Boys lacrosse: Bridgewater-Raritan advances to SCT final
BRIDGEWATER - Winning doesn't seem to get old for the Bridgewater-Raritan boys lacrosse team.
The top-seeded Panthers stretched their winning streak to 36 games with an 11-1 victory over fourth-seeded Ridge in the Somerset County Tournament semifinals on Wednesday afternoon. The victory propels Bridgewater-Raritan (13-0) back to the final, where it will face third-seeded Pingry in a rematch of last year's title bout. The Panthers defeated the Big Blue in dominating fashion last season, 11-3, to win their first SCT title since 2012.
"We're stoked, we couldn't be happier," Bridgewater-Raritan's Ryan Kaden said of heading back to the championship. "It's a chance for another trophy, but we have our sights set a little further down the field, we're taking it one day at a time."
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Wednesday was the second time this season that Ridge (9-6) and Bridgewater-Raritan had faced each other, as the Panthers defeated the Red Devils 9-8 in double overtime in the second game of the season on April 2. This time around, in the county tournament semifinals, Bridgewater-Raritan had no intention of allowing the game to be that close.
"I think it motivated us a little bit, it was close last game and we didn't want it to get that close this game. We worked real hard during practice (Tuesday) and we tried to get a big win today," said Kaden, who finished with a hat trick. "I think we just came out more excited, we knew we were playing for something and we came out with energy, we came out quick today. Our offense was patient, we just really clicked today on all sides of the field."
Four different players scored in the first quarter, with Brian Kolen picking up two goals and one assist, as Bridgewater-Raritan jumped out to a 5-0 lead, outshooting Ridge 10-2.
The Panthers' scoring slowed down in the second quarter, as Kaden scored his second of the game on an assist from Kolen to send the Panthers into halftime up 6-0.
Ted Kapp put Ridge on the board with 9:57 remaining in the third quarter for a 6-1 game, but the Panthers closed out the quarter with three more goals to take a 9-1 lead. In the fourth, Kolen scored his fourth goal of the game and Dan MacKinney also scored for the 11-1 final. It was the second time this season that Bridgewater-Raritan held an opponent to only one goal.
"Our defense is outstanding, I can't give them enough credit, they work hard every day, and today it showed," Kaden said. "They let up one goal to a great team like Ridge and they're lights out, whether it's man-to-man or a zone, they're always playing good."
Joe Lenskold contributed to the win for Bridgewater-Raritan, winning 10-of-14 faceoffs.
The Panthers now move on to face Pingry in the SCT final at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Torpey Field in Bridgewater, and they'll try to keep that win streak going.
"We don't really try and mention it, we take it like any other day at practice, we come out and work hard, pick up every ground ball, try to make clean, crisp passes and come out on game day and try to get another win," Kaden said of the streak. "I think everyone is getting more comfortable with each other as we go on, we know where each other is going to be at certain times, we're able to flow better and our offense is just playing pretty well right now."
Staff Writer Lauren Knego: lknego@gannettnj.com; on Twitter: @laurenknego
Bridgewater-Raritan 11, Ridge 1
GOALS: (BR) Kolen 4, Kaden 3, S. MacKinney 2, Locker, D. MacKinney; (R) Kapp; ASSISTS: (BR) Kolen 2, Kaden; SAVES: (BR) O'Neil 1; (R) Harris, Reppert 8.