Warriors Shine in Win Over Bridgewater-Raritan

The Watchung Hills High School girls soccer team kept its offensive surge going Thursday night, as three different Warriors players scored goals to nab a 3-1 road victory over Bridgewater-Raritan at a rainy Basilone Field.

WATCHUNG HILLS (9-2) 2-1 – 3
BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN (9-4-1) 0-1 – 1

IN SHORT
Senior co-captain Monique Goncalves got the Warriors going 6:29 into the game, as she gained possession near the 40-yard line, outworked two defenders as she closed in on the 18, and unleashed a shot into the upper-right corner of the net to give her team a 1-0 advantage.

Sophomore Samantha DePinho, who entered the game having scored five times in Watchung Hills’ previous three contests, struck again, finishing a pass from junior Geanna Donnelly in the 14^th minute to give the Warriors a 2-0 halftime advantage.

While Watchung Hills clearly controlled the opening half, Bridgewater-Raritan found some rhythm in the second period, but the Warriors defense held strong, limiting the Panthers to just four shots – three on goal.

Bridgewater-Raritan netted its lone goal with under a minute left in the contest to snap the Warriors’ three-game shutout streak.

Bridgewater-Raritan senior defender Caroline Survill struck a one-timer from near the 20-yard line that deflected off a defender’s shoulder and bounded high in the air toward the net. The ball hit the wet turf and skidded over the head of sophomore keeper Meghan Kovac, who leapt, but couldn’t quite reach it. The ball then spun under the crossbar to put the Panthers on the board.

Not to be outdone, Watchung Hills collected the ensuing kickoff and marched right down the field, with junior Jess Heifetz finishing for her fourth goal in the past three games and third in the past two contests.

WARRIOR OF THE GAME
Monique Goncalves – The senior co-captain scored in the sixth minute after a pretty 40-yard run through the teeth of the Bridgewater-Raritan defense to get the Warriors going

OTHER KEY PERFORMANCES
Samantha DePinho – The sophomore, who scored twice Tuesday against Ridge, gave Watchung Hills a 2-0 lead Thursday night, scoring 14:50 into the game.

Jessica Heifetz – The junior, who also scored twice Tuesday, finished up Watchung Hills’ sixth straight victory with a goal in the game’s final minute

Alicia Maziarz – The senior keeper did not allow a goal and made five saves during the first half Thursday night

THEY SAID IT
“We’re working better as a team, getting the ball from one side to the other, which is helping us finish. When the season opened we knew we would be good and that when we played good teams like this we have to play our (best game).” – Senior co-captain Monique Goncalves on the Warriors’ offense, which has scored 16 goals in its past four games – all against conference opponents.

UP NEXT -- Union: The Warriors visit the Farmers for a non-conference game,  4 p.m. Monday at Cook Field.