Hillsborough High School Varsity Soccer Teams 'Team Up' with Local Youth Players

Last week marked several banner games in Hillsborough High School varsity soccer. 

On Tuesday, October 16, the Hillsborough High School Girls Varsity “Lady Raiders” had their Senior night, honoring graduating seniors, and Kick Out Cancer night, a fundraiser for the Progin family.  Ian Progin was diagnosed with Stage 4 Glioblastoma. A lifelong resident of Hillsborough, a guidance counselor and head boy's basketball coach at HHS, Rutgers Graduate and former RU basketball player. 

Players from the Hillsborough Soccer Club girls teams Pumas, Cheetahs and Heat Wave attended to support their mentors. Our Hillsborough Soccer Club players joined the High School players to make a tunnel for the seniors to run through at the beginning of the game.  Then they were ball runners for the game, chasing balls out of bounds and passing them back to the players.  The Lady Raiders, coached by LeeAnn Best, won the contest over Franklin Twp., 2-0.

Two nights later, on Thursday, October 18, the boys varsity team celebrated their senior night.  This time, it was members of the boys Hillsborough Soccer Club teams Explosion and Barcelona who took part, first by accompanying the starting lineup to the center of the field for the playing of the National Anthem and then serving as ball boys to keep the action of the game going.  Coach Eric Puma’s Hillsborough boys team fought their opponent, Hunterdon Central, to a 1-1 tie.

These events were a great opportunities for the younger players to aspire to be like the High School players and continue playing soccer, provided an excellent mentoring opportunity for the High School players, and helped to bring our soccer community together.