartin-Dzitko (4 goals, 5 assists) and Katie Marino (2 goals, 3 assists) added goals in the opening flurry.
"We did some nice things attack-wise," Murrin said. "We weren’t that good defensively. We have to play better defensively."
Bernards (5-5) rallied to make it 8-5 at the half but the HHS girls dominated the second stanza and blanked the visitors in the final nine minutes. Sara DiClemente (1 goal, 1 assist) and Kelsey Palmer (2 goals) also connected for the winners and Lauren Griggs made 15 saves.
The HHS girls won two regular season games last week, prevailing on the road at Westfield (15-12) and Hunterdon Central (15-8).
Watts became the fourth girl in school history and second this season to reach the 100-goal milestone in the victory at Westfield. She scored six goals in the game.
Katie Marino had a big game with five goals and four assists. DiClemente netted two goals and added one assist. Other HHS goals came from Tina Marino and Palmer.
The Raiders broke open a close game in the second half at Central. After leading just 7-6 at the break, Hillsborough finished on an 8-2 run.
Katie Marino was the primary playmaker with four goals and three assists, while younger sister Tina had two goals and two assists. Watts, DiClemente and Katie DeLuca notched two goals apiece. Gilmartin-Dzitko, Palmer and Nikki Smartt also connected for the winners. Griggs made 10 saves for the Raiders.
Netmen fire back
with a vengeance
The HHS boys avenged a prior loss with an impressive 4-1 win over Montgomery last week.
Third singles player Stefan Apostolos and the first doubles team of Ross Friedman and Tom Gross produced the key victories. Apostolos outlasted Dan D’Agostino in a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 thriller after losing to him in straight sets back in April. Friedman and Gross posted a 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 victory against Vincent Chong and Mike Goldman, who defeated Friedman and Tim Le in the previous meeting.
Second singles player Chris Plaskon remained unbeaten in regular season play with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Bobby Reiss. Le and Sam Kleinman prevailed in two tough sets, 6-4 and 6-3, at second doubles.
Freshman first singles player Steven Wu set the tone for his team’s 4-1 victory over Princeton with a 6-1, 6-1 triumph. Plaskon and the Friedman-Gross and Le-Klein tandems also prevailed.
The Raiders (11-3) were hoping to continue their winning ways in matches vs. Bridgewater-Raritan, Pingry and North Hunterdon this week.
Golfers start
new win streak
The Raiders shot three rounds in the 190s last week and needed to be there to defeat Ridge by one stroke. After rolling to victories over Montgomery (198-212) and Immaculata (191-219), the Raiders won a very competitive match vs. Ridge by a 190-191 score.
All five golfers counting scores on both teams shot 40 or lower. Logan Cecchine took medalist honors with an even-par round of 36 in the match, which was held at Hillsborough Country Club. Nick Grappone (37), Andrew Borsuk (38), Zach Schiffman (39) and Ed Zielonka (40) rounded out the Raider scorecard.
The same five Raiders posted scores in the home win over Montgomery Borsuk (37), Cecchine (39), Schiffman (40), Zielonka (40) and Grappone (42).
Cecchine led the way with a one-under par 35 in the victory over Immaculata at Neshanic Valley. Grappone fired 38, Craig Durant and Schiffman checked in with 39s and Borsuk shot 40.
Hillsborough (11-1) was scheduled to face Bridgewater-Raritan twice this week, at home and at Green Knoll, before traveling to Beaver Brook to take on North Hunterdon Thursday. The team will try to defend its sectional championship next Monday.
Boys win 2 of 3
in volleyball
After dropping a tough three-set match to West Windsor Plainsboro South, the HHS boys’ volleyball team got back on track with two straight victories.
Thursday’s 25-12, 25-18 home win over Watchung Hills improved the team’s record to 10-3. Mike Argueta led the balanced attack with six kills and two aces. Sean Kelly added five kills, one block and one ace. Chris Fedroff had five kills and one ace, while Alex Miska added five kills and one block.
Jared Himelfarb had a big day as the setup man with 22 assists when the Raiders dumped Ridge 25-13, 25-20. Other contributors to the victory included Kyle Downey (7 kills, 1 ace), Argueta (6 kills, 3 digs) and Kelly (7 kills, 5 digs).
Argueta, Kelly and Himelfarb had solid outings in the team’s 25-17, 16-25, 25-20 loss to WWPS. Argueta had nine kills and two blocks, Kelly made five kills, a block and two aces and Himelfarb notched 19 assists and two aces in the match.
The Raiders were set to travel to West Windsor Plainsboro North and Marlboro for matches this week.