PRINCETON: Hun’s Molloy motivated for states

Girls’ lax has Big Red rematch

By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
   Emma Molloy has done all she can to help the Hun School girls lacrosse team win over the past two and a half seasons.
   The Raiders senior attack is just realizing how limited those chances are — not by opponents — but simply by time.
   ”I’m done in 18 days and the thought of high school ending, it’s so scary,” Molloy said. “It didn’t really hit me in March when we were down in Florida and practicing. Now that we’re getting into states and we only have a few games left and these games coming up really matter, it’s important to win. These are my last high school games.
   ”All of us feel like we want to make the most of it and really make our mark on the team. It’s our year so I think it’s kind of sinking in a bit.”
   Molloy will try to extend the Raiders season a few games when the fifth seeds play at fourth-seeded Lawrenceville on Monday in the Prep A opening round. The winner plays top-seeded Oak Knoll, which has a bye. Lawrenceville won the teams’ first meeting, 20-17, but it was Hun that knocked them out of states last year, 13-10.
   ”We’ve been slowly climbing upwards toward now,” said Molloy, a co-captain who had a goal in Hun’s 17-7 win over Pennington on Tuesday. “We’re all excited and ready for the challenges we’re faced with. Hopefully we do well. I think we’re ready for all the teams. I’m excited.”
   Third-seeded Princeton Day School, which handed Hun its only other loss this season, hosts No. 6 Blair with the winner playing at No. 2 Peddie. In Prep B, Stuart gained the top seed as it looks for its fifth straight state crown. The Tartans host the winner of No. 4 Rutgers Prep and No. 5 Newark Academy.
   Before Hun faces Lawrenceville, it was to take on Peddie on Thursday and play at Mercersburg on Saturday. The Raiders lost seven starters from a year ago, but have found just as much firepower offensively. They are averaging 17.2 goals per game in their last five games.
   ”We’ve got the ability to score and we’ve got the ability to have a lot of different girls score,” said Hun head coach Jonathan Stone. “We’ve been a little too inconsistent in terms of our midfield and our transition and overall defense.
   ”I’m not as surprised on the offensive end that we’ve been able to produce. As we get more experience, we’ll be really good defensively.”
   Molloy is a big part of making the offense work. She helps as much as she can at both ends. She has been a steady scorer for the Raiders since coming to Hun from Ridge as a sophomore.
   ”She’s made big plays when we’ve been down because of her experience,” Stone said. “She’s been elected captain. She’s got more experience than anyone out there that we have other than Addie (Godfrey).
   ”I think she slowly made improvements in terms of confidence and ability to make plays when we need her to,” he added. “Her stick skills have continued to improve and been as consistent as anyone we have. She’s been good at possessing the ball and coming back as an attacker to help us with clears. Her leadership has continued to grow.”
   Molloy has tried to do her part to make the Hun offense harder to stop. For her, it means continuing to look to pass and create opportunities for others.
   ”It’s been working and it works for our team,” said Molloy, who will continue her career at Pomona-Pitzer, a Division III school in California. “Most of us think more as a unit, what play is going to work best that’s going to get us a goal, who can definitely beat their particular defender. As a unit, that’s something we’re all good at recognizing. It’s helped us.”
   As the Raiders have gained experience, they have gotten better at recognizing the strengths within their team.
   ”The fact that each of us can do something different has been a huge plus,” Molloy said. “It’s one of the reasons I think we’re a major threat.
   ”Now that we’re meshing and working together and recognizing who is good at what, we’re finding we’re strong and we have potential to do what we want to do with our season.”
   What Molloy wants most is a lot more games with a Hun team she has enjoyed being a part of for three seasons. She will have the chance to fulfill her wish as she pushes the Raiders toward some lofty goals.
   ”We’re looking forward to seeing the teams we have lost to and competing against them again,” Molloy said, “and showing we’re just as strong as them or better.”