ON TARGET: Hun School girls’ lacrosse player Shannon Dudeck possesses the ball in recent action. Last week, sophomore standout Dudeck scored two goals to help Hun defeat Rutgers Prep 12-9 to earn its first win of the season. The Raiders, now 1-2, host Lawrenceville on April 8, play at Princeton Day School on April 10, and then host Stuart Country Day on April 13. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

As the Hun School girls’ lacrosse team prepared for its game against Rutgers Prep last week, it was primed to break into the win column.

“We were confident with our preparation for Rutgers Prep,” said Hun first-year head coach Liz Cook. “We had a productive practice the Saturday before, and we played with our game plan in mind.”

The Raiders played well from the start in the March 30 contest against Rutgers Prep, jumping out to an 8-3 lead at halftime on the way to a 12-9 triumph.

“Our team was definitely clicking, communicating and playing as a team,” said Cook, reflecting on the triumph.

“We had a solid lead at halftime and knew we had to close down Rutgers Prep’s scoring opportunities. We needed possession off the draw and that’s what we fought for second half.”

Hun got a solid game from senior Erica Dwyer in the victory as she tallied three goals and an assist.

“Erica is calm, confident, and dangerous when attacking the net,” said Cook, who got two goals apiece from Maura Kelly, Kate Davis, Shannon Dudeck and Delia Lawver in the win with goalie Maddie McNulty recording 13 saves. “The team looks to her for leadership and we feel at ease when the ball is in her stick.”

For Cook, it was a special feeling to have the first win of her Hun tenure. “It felt great to get that first win,” said Cook, a longtime assistant coach at Princeton Day School.

“The team has put in the effort, time and bonding — they deserved it. I loved watching the players celebrate. The girls came away with a tremendous amount of confidence. They know that on any given day any team can prevail. They know they can play together and that’s how we will move forward.”

Two days later against Blair, Hun played well in jumping out to a 6-3 halftime lead only to fall 10-9.

“The draw was getting away from us in the second half, we couldn’t win possession,” said Cook, assessing the defeat which moved the Raiders to 1-2.

“Our shots were a little off, and we had trouble putting the ball in the net. Some credit as well goes to Blair’s goalie who played a great second half. We played well, the effort was there, however, we just couldn’t close out the second half.”

In Cook’s view, the Raiders can take some valuable lessons from the setback to the Buccaneers.

“We learned from the defeat that anything can happen, and our team had a lot of bright moments,” said Cook, who got two goals apiece in the loss from Dwyer, Lawver, and Kate Consoli with McNulty recording nine saves.

“We learned we can lead, we just need to put two solid halves together. We are sticking to our game plan, believing in our culture and in one another.”

Looking ahead, Cook believes there are a lot of good moments ahead for her squad.

“Overall, the team has come together, and I am pleased with how they have played,” asserted Cook, whose team hosts Lawrenceville on April 8, plays at Princeton Day School on April 10, and then hosts Stuart Country Day on April 13.

“They are having fun and have gotten better with each game. Teamwork is our biggest area of progress. Our defensive unit continues to make big plays while our attack has learned to adapt to a fast-paced game.”