SPECIAL CAY: Hun School field hockey player Mariesa Cay goes after the ball in recent action. Senior star Cay has provided energy and production in the midfield for Hun this fall as it has gone 6-6-1. In upcoming action, the Raiders will host Ewing on October 21 in a Mercer County Tournament consolation game before playing at Lawrenceville School on October 24, at Moorestown Friends on October 26 and then starting action in the state Prep A tourney. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Coming into its Mercer County Tournament opening round contest against visiting Hightstown last Friday, the Hun School field hockey team was mired in a three-game losing streak.

But Hun head coach Kathy Quirk felt confident that her sixth-seeded Raiders could break out against the 11th-seeded Rams.

“We have been in a slump but we have been scoring goals at least,” said Quirk.

“We scored two against Germantown Academy (in a 6-2 loss on Wednesday), which is a very good team. I thought that was going to carry over today.”

Things didn’t go well for Hun in the first half as Hightstown jumped out to a 1-0 lead by intermission, controlling possession for much of the first 30 minutes of the contest.

“We got outhustled, we got outplayed,” said Quirk, reflecting on the first half. “It is pretty simple.”

At halftime, Quirk’s message to her team was simple. “We have got to move to the ball and you have got to decide whether you want to win or you don’t,” said Quirk.

While Hun moved the ball better in the second half, generating some good
opportunities, it ended up falling 2-0.

“We were more aggressive,” said Quirk, citing the hustle of junior star Julie Fassl, who made a number of forays into the circle.

“It is very disappointing to me. I think it is disappointing to them also but we need to bounce back.”

Although Hun didn’t bounce back a day later as it fell 2-0 to the Hill School (Pa.), Quirk believes her squad’s upbeat mind-set will help it play
hard to the end of the season.

“That’s the nice thing about this team, they support each other,” said Quirk, whose team hosts Ewing on October 21 in an MCT consolation game before playing at the Lawrenceville School on October 24, at Moorestown Friends on October 26, and then starting action in the state Prep A tourney. “They try to be positive with each other and move forward.”