Bellamy’s OT Dagger, Seamon & Spicer Shine in Weekend Sweep

Nicholas Mistretta

MHS ’79 Cougar Sports Correspondent

Cougars Outlast Linden in Overtime Thriller

Montgomery, NJ – The Montgomery Cougars needed every ounce of grit they had on Friday night, battling through momentum swings before finally pulling out a dramatic 22-16 overtime victory against Linden. The win pushes Montgomery to 5-1 on the season, while Linden falls to 1-5.

Early Edge
Montgomery opened strong behind quarterback Jack Kristjanson, who connected with Trey McFadden on a 22-yard touchdown pass late in the first quarter. Kristjanson then found Koa Demetriou for the two-point conversion, giving the Cougars an 8–0 lead.

Linden clawed back in the second quarter. Joe Boyd’s 1-yard plunge cut into the deficit, though the extra point was blocked. Minutes later, the Tigers added a safety to knot the game at 8–8 heading into halftime.

Trading Punches
Kristjanson delivered the highlight of the night early in the third quarter, breaking free for a 53-yard touchdown run. He added the two-point conversion himself, restoring Montgomery’s cushion at 16–8.

But Linden answered quickly. Zion Francis powered in from seven yards out, and Tariq Coleman converted the two-point try, tying the game again at 16–16. From there, both defenses tightened, forcing a scoreless fourth quarter.

Overtime Heroics
In the extra period, Montgomery wasted no time. Michael Bellamy took a handoff and barreled into the end zone from eight yards out, securing the Cougars’ fifth win of the year and igniting the home crowd.

By the Numbers
Kristjanson finished with 108 yards passing (10-for-25), one touchdown through the air, one interception, and 92 yards rushing with a score.

McFadden was his top target, hauling in seven catches for 89 yards and a touchdown. He also chipped in on defense and special teams with three punts for 105 yards and a pair of punt returns totaling 33 yards.

Bellamy sealed the night with his overtime touchdown while also contributing six tackles on defense.

On defense, Dragomir Georgiev (10 tackles, 1 blocked kick), Damien Perone (9 tackles, 2 sacks), and Yousef El-Sherbini (8 tackles, 1 fumble recovery) anchored a unit that came up big when it mattered most.

Montgomery Girls Soccer Rolls Past Watchung Hills

Montgomery, NJ – A second-half scoring explosion powered the Montgomery Cougars girls soccer team to a dominant 6-1 victory over Watchung Hills on Friday, pushing their record to 6-5 on the season.

First-Half Patience, Second-Half Surge
The Cougars opened the scoring in the first half when Quinn Donahue found the net off an assist from Mila Vazquez, giving Montgomery a 1–0 lead at the break.

After halftime, the offense erupted for five goals. Emma Radley struck twice, while Emma Seamon matched her with two goals and two assists in a standout performance. Nicole Schwarcz also added a goal, with Alex Kasimatis, Kayla Stroman, and Sophia Anderson each chipping in with assists to highlight a balanced attack.

Stout Defense and Goaltending
On the defensive end, goalkeepers Victoria Formica and Nuvika Shah combined for eight saves, holding Watchung Hills at bay despite nine shots on goal. The Warriors’ lone score came in the second half from Mia Menendez, assisted by Elena Horvaht.

By the Numbers
Montgomery: 13 shots on goal, 6 goals, 6 assists.
Watchung Hills: 9 shots on goal, 1 goal, 1 assist.
Seamon led all scorers with 6 points (2 goals, 2 assists).

Montgomery Boys Soccer Dominates West Windsor-Plainsboro South

Montgomery, NJ – The Montgomery boys soccer team wasted no time seizing control on Saturday, scoring four first-half goals on the way to a commanding 5-1 victory over West Windsor-Plainsboro South. The Cougars improved to 10-2-1, continuing their strong season, while the Pirates dropped to 4-9.

First-Half Statement
Montgomery’s attack came out firing, striking four times before halftime. Ryan Spicer set the tone with a goal and later added an assist, while Dylan Heines, Mac Jerdonek, and Luke Oliu each found the back of the net to put the Cougars in firm control at 4–0.

Second-Half Finish
After the break, Chase Mian capped Montgomery’s scoring with a goal, assisted by Sid Goyal, who tallied three assists on the afternoon. West Windsor-Plainsboro South broke through late when Yash Thakur scored, avoiding the shutout.

Defensive Strength
Montgomery’s defense was rarely tested, allowing just two shots on goal. Goalkeepers Alex Acot and Cameron Olsen combined for two saves in the win. On the other side, Pirates goalkeeper Joaquin Vitulich kept busy, recording eight saves despite the Cougars’ relentless pressure.

By the Numbers
Montgomery outshot South 12–2 on goal.
Spicer led the way with a goal and an assist.
Goyal contributed a game-high three assists.
Five different Cougars scored in the balanced attack.

Montgomery Volleyball Falls to Bridgewater-Raritan

Bridgewater, NJ – The Montgomery girls volleyball team ran into a tough opponent on Friday as they fell in straight sets to Bridgewater-Raritan, 25-13, 25-13, 25-16. With the loss, the Cougars dropped to 2-11, while the Panthers improved to 13-3.

Bridgewater Controls Early
Bridgewater-Raritan came out strong, taking the first two sets by identical 25-13 scores. Their balanced attack, led by Ava Marvuglio and Molly Magner with nine kills each, kept Montgomery’s defense under pressure.

Montgomery Highlights
Despite the loss, several Cougars turned in solid performances. Anna Braem recorded a team-high five kills along with a block and four digs, while Polar Zacherau added three kills and two blocks. Maya Flores led the defense with 13 digs and chipped in three assists and an ace. Setter Sonia Gupta tallied eight assists and three digs, helping to set up Montgomery’s attack.

Panthers Close Strong
Bridgewater closed the match with a 25-16 win in the third set. Marvuglio also contributed 18 digs, while Camille Hilton and Ella Sorenson combined for 25 assists to pace the Panthers’ offense.

Looking Ahead
Montgomery will look to regroup as they continue through the second half of the season, seeking consistency and growth against tough Skyland Conference competition.

Photo Credit: Nicholas Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomery.com