Bridgewater-Raritan High School girls’ soccer head coach Sean Casey talked to his squad about the importance of starting better on the road.
To say the least, that is what happened on Wednesday night, September 18, at Hillsborough High School.
Not only did Bridgewater-Raritan quickly score first on the road for the first time in 2024 (even in scrimmages), but the Panthers dominated the previously undefeated Raiders in their first rivalry matchup of the year.
Junior Reese Reimann scored the first of her career-high four goals early in the third minute forBridgewater-Raritan (5-1-1, 4-0-1), which got two more goals from senior Sophia Rosato and a clean sheet from its defense in a sparkling 6-0 victory against Hillsborough (4-1, 3-1).
“It was a great team effort,” Reimann shared of the big victory, which kept Bridgewater-Raritan atop the Skyland Conference Raritan Division standings. “We all came together and probably played the best game we ever played.”
Freshman goalkeeper Brooke Engstrom collected four saves in the first half, while sophomore Laila Acquista also added four saves in the second half in Bridgewater-Raritan’s victory.
With Bridgewater-Raritan’s triumph against Hillsborough, the Panthers have now won five matches by a combined score of 20-1: their lone goal allowed in these five victories coming at North Hunterdon Regional High School on September 7. The Panthers ultimately won this game, 2-1, on an overtime goal by Rosato and an assist by Reimann.
In its seven matches so far this season, Bridgewater-Raritan has finished with an average of just under 18 shots taken per match and a combined shot advantage of 124-39.
“Our defense has been tremendous,” praised Casey. “We started three sophomores and a junior in the back four, a freshman in goalie [in the first half], and a sophomore [goalie] played the second half. I just really can’t say enough about the back four: [junior] Kayla Davidson, [sophomores] Joanna Xu and Maddy Corbitt the center backs, and [sophomore] Stella Grant on the right side. They have been absolutely tremendous all season, but tonight especially.”
Bridgewater-Raritan (5-1-1, 4-0-1) will next try to go for a regular-season sweep of Franklin High School (1-5, 0-4) on Saturday, September 21, at 10 a.m. in Somerset.