HHS boys seeded fourth
by Rudy Brandl, Sports Editor
Hillsborough High’s soccer and field hockey teams won’t be starting Somerset County Tournament action until at least Oct. 11.
All three teams — the HHS boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer and field hockey units — will receive byes in the Oct. 4 preliminary round. The Raider boys’ soccer team, which earned the No. 4 seed in the county bracket, won’t have to play until Oct. 18, when it will host a quarterfinal game.
The HHS field hockey team received the No. 5 seed in its 11-team bracket. Hillsborough will try to avenge its September defeat against Watchung Hills, the fourth seed. That loss essentially cost the Raiders a quarterfinal home game. If HHS prevails at Watchung, it will likely face top-ranked tournament favorite Bridgewater-Raritan in the semifinals Oct. 18. The county final is scheduled for Oct. 25.
Somerset County’s soccer tourneys again will run one week behind, largely due to the surplus of teams. Both brackets include 16 teams.
The HHS girls were ranked eighth and will a second round game Oct. 11. If they win, the Lady Raiders will challenge county powerhouse Pingry.
For a more detailed preview of the Somerset County Tournament brackets, see next Thursday’s Hillsborough Beacon.