Raritan field hockey struggles again BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer After struggling through a 2-15 season last fall with an eye on this season, a barrage of injuries and illnesses have hampered the Raritan High School field hockey team this time around. The Rockets are playing without six starters, including midfielder Kerri Costello and fullback Kristin McKeever, both seniors, who will miss the entire campaign. In addition, versatile forward Britt Connelly is out indefinitely with a twisted ankle; fullback Amanda Holder and forward Jess DaCosta are out with lingering injuries and midfielder Celeste Dayawon is day-to-day with a calf injury. Every day it seems like someone else gets injured," coach Janet Citro said. "Right now we're trying to stay positive, be patient and work to have our younger players step up." As a result, the Rockets are 0-4-1, with losses against Red Bank Catholic (3-0), Holmdel (3-1), St. John Vianney (3-0) and Manasquan (4-3). The tie was a 0-0 double overtime match with Red Bank Regional. "The girls have played well in spurts," Citro added. "We were up 3-1 on Manasquan and we had our chances against Red Bank and weren't able to put the ball in the net. If the girls keep generating chances they'll start to get some goals." With so many defenders out, a pair of sophomores, Angela Terracciano and Samantha VanDerveer, a recent JV call-up, have seen extensive time on the back line, joining Jessica Rohr and junior Stephanie Hagan, who is playing through a foot injury. Linnea Petersen and Genevieve Paulin, a sophomore, are Raritan's goalkeepers. "Besides the injuries, we graduated a lot of our fullbacks so we're kind of inexperienced on defense," the coach noted. "They're coming along though. We're focusing on getting better with each game and we're seeing steady improvement." Alexis Canary and juniors Nicole Dougherty and Michele Garrett also patrol the middle with occasional help from Hagan. Megan Meyers, Monica Vilacha and juniors Stephanie Casciani, Morgan Daley, Dana Flanagan and Francesca Maglione are the forwards. While Citro has seen improved play, the Rockets will be tested this week as they visit Shore Conference Class A Central rivals RBC on Wednesday and St. John Vianney on Friday. Raritan was also scheduled to travel to Jackson Liberty on Monday. "We were really expecting a good season this year because the girls showed good signs late last season," Citro said. "Thirty girls came to camp, most of them worked hard during the summer, and a lot of them played on seven-a-side teams so we're not where we hoped we'd be. Without the injuries I really believe we'd be very competitive. "Right now, we're just hoping to get some kids healthy and to bring the younger girls along and get them to believe in themselves," she continued. "On the positive side, a lot of players are getting game experience that will help them and our team in the future."