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Sports

Bridgewater-Raritan Girls Soccer Wins Sectional on Penalty Kicks

Goalkeeper Casey Murphy nets winning kick to propel Panthers into Group 4 semifinals.

Watchung Hills girls soccer had beaten Ridge on Tuesday in a 0-0 match finally settled with penalty kicks — only to see the tables turned on Thursday night when the Warriors fought hard to hold out against Bridgewater-Raritan through scoreless overtime, only to relinquish the North 2, Group 4 soccer sectional to the Panthers on penalty kicks.

The soccer sectional final had pitted No. 4 seed Bridgewater against Cinderella No. 15 Watchung Hills on Thursday afternoon at Bridgewater.
  
Both teams played well, holding the game scoreless through regulation time, although each team had their opportunities for goals.
 
But the strong defenses on both sides, anchored by Panther goalie Casey Murphy and Warrior goalie Lindsey Carroll, turned away every attempt.  

As the teams entered overtime, both played with intensity and, at times, abandon, but neither team could make a goal happen.

To decide the game, NJSIAA rules requires the teams to kick penalty kicks until an advantage occurs.  With the score tied at 2 all, Bridgewater goalie Casey Murphy advanced to shoot what could be — and turned out to be — the game winning penalty kick.
 
"It is so great to be part of this team for four years and now to have a title," said Panther goalie Casey Murphy.

"An amazing game," said Bridgewater head coach Chris Gerber. "I give all the credit in the world to Watchung Hills; they are not a No. 15 team, they are more like a No. 1 or 2, a tremendous squad. Coach Dan Root did a great job preparing the girls. Our kids are just so resilient and I am just so proud of them right now."

"The first half, I don't we played very well, I didn't know if they weren't ready for this," said Watchung Hills head coach Dan Root. "The second half, I told them you've got forty minutes, go out and prove it. I thought we played a great second half and the two overtimes, but it doesn't always go your way in soccer.

Root added, "We were on the winning side against Ridge, so we know what it feels like. But they should be proud, they made a good run at the end."

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