Hillsborough Shocks Phillipsburg with Late Comeback, Secures 3-2 Victory

PHILLIPSBURG, NJ - Hillsborough stunned Phillipsburg High School at the beginning of the game and again late in the contest in pulling out a 3-2 victory over the Stateliners in a Skyland Conference Delaware Division field hockey game on Thursday at the Phillipsburg Athletic Complex.

First, the Raiders scored less than two minutes into the contest to take quick 1-0 lead. Then, after Phillipsburg scored two third quarter goals to take the lead and gain all the momentum, Hillsborough scored twice in the last three minutes of the game to pick up the victory and break P’burg’s modest two-game winning streak.

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Mackenzie Smith scored the tying and winning goals for the Raiders although first-year ‘Liner coach Rachel Phillips disputed the game-winner which Stateliner goalie Jordan Nonnemacher got a hand on but couldn’t keep out of the cage,

“Two lucky goals at the end and the second one they scored I didn’t think touched anybody outside of the circle,” Phillips said. “It should have been coming out in my opinion. But you have to play what the refs are calling. They called a very good game. The other sideline was very distracting to my players so there were lots of factors going into us not being able to finish this game with a win.”

Natalia Simcak gave the Raiders (6-3 overall, 3-3 division) the early lead on a goal from Jane Rodriguez. Sophia Remian and Isabella Turdo gave P’burg (2-5-1,2-5) the lead with goals two and a half minutes apart in the third quarter on assists from Breezy Scuderi and Payton Doering, respectively.

Hillsborough goalies Kaylin Adaman and Jess McKelvey were brilliant in the cage and prevented many ‘Liner scoring opportunities while combining for 14 saves. Phillipsburg took 16 shots on goal to just six for the Raiders.

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Turdo scored the go-ahead goal for P’burg after Lena Carpenter was at midfield waiting to substitute for her for several minutes.

“Right place at the right time,” Phillips said. “Bella is always on the post with her stick down. I know when she’s in that position she’s going to score. She wanted the ball today so even though she was being called off the moment wasn’t right and she ended up scoring.”

Scuderi, one of five returning starters for the ‘Liners this season along with Avery Butler, both played good overall games.

“Breezy played really well,” Phillips said. “Phenomenal tackles coming up our right side and she got her stick on every single ball. And Avery Butler created a lot of opportunities and was very good on both sides of the ball.”

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