Girls Soccer: Bridgewater-Raritan wins first SCT title since 1995

From the beginning, the Bridgewater-Raritan High School girls soccer team knew this season was going to be special. 

All the hard work the Panthers put in came to fruition on Saturday when they won the program's first Somerset County Tournament title since 1995 with a 2-0 victory over Ridge.

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"It feels amazing, this team is one of the best, it's amazing, it's the best feeling in the world," Bridgewater-Raritan junior midfielder Meghan Ball said. "We knew that Ridge was going to be one of our highest competitors and we knew that we had to come out for every single game with them. In the beginning we came out a little flat but we stepped it up as the game went on and we just buried them."

Bridgewater-Raritan has only advanced to the county final twice in the past 10 years. It fell to Ridge 1-0 in overtime in 2015 and again lost to the Red Devils 1-0 in 2013. Ridge was looking for its 12th overall title, while the Panthers won their seventh. 

"It's unbelievable because it's been a while since Bridgewater-Raritan won, and we all worked so hard for this," Bridgewater-Raritan senior defender Cheyenna Cook said. 

The Red Devils (14-4) outshot the Panthers 10-3 for the game, but it was Bridgewater-Raritan who made the most of its opportunities. 

Ridge controlled the tempo for a majority of the first half, but Ball started the scoring for Bridgewater-Raritan. With 11:25 remaining in the first half, Ball beat her defender, started on a breakaway and took a shot from about the 10-yard line that found its way into the top left corner of the net for the 1-0 lead. 

"I ran as fast as I could and right when she missed I knew that I had it," Ball said. "I was scared about the shot but I knew it was going in right when I hit it."

Junior forward Gianna Minerva added an insurance goal with 17:57 left in the game for the 2-0 final. 

"That second goal sealed the deal for us," Ball said. "Right when that second goal went in we knew that we kind of had this in the bag."

The Red Devils had numerous chances throughout the game, including a free kick from the 10-yard line after the Panthers were called for a handball, but senior midfielder Samantha Weyrauch sent the ball just over the bar with 13:40 to play.

The Bridgewater-Raritan defense held tough as Mia Phillip and Elena Tanga combined for 10 saves and the Panthers' 11th shutout of the season. 

"I feel like we did a really good job, we made sure we stayed really sound and won the 50/50s, and we knew that as long as we got to the ball first, everything would be fine," Cook said of the defense.

For Ridge, Alexandra Lindsey finished with three saves. 

Both Ball and Cook credit the team's chemistry for the Panthers' success this season. The defense has allowed only five goals all season, and the lone loss came against Freehold Township back on Oct. 6. With the Skyland Conference Delaware Division locked up, and an SCT title under their belts, the Panthers now have their sights set on the state tournament. 

"I think the chemistry between this team is really, really good," Ball said. "We've known each other for so long, a bunch of us have played with each other for so long, we know how to play with each other, so that's really it."

Staff Writer Lauren Knego: lknego@gannettnj.com; on Twitter: @laurenknego