With Saturday, October 26, the cutoff date for games played toward state tournament seeding rapidly approaching, the Bridgewater-Raritan High School field hockey team: winner of three of its last four games, heading into its final division game of the 2024 regular season at Montgomery High School on Tuesday, October 22.
While the Panthers collected a home victory over Montgomery back on September 19, the Cougars returned the favor on their home turf.
Bridgewater-Raritan (7-9-2, 3-6-1) rallied from an early two-goal deficit against Montgomery (4- 11-1, 1-8) and pitched a shutout over the final 44:30 of regulation to force overtime. With 7:01 left in the extra period, Montgomery senior goalie Carrie Anderson (six saves) kicked away a potential game-winning shot by the Panthers: one of two looks the visitors had in overtime to win the game.
But just over a minute later, Montgomery senior Sophia Gomez scored the game-winning goal to close out a 3-2 victory, Montgomery’s first division triumph of the season.
Senior Ava Mobus made four saves in the loss for Bridgewater-Raritan, which outshot Montgomery, 9-8, and had a 15-5 advantage on penalty corners attempted.
With its victory, Montgomery found itself at the No. 15 spot amongst the top 16 teams in the NJSIAA North Jersey, Group 4 Field Hockey Power Points standings at the conclusion of the evening. The top 16 teams after the cutoff date on Saturday, October 26, will qualify for the state tournament.
Bridgewater-Raritan (7-9-2) is currently No. 10 in the North Jersey, Group 4 standings, but does not have another game scheduled prior to Saturday’s cutoff date.
Next up for the Panthers will be their Senior Night game against undefeated East Brunswick
High School (15-0): currently the No. 2 ranked team North Jersey, Group 4, at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, October 30, in Bridgewater. A pregame ceremony honoring the Class of 2025 will occur prior to the start time of the game.