A mixture of experience and talent plus the crucial element of “strong chemistry” will be the theme when the Bridgewater-Raritan High School girls’ soccer team seeks to return to rightful prominence.
During a break in a late August practice at the Turf 2 Field, two of Bridgewater-Raritan’s star players, senior Audrey Martinho, a forward/midfielder, and senior Grace Drumgool, a midfielder and back, spoke about the prospects of what could be a sound 2024 season.
"We are definitely going to have a good season,” predicted Martinho. “We have more upperclassmen and have strong chemistry.”
Drumgool, who is headed to play soccer next season at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, agreed with her teammate.
“We feel that we will play well, and we are very comfortable with each other.”
Their coach, Sean Casey, also carries optimism.
“We are hoping to contend for a division title,” Coach Casey said. “The last two years were not up to our standards.”
Bridgewater-Raritan slipped to 6-11-2 last fall after it ended 8-10 with an appearance in the quarterfinal round of the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 state sectional tournament in 2022.
In the previous fall of 2021, Bridgewater-Raritan was crowned the Somerset County Tournament champion.
Drumgool was a key player as a freshman on the county championship team in 2022.
Another crucial piece to this year’s quest for a successful fall is junior Reese Reimann, who is just a junior but is considered one of the premier players in New Jersey.
Last season, Reimann was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region Team, while she also received recognition as a member of the Top 20 for North 2 and Top 20 for the state.
Bridgewater-Raritan will kick off its season when the Panthers play home to Franklin High School at Turf 2 on Wednesday, September 4. Game time is 4 p.m.
Bridgewater-Raritan High School 2024 Girls’ Soccer Roster
Number Name Grade Position
00 Julianne Imwalle Jr. G
1 Laila Acquista So. G
2 Reese Reimann Jr. M, F
3 Ella Giacomazza Fr. F
4 Mikaela Perez Fr. M, F
5 Audrey Martinho Sr. F, M
6 Madeline Corbitt So. B
7 Gianna Callari Sr. B
8 Anjali Gunturu Jr. B
11 Grace Drumgool Sr. M, B
13 Ashley Straka Sr. F, M
16 Ava Marcella Sr. B
17 Summer Winchock So. M, F
18 Stella Grant So. M, B
19 Samantha Sabanos So. F
20 Kaitlyn Winne Sr. B
21 Audra Day Sr. M, F
22 Brooke Engstrom Fr. G
23 Sophia Rosato Sr. F
24 Sofia Casamento So. F
24 Ashley Smith Sr. B, M
28 Olivia Cirianni Jr. M
29 Joanna Xu So. B, M
31 Hayden Tormasi Jr. M, F
34 Kayla Davidson Jr. F, B
35 Katie Iovine Sr. B
Rosalia Bach Jr. B