Hightstown Girls Lacrosse Improves to 7-1

Using a balance attack and a midfield that has learned to control the ball, the girls lacrosse team is 7-1 on the season.

"We're playing much more as a team," Coach Julie Reisig noted. "The girls understand the concepts that we're trying to do out there. They are working together."

Even Hightstown's one loss — 14-12 to Lawrence — wasn't that bad of an effort. It was over school break and Hightstown was missing six defenders.

"We were missing a lot of defenders,  but I don't want to use that as an excuse," Reisig said. "We did have a five-goal lead late and Lawrence scored seven unanswered goals."

Caroline Noebels and Tina Mongiello both scored three goals each for Hightstown. Cate Douglass and Nicole Kerr added two goals each.

Hightstown's most recent win was 11-5 over Hamilton on Friday. On April 12, Hightstown also defeated Hamilton, 13-4.

"The scores went down, but that's because we're holding the ball more," Reisig said. "We're controlling the ball in the midfield rather than just keep trying to score. It might not look like we're as strong as before, but we're playing better."

On Friday, Carey Ladd, Douglass and Kate Hackett scored two goals each. Nicole Kerr, Ashley Kozik, Melissa Ladd and Ventura Janyl added a goal each.

On April 12, Kozik scored three goals. Melissa Colavita, Douglass, Janyl, Kerr, Carey Ladd, Rachel Taylor, Jessica Lenzo, Noebels, Mongiello and Courtney Prunchak added a goal each.

"We're really getting a balanced scoring attack," Reisig said.

Hightstown is also getting outstanding play in the goal by freshman Emil LeBlanc. She had 10 saves in a 12-11 win over Ewing on April 14. LeBlanc had 11 saves in an 18-11 win over Steinert on Wednesday.

The Ewing contest was the big win of the year for Hightstown. Both teams are now 7-1 and Hightstown gave Ewing its lone loss.

Noebels scored four goals against Ewing. Hackett, Colavita and Douglass added two goals each.

Against Hamilton's Steinert High School, Colavita scored five goals. Douglass, Hackett and Melissa Ladd added three goals each.

Hightstown also defeated Hamilton's Nottingham High School, 20-2, on April 25.

Kerr recorded three goals and three assists. Hackett and Noebels had three goals and two assists each. Douglass and Janyl both scored three goals. Colavita and Melissa Ladd both had two goals and an assist.

Hightstown is scheduled to host Ranney today, Monday. The team will also play Ewing on Tuesday and Pennington on Thursday. Hightstown will host the Hun School of Princeton in the opening round of the Mercer County Tournament on May 7.

"I think the girls have turned a corner," Reisig said. "I'm happy with the way they are playing as a team."