ALL TOGETHER: Hun School field hockey player Sophia Albanese, left, spearheads the defensive effort in a game this fall. Senior star and team captain Albanese was a claiming force on the back line for the Raiders as they posted a 9-10 record this fall. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Based on the first two weeks of the season, it looked like the Hun School field hockey team was in for a rough fall as it lost its first four games, getting outscored 15-7 in the process.

But the Raiders bounced back, posting wins over Stuart, WW/P-N, and WW/P-S to right the ship.

“I think the Stuart game and the two West Windsor games were the turnaround for us,” said Hun head coach Kathy Quirk.

“Against North, they scored two quick goals and I called a timeout. We turned it around and then we won against South in OT. We just seemed to go up on a hill. We always seem to start out slow, get together and build together at the end. I am pleased.”

Quirk was particularly pleased with how her squad ended the season as it won three of its final four games to end the season with a 9-10 record, posting victories over Moorestown Friends, Peddie, and Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) in that stretch.

The Raiders ended the season on a high note with a 4-1 win over Mercersburg as seniors Julie Fassl, Kate Davis, and Delia Lawver each tallied goals in the finale.

“In our Mercersburg game, we played well,” said Quirk. “It was nice for the seniors to score at the end and go out on top. We were trying to get Fassl goals, she needed two goals to end her season with 20. She got one but couldn’t get another. She ended up with 57 for her career.”

Quirk credited her seniors with setting a positive tone this fall for the Raiders.

“They were a really good bunch of kids,” said Quirk, noting that she had 12 seniors on the roster. “Although some of them had limited playing time, they were all very supportive of each other. I think they could all count on each other.”

Hun has been able to count on senior star Fassl since day one of her career.

“Julie is just a special kid, you don’t see three-sport athletes any more which makes her even more special,” said Quirk, noting that Fassl is headed to Virginia Wesleyan where she plans to play field hockey and softball.

“Then to say that you are going to college to play two is really unheard of in this day and age. I think she is going to do well, she is such a competitor.”

Davis had a special senior campaign, tallying 11 goals and nine assists.

“Kate really had a good year,” added Quirk. “She is scrappy, she is quick. She has beaten many a girl down the field, gone inside and either centered it or taken it herself. She finally learned at the end of the season how to draw the goalie out and go around her.”

Lawver, for part,  controlled the middle of the field for the Raiders. “Delia did a great job as a center mid, she is going to truly be missed next year,” said Quirk.

“She is able to move the ball side to side and up and down the field. She was a huge piece of our corners.”

Senior Sophia Albanese was a huge piece of the Hun defense. “Sophia is a player of the game, she is the calming force to all of this,” said Quirk.

“Her whole demeanor is about sportsmanship and how we represent the Hun School and how we represent each other; just because we are losing, let’s not go down easily. She is going to be missed, she and Julie have both been four-year starters.”

A fifth senior, Helena Hemberger, emerged as an unsung hero this fall.

“Helena Hemberger had a huge impact, she came back in good shape,” said Quirk.

“For three years she had been on varsity and saw very limited time and she wanted a starting position. She earned one and she did a nice job for us.”

In Quirk’s view, the program is in nice shape going forward. “I think we do have a good foundation,” said Quirk.

“Kendall Nehlig and Megan Donahue will be back on the defense. Julia Revock has some big shoes to fill on offense and she knows it. I think she is able to handle the challenge. Our goalie, M.C. Shea, had one of her best games against Lawrenceville where she had 20 saves. She finally learned how to to use every part of her body, she has just developed. We have got some good JV players down there who have worked hard.”