GRAY MATTERS: Hun School girls’ soccer player Abby Gray controls the ball in a 2015 game. Last Sunday, senior star Gray ended her Hun career on a high note, scoring a goal to help the Raiders defeat Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) 6-0 in the season finale. Hun ended the fall with a record of 7-10-2. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

After a season of nail-biters and some heartbreaking defeats, the Hun School girls’ soccer team enjoyed an afternoon filled with smiles and hugs as they hosted Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) last Sunday to end the fall.

Jumping out to a 4-0 lead by halftime, Hun cruised to a 6-0 win over the Blue Storm on a day when the program’s four seniors, Abby Gray, Natalie Csapo, Julia Salerno, and Shannon Dudeck were honored, three of whom scored (Gray, Csapo, and Dudeck) in the rout.

Co-captain Gray, who tallied the final goal of the contest, savored her last game with the Raiders.

“It is really sweet,” said Gray. “There are a lot of emotions right now, sad but excited. It is definitely bittersweet; the journey with this team has been amazing. My high school career would not be the same without it. I am very grateful for the team and the relationships I have built throughout my four years.”

In reflecting on the 2016 season, which saw Hun post a 7-10-2 record, Gray acknowledged that it had been a tough journey.

“There were a lot of ups and downs; we definitely came into the season with high hopes,” said Gray.

“We worked really hard in the offseason; we had a good preseason. We didn’t really come out that great, the first couple weeks of our schedule were unfortunately against some of the top teams so that definitely was a challenge.”

Despite suffering some lumps along the way, Hun was in the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) title race until last weekend when Peddie clinched the crown with a win over Blair on Saturday, and also advanced to state Prep A semifinals, where it lost 2-1 to Pennington.

“The first half we definitely outplayed them but we lost 2-1; unfortunately it has happened many times this year against many teams,” said Gray, reflecting on the defeat to Pennington.

“We almost think it is luck but it is hard to say that. We had a good season in terms of possession. We have played together very well but unfortunately we just didn’t come out on top.”

The Raiders stuck together through thick and thin, displaying their closeness on Sunday when each of the seniors received hugs after leaving the game late in the second half. “It is amazing, this is definitely a family right here,” asserted Gray. “I couldn’t ask for a better group of girls, it has been a blast.”

Serving as a co-captain of the team along with Salerno, Gray played a key role in fostering that family feeling.

“It was definitely an honor being a captain this year,” said Gray. “I think we are all leaders. We have juniors who are leaders, we have sophomores who are leaders and we even have freshmen who are leaders. Nicole Angelini has had an incredible season. I didn’t take this leadership as me telling them what to do. I think the team as a whole has been amazing.”

Gray also showed leadership through her preparation. “I have worked my hardest during the offseason, that has definitely helped me coming into each season,” said Gray.

“Last summer. I was here as much as possible running and lifting so that was definitely a big part of my progression in terms of fitness and skill.”

Hun head coach Joanna Hallac was happy to see her team cruise to a big win in its finale.

“It is a fun way to end the season,” said Hallac, who also got two goals from Bryonna Worthy in the win with Angelini adding another.

“It is the end of a season that has had a lot of ups and downs but I think the big positive to take away is just the kind of soccer we were playing. We were playing really really well, we just missed a couple of chances.”

In Hallac’s view, missing out on some big wins came down to a dose of bad fortune.

“We had some really good games against good teams that could have gone either way,” said Hallac.

“It just seemed every bad luck chance would go against us and good luck would go for the other team. It was just that kind of season. I don’t like to make excuses because we were playing good soccer and we had chances but bottom line, we didn’t finish and that is why those games went the way they did.”

Even though things didn’t go the way Hun had hoped, the players continued to show unity.

“The fact that they were able to keep that kind of attitude, that camaraderie, and that family atmosphere despite some frustrations is a testament to their character,” said Hallac.

“They saw how well we were playing, they saw how well we were competing and they know what kind of a tough schedule we had. We have a lot to be proud of and a lot to look back on and ponder over the next few months.”

The team’s group of seniors certainly did themselves proud over the last four years.

“It is hard to even measure their impact because since day one when I arrived here, they have been playing such a pivotal role,” added Hallac, reflecting on the team’s Class of 2017.

“We had so many injuries my first year early so they were all thrown into action. This is the first class I have seen all the way through. It is hard to put into words how much they have meant to me and how much we are going to miss them and what kind of a hole is going to be there because of their absence.”

In order to be more successful next year, Hun’s returning players need to focus on how they can make more of an impact.

“What I want them to remember is how it felt being on the losing end of those close ones,” said Hallac. “They need to use that as motivation as they approach the offseason to try to improve themselves and get better so that we don’t have that happen again.”

Gray, for her part, will have a lot of good things to remember when she looks back on her Hun career.

“I think just the growth I have been able to experience with this team,” said Gray, who is planning to play soccer in college.

“The state championship in my sophomore year was incredible. Not having a great season junior year, we really wanted to come back this year. It didn’t work out this year as we had hoped but I couldn’t be more proud to be on this team. I wouldn’t want to be on Pennington, I wouldn’t want to be on Oak Knoll even though they won the state championship.”