Taking A Look Back At September (Half Hollow Hills)
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The Colts’ Olivia Sabatino is one of the girls’ major threats on offense. (Long Islander News photo/Andrew Wroblewski)
September is in the books. As October begins, the varsity teams from Half Hollow Hills high schools East and West are primed for playoff pushes and late-season theatrics.
Half Hollow Hills
There are five teams in the school district that draw students from both high schools to form a super-Half Hollow Hills team: the Thundercolts.
First up, the girls gymnastics team has been on a roll. Half Hollow Hills (3-0) has yet to lose a match as of Monday, recording wins over Lindenhurst (0-4) and Babylon (2-3). Today they welcome West Babylon to High School East for a 4 p.m. showdown.
Similarly, the girls cross country team is unbeaten in League I as Half Hollow Hills (2-0) won both meets so far this season. On Tuesday, the girls welcomed Commack (0-1), and today they’ll head out to Fireman’s Field in Ridge for the annual Tom Knipfing Invitational at 4 p.m.
Both the girls swimming and boys volleyball teams for Half Hollow Hills have started off hot.
The swim team (2-1) is, as of Monday, tied atop League I with two other schools. That may have changed on Monday as the girls welcomed Smithtown (1-2) for a meet that took place after press time. Today, they head to Brentwood (1-1) for a 4 p.m. meet.
Starting the season with five straight wins, the boys volleyball team suffered its first loss last week to Sachem North (5-0). Before the setback, Half Hollow Hills (5-1) had lost only two games – with shutout wins coming against Huntington (1-5), Connetquot (2-4) and Center Moriches (1-5). On Monday, a tough matchup at Commack (3-2) occurred after press time, but the team welcomes Bay Shore (5-0) today for a 5:30 p.m. start at High School West.
The field hockey team has so far spent its season looking up at the competition in Division I. Hills (0-7) did take Patchogue-Medford (2-5) down to the wire in a game that the Thundercolts would ultimately drop by just a goal. The team was in action on Monday against William Floyd (0-6) and on Oct. 6 they host Walt Whitman (2-4) at High School West at 4 p.m.
Half Hollow Hills High School East
Of the seven teams that High School East fields this fall, the school has 26 wins and just 13 losses.
Perhaps most impressive, the girls tennis team started the year with nine straight wins. This earned the girls a first-place seating in League I (as of press time on Monday) thanks to big wins like that over High School West (3-3). On Monday, the girls traveled to Ross (1-6); on Tuesday they took on Kings Park (0-6); and on Wednesday the team traveled to Harborfields (4-5). Continuing the trend, the girls will welcome Smithtown East (4-4) today for at 3:30 p.m.
Continuing the trend of the unbeatens, the boys cross country team has won both of its meets so far this season. The boys will next meet on Tuesday against Walt Whitman (2-0) at Sunken Meadow State Park.
Both the boys and girls soccer teams from Hills East look good this year.
Of the six matchups the boys team has played, four were decided by one goal, and one ended in a 0-0 draw. In the one blowout game the Thunderbirds (3-2-1) played in, they dominated 4-1 over Northport (3-2-2). Monday the boys took on Walt Whitman (4-2) and traveled to Central Islip (4-1) on Wednesday. On Oct. 6, the T-birds make the trip to Connetquot (1-4-1) for a 4 p.m. kickoff.
The girls team has been on a tear as of late, outscoring opponents 10-1 in its last two games. Despite losing 2-0, the Thunderbirds were impressive on Sept. 17 when they took on Northport (8-0) – a powerhouse. Hills East edged third-place Lindenhurst (6-3) 3-2 on Sept. 11. On Tuesday, the girls took on Connetquot (2-6-1) at home; today they travel to Lindenhurst at 6:15 p.m.
Football: In its homecoming game, Hills East (2-1) kept Copiague (0-3) quiet as they won 31-8. However, a loss to North Babylon (1-2) last Saturday may hurt Hills East moving forward. They’ll look to bounce back Wednesday at West Islip (0-3).
Teeing off to a swell start has been the boys golf team, which is tied for second place in League III as of Monday. A win over Hills West (4-1) gave the Thunderbirds (4-1) momentum as they prepared to face Huntington (6-0) and West Babylon (0-4) on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Today, Hills East meets Hills West again at the Bethpage State Park Golf Course. Tee time is 3:30 p.m.
Finally, the girls volleyball team has struggled at times this year but was able to get results against Northport (0-4) and Lindenhurst (1-5). Hills East (2-5) would look for success on Wednesday when it traveled to Bay Shore (3-1), and again on Oct. 7 to Northport (0-5).
Half Hollow Hills High School West
The win column is something the teams from Hills West have found themselves in early and often.
The football team has so far put up more than 20 points in each of its three games this season. This has left the Colts looking down at teams in Division II from first place – where it’s tied with Bellport (3-0) and Riverhead (3-0) as of Monday. The team will continue on for an Oct. 11 showdown with Smithtown East (2-1).
On to the fútbol – or soccer. Between both the boys and girls, Hills West has lost just two games so far.
Here’s an impressive statistic: From Sept. 15-19 the Colts outscored opponents 19-0. The last time Hills West lost was on Sept. 11 at North Babylon, which would ultimately send the Colts on a five-game winning streak – including a win over West Islip (5-2-1) on Sept. 22. After Smithtown West (6-2) on Monday, the Colts will look for revenge against North Babylon as the Bulldogs come to town at 4 p.m.
The boys have also been impressive, outscoring opponents 15-7. A 4-2 setback against Smithtown West (4-1-1) is the only time the Colts (5-1-1) have lost; they drew with North Babylon 2-2. The push for the playoffs started on Monday when Hills West welcomed West Islip (2-5) and then again as the Colts visited Newfield (1-6) on Wednesday. Hills West will play Smithtown West on Oct. 6.
Following suit, the boys golf team is tied for second in League III as of Monday and has recorded two shutout wins this season. The Colts (4-1) prepped for a rematch against West Babylon on Tuesday and another against undefeated Huntington (6-0) on Wednesday. Today, the much-awaited rematch against Hills East is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at the Bethpage State Park Golf Course.
On the tennis court, Hills West’s girls have been successful in League I so far this year, currently sitting in third place. A 7-0 shutout against Smithtown East (4-4) on Sept. 15 was impressive and the Colts (4-3) would look to replicate that success on Monday and Tuesday as they took on Bay Shore (5-5) and Harborfields (4-5). Today, a showdown with Commack (6-2) is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. at High School West.
Also on the court, but this time the volleyball court, has been a Colts team that pulled off its biggest win against Hills East (2-5) on Sept. 15. Hills West (2-5) is looking up at the rest on League IV’s teams, but would look to change that on Monday with a match against Deer Park (1-4) and another at Centereach (5-3) on Wednesday. Next comes a trip to West Babylon (1-5) scheduled for Oct. 7 at 5:45 p.m.
Finaly, the boys cross country team has still been looking for the spark that will get them going. The Colts (0-2) have dropped both meets so far, but took on East Islip (2-0) on Tuesday and now look forward to a meet with Huntington (0-2) at Sunken Meadow State Park at 4 p.m. Oct. 7.
