Young Lady Raiders coming together

Soccer team wins two straight

by Rudy Brandl, Sports Editor
   Hillsborough High girls’ soccer coach LeeAnn Wyble already has learned a few things about her young team this season. Many of the squad’s best attributes were on display in Friday afternoon’s home opener vs. Immaculata on the Noonan Field stadium turf.
   The Lady Raiders (2-1) demonstrated good teamwork and unselfishness to control possession and post their second shutout of the week. They also showed more explosiveness and a willingness to take shots.
   Hillsborough blanked Phillipsburg and Immaculata by identical 3-0 margins. Five of the team’s six goals during the week came in the second half.
   ”The young troops are definitely pulling together,” Wyble said. “We had a different starting lineup again today and our subs kept up the pace of the game. We controlled the pace and had nice possession and tried to generate more shots.”
   Lauren Cusick, the team’s most experienced player, has led the scoring charge in the early going. Cusick connected twice in each game, giving the HHS girls a 1-0 lead and tacking on the final goal in both victories. The four-year varsity player is playing with different teammates this year but likes the way the team is developing.
   ”We’re learning to gel and play together,” Cusick said. “We need to work together because we don’t have as much individual talent.”
   Cusick converted a crossing pass from Jenna Stickle, who made dangerous runs from her right midfield position all day, in the 11th minute of the first half for a 1-0 lead. The Raiders continued to control the game but didn’t score again until midway through the second half.
   Senior striker Dana Rokoszak maintained the team’s scoring pattern of the previous game by netting the second goal. Kelly Nagel and Julia Paget kept the ball alive in the penalty area and Rokoszak hammered it home for a 2-0 lead with 18:47 to play.
   Cusick launched a bomb into the upper part of the net just over a minute later and the Raiders cruised to victory. Cusick got the ball just inside the box, wheeled and fired a shot into the net for a 3-0 lead.
   The HHS girls did all of their scoring in the second half in the previous game at Phillipsburg. The Lady Raiders dominated but couldn’t get on the board until the 68th minute. That’s when Cusick started a flurry of three goals in 10 minutes. The Lady Raiders had 20 shots, but they started going in only late in the game.
   ”Once we realize what we need to do, we get fired-up and want to score,” Cusick said. “That’s why we score a lot in the second half.”
   ”They feed off each other’s emotion,” Wyble added. “We get one and then the pressure’s off and they can have fun.”
   Freshman goalkeeper Miranda Reinson made five saves to post her first varsity shutout. Reinson and Larissa Gileta split the shutout at Phillipsburg.
   Defenders Emily Bales, Julia Paget and Anna Spaniol held the fort and kept the ball out of danger. Megan Cull, Becca Erdman and Katie DeLuca played well in midfield with Cusick and Stickle. This mix of newcomers and veterans took a few positive strides last week.
   ”We’re still trying to gel,” said Wyble, whose team was scheduled to host North Hunterdon and play at Watchung Hills this week. “It’s a team with talent and they’re so unselfish. It’s still coming together.”