Tuesday Oct. 1– After a four-game win streak, Hillsborough field hockey was stunned on a last minute penalty shot from Bridgewater, dropping to 6-7 on the season. 

The game was a defensive stalemate until the final minute. The ref called a stroke on Hillsborough with 30 seconds remaining, resulting in a one on one with goalie for Bridgewater. Bridgewater hit the shot, resulting in the loss for Hillsborough. 

The loss was tough, but the team has shown improvement over the course of the season. In their previous four games, they beat the likes of Hopewell Valley, Watchung Hills, Phillipsburg, and North Plainfield. 

In those four games, they outscored their opponents 27-3. Against Hopewell Valley, five different players scored in a team effort. Payton Altman and Katie Kozimbo netted three goals each. Heather Suraci, Emily Buisson, and Caitlin Park each had one goal as well. 

“I would say the thing that’s led to our team’s improvement was the fact that we started to connect our passes and finish on goal,” Altman said.

The pieces are starting to fall for the team, and it comes at the perfect time. The game against North Plainfield, which the team won 9-0, was the first round of county playoffs, so the team will advance into the quarter finals. If they keep the moment up, a deep run into the playoffs is very likely. 

The Raiders look to continue their post season run on Saturday, Oct. 5 versus Montgomery in the county quarterfinals.