The ninth-seeded Bridgewater-Raritan High School field hockey team upset eighth-seeded Princeton High School, 2-1, in the first round of the NJSIAA North New Jersey, Group 4, Tournament on Tuesday, November 4, in Princeton.
The Panthers struck first just 2:29 into the contest on a penalty-corner goal by Makenzie Harris, and Bridgewater-Raritan (11-7-1) remained in front for good. With 10:45 left in the second quarter, Teagan Hughes doubled the Panthers’ lead to 2-0 on another penalty-corner goal.
With Bridgewater-Raritan ahead 2-0 at halftime, Princeton (10-7) struck first in the second half to get to within 2-1 with 10:29 left in the third quarter. Neither team scored again for the remainder of regulation, as the Panthers’ defense anchored by freshman goalie Zahra Abraham held on to seal Bridgewater-Raritan’s victory in a playoff opener for the third time in as many years under the guidance of head coach Sami Strathern.
The Panthers have now won in the first round of the state playoffs as the No. 13 seed, No. 12 seed, and No. 9 seed over the last three years. This victory also punctuated the graduating Bridgewater-Raritan High School senior Class of 2026’s whopping 33rd game decided by one goal over the last four seasons.
Bridgewater-Raritan will play either No. 16 seeded Mount Olive High School or top-seeded Phillipsburg High School in the state sectional quarterfinals next on a date and time to be determined.