After starting 1-2, the Hillsborough High School girls soccer team has bounced back, going .500 in their last 4 games. After winning 4-3 over Piscataway, the Raiders lost a tough game at Old Bridge. The team trailed 1-0 early in the contest, and then was able to tie the game with an own goal by Old Bridge. However, after fighting hard they came up short after giving up a last minute goal in the second half to make the final score 2-1 Old Bridge. 

On the third game of the road trip, Hillsborough took on winless Phillipsburg. In a commanding effort, Hillsborough handed Phillpsburg another loss, winning 5-0.  Led by junior Kara Magliaro’s hat trick, and seniors Nicole Czako and Shelsea Rigby’s goals, Hillsborough dominated the opposing squad. 

Following a convincing win, Hillsborough’s next match up was against undefeated rival Bridgewater-Raritan. In the first half, the team looked like they were going to upset the Panthers, as Hillsborough was able to go up 1-0, thanks to Rigby’s goal.  Unfortunately, despite the early lead, Bridgewater-Raritan came back big from the half, putting down Hillsborough 3-1 in a disappointing loss.

The team’s most recent game was on Saturday, where they picked up a big victory against neighboring rival Montgomery. After getting shut out last year by Montgomery, and losing their previous game to Bridgewater-Raritan, senior captains Erin Steiner, Olivia Rutiglano, and Allison Watson knew this game was huge. 

“The game was extremely important towards our records because we were 2-4 before it, and Montgomery needed to be a game that we won to get us closer to .500,” Watson said. “We all played really well together to pick up a big win.”

Watson is a starting defender, and has been on varsity since her sophomore year. She has been dominating on her side of the field.

The Raiders led the game at the end of the first half up 2-1, and were able to secure the win by scoring a late goal to go up 3-1. The goals in the first half were scored by Junior Sarah Wnorowksi and Rigby. Late during the second half, senior Alexa Swetz scored a crucial goal to give Boro a two-goal lead. 

“It was at a very crucial time in the match because it was 2-1 and the other team was pressuring and the game was getting out of control,” Swetz said. “We really needed a third goal to secure the win”

The team looks to get their first back-to-back wins of the season, when they take on Franklin at home on Sept. 25, at 3:45 p.m, and North Hunterdon on Sept. 28 at 11:30 a.m.