Senior, MHS soccer defense key SCT victory
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
The Montgomery High School girls’ soccer team will give Alex Vazquez a big send-off at the conclusion of this season.
Ridge might as well.
The Cougar senior has been a thorn in the Red Devils’ side over the last four seasons. Vazquez did it again by scoring only goal that Montgomery needed thanks to incredible defense in a 1-0 win over Ridge in the Somerset County Tournament semifinals on Saturday.
”I knew that potentially could be last time playing Ridge,” said Vazquez, who has four career goals against Ridge. “I wanted to give it my all.”
All of Vazquez’s goals against Ridge have been important. Her first as a freshman gave MHS its first win over Ridge ever, and elevated the Cougars instantly into the state’s elite. She might have been almost a week early in the SCT semis, but she haunted the Red Devils with her first half-goal on Saturday.
”The first one was definitely my favorite, but this one was huge,” Vazquez said. “We needed a goal to separate us and get us a lead. Our defense was amazing. I can’t say enough about how well Casey Niper played (Ridge forward Rachel Davitt) back there and Ally Mancino came up with big saves.”
Mancino, a senior, made eight saves, and a defense that has allowed just five goals this season, helped convert another shutout. The Cougars improved to 16-0-1 going into today’s regular-season game against Hunterdon Central, and they advanced to a third straight SCT final, where they will meet Pingry again 5 p.m. Saturday at Watchung Hills.
”This is huge,” Vazquez said. “No one thought we’d be there. Everyone thought last year’s team could make it to the final and go here and there. Everyone has been going so hard. We’re such a team. We’ve been playing together. The seniors, we’ve been playing together since we started playing soccer.”
There are a dozen seniors on the Cougars, most in different roles than they were last year — either with more playing time or a new position. Vazquez is not, but there have been adjustments for her as well. Montgomery is playing just two forwards this year, not three as she has done in the past for the Cougars.
Said MHS head coach Jeremy Beardsley: “The thing I’ve liked about Alex this year is she’s always double-teamed, sometimes triple-teamed, she’s always dealing with multiple girls, and she’s earned when to give ball up and when to take on girls. There have been times she’s been frustrated but she hasn’t given up.”
So often has Vazquez been blanketed by opposing defenses — and given her history against Ridge — when she collected the ball off a throw-in on the right and turned toward the goal, she was shocked to find space.
”I thought there were going to be people on me,” Vazquez said, “but there weren’t, so I shot it.”
Said Beardsley: “There was a little bit of space and she ripped it. I think she caught the goalkeeper a little by surprise.”
The goal was all that second-seeded MHS needed to advance to take on top-seeded Pingry. Getting by third-seeded Ridge was no easy task. The Red Devils have not lost to any other team this season, but have lost twice to the Cougars.
”Ridge had everything going for them,” Beardsley said. “They’re a very good side. They have experience and youth, and one of the best forwards in the state, and we just came together and the girls played pretty much to the game plan.
”Mancino made a couple out of this world saves. We got one opportunity and Alex made the most of it. That was the clearest opportunity we had. It was mainly about defending.”
Defense hasn’t been a problem for the Cougars this year, though Pingry likely will give them their biggest test of the season to this point. Vazquez is confident in what she has seen from MHS’ defense.
”They’re playing so well this year,” she said. “I’m so proud. It’s a whole new back line. They’ve stepped up big-time.”
Vazquez is hoping to help alleviate some pressure with her play up top. Last year, she had the go-ahead goal against Pingry before a late comeback cost the Cougars a second straight county crown.
”Every time we play them, it’s a big game,” Vazquez said. “The hard loss last year will get us more motivated. We’re the underdogs.”
Underdogs from the outset, the Cougars have overcome enormous graduation losses and slowly built confidence with win after win over established teams. Ridge was a victim of reloaded Montgomery for a second straight time this season, and by no surprise Alex Vazquez had a hand in it.
”The senior class really wanted to get to another county final,” Beardsley said. “We know Pingry is outstanding. The way we’re defending and the way we’re playing as a team, anything can happen.”

