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Raiders split state matches vs. Blair

Boys soccer advances, girls fall

By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
   The Blair Academy girls’ soccer team found an answer to stopping Arielle Collins, while the Hun School boys’ soccer team found an answer to its scoring woes.
   The end result was mixed results for the two Hun teams as they hosted opening-round state Prep A tournament games on Wednesday against Blair. The boys used three second-half goals to post a 3-1 win, earning them a shot at top-seeded St. Benedict’s on Wednesday. The girls were not as fortunate, as they could not score in a 1-0 loss to the Bucs.
   For the Hun boys, who improved to 7-7-2, the win means another chance to play St. Benedict’s, one of the top teams in the nation and a 5-0 winner in an earlier meeting between the two teams.
   ”I just told the kids it’s a great opportunity for us to go up there and play a good soccer team, whatever the outcome is,” Hun coach Pat Quirk said. “Experiencing the atmosphere that St. Benedict’s brings is great for any young player, especially a young team like we have.”
   After Hun had taken a 1-0 lead on a goal by Steve Norman in the first minute of the second half, Blair came right back to tie the game. But a goal by Ryan Kreger gave the Raiders the lead, and another score by Brian Patriarca iced the game.
   Now the Raiders get another shot at St. Benedict’s, even if they won’t be at full strength.
   ”We finally got a couple kids healthy, but then we lost Thomas Nicholas for the year,” Quirk said. “We pick up Norman and we lose Thomas. It’s been a tough year with the injuries, but the young kids are gaining experience.”
   The Hun girls had posted a 6-3 win over Blair when the teams met less than two weeks ago. But this time the Bucs found a way to stop Collins, who leads Hun with 13 goals.
   Even though the Raiders dominated play most of the game and outshot Blair, 19-7, in the end they could not get that one goal they needed.
   ”We had some really good opportunities, even one just as time was running out that we put over the top of the goal,” said Hun coach Ken Stevenson, whose team fell to 5-6 with the loss. “Even though they scored early, we had intensity. We built intensity and played with intensity as the game went on. We just could not get the ball in net.
   ”Their keeper played great. She was aggressive and cut down the angles. They were very prepared for Arielle as a weapon up top. Their coach got them ready to play today.”
   The Raiders also played their second game without Blake Stockton, who suffered a broken leg at Mount St. Mary’s. She and Collins had combined for 18 of the teams 23 goals this season.
   ”The girls have worked super hard,” Stevenson said. “They had a great attitude. Arielle came in and has been a great leader on the team and a great leader off the field. The girls have been very coachable and a real pleasure to work with.”
   In this game, they just came up one goal short.