Hillsdale has another solid performance

Those expectations may change in a hurry as Hillsdale (2-4-2 overall) opened the week with a big boost in a 2-0 win over Aragon. Then, Thursday, after trailing at home against Terra Nova by two goals at the half, the Knights rallied back with two quick second-half goals to earn a 2-2.

“I think we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with this season,” Hillsdale first-year co-head coach Jina Button said. “We have a lot of young talent.”

A majority of Hillsdale’s varsity roster is composed of underclassmen. And the well of youth has had a quick impact — including providing the one-two punch to put a damper on Terra Nova’s halftime party.

Sophomore forward Aaliyah Schinaman got the Knights on the board in the opening minute of the second half. About one minute later, Hillsdale freshman Chase Nestor scored the equalizer.

“Great comeback,” Button said. “Finally came into what we’ve wanted to play. We came out strong. We came out tough. … They’re very physical. Our girls aren’t used to playing like that.”

Terra Nova (1-0-4) has played a physical brand of soccer to compensate for its struggling offense. The tying Tigers entered the day having scored just one goal through four matches. Despite this, they haven’t lost yet, earning a 1-0 win over San Mateo along with scoreless ties against St. Ignatius, South City and Sequoia.

So, scoring two goals in the opening half Thursday was something of an explosion. Terra Nova got on the board midway through the opening half when senior midfielder Kaylee Noble sent the ball into center box and, coming out of a scrum, senior midfielder Sydney Burnham booted it in. Ten minutes later, senior defensive back Sylver Hilder sent a cross to junior Joya Palmer, who knocked it in to make it 2-0.

“When we got up 2-0, the girls were feeling pretty good at halftime,” Terra Nova head coach Dave Downing said. “Credit to Hillsdale, they came out with a lot of energy and scored two quick goals in the first two minutes.”

It’s quite the feather in Hillsdale’s cap to mount a comeback against the Terra Nova back row. In addition to returning two first-team all-PAL Bay Division defenders in junior goalkeeper Julia Falk and senior center back Haley Dyer, the Tigers have three other senior starting defenders in center back Emma Rose Mahoney-Rohri, the left back Hilder, and a first-year varsity senior at right back in Laura Petterson.

“The back row is pretty stellar,” Downing said. “I was pretty surprised when they gave up those two goals.”

It’s a big momentum boost in the trajectory of Hillsdale’s season after Tuesday’s momentous win against Aragon. And Button was glowing about the way her Knights executed their two goals in the 2-0 win over the rival Dons.

“Both were on beautiful crosses,” she said.

Schinaman got Hillsdale on the scoreboard with a header. Katia Economou doubled the lead with another header.

“When we play tough teams, we play our game,” Button said.

Thursday’s win over Terra Nova was hometown matchup for Button, who grew up in Pacifica. She went the private school route, however, opting to play at St. Ignatius. In her first year at Hillsdale, Button previously served as a junior-varsity coach at Aragon some years ago. More recently, she coached middle school soccer in Cupertino.

Button is sharing head coaching duties with Yang Zhao, who also served as co-head coach last season.

For Terra Nova, this season marks the end of an era as longtime head coach Ernie Brockmeyer retired and relocated to San Diego.

Downing served as an assistant coach under Brockmeyer for seven years. This is his first year as the team’s head coach.

“I think we’re going to be right in the thick of things,” Downing said. “It will be, if we score some goals, we’ll be in every game.”