Seamon Lights the Fuse, Montas Runs the Show, Garrison on Target – Cougars Week in Review

October 24, 2025

Nicholas Mistretta

MHS ’79 Cougar Sports Correspondent

Zacherau’s 11 Kills, Flores’ 57 Digs Fuel Comeback Push, But Cougars Fall to Ridge in Five

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. — Montgomery nearly flipped the script in the first round of the county tournament, rallying from two sets down to force a decisive fifth before falling to Ridge, 3–2 (25–21, 25–6, 21–25, 23–25, 25–9).

After a rough second set, the Cougars regrouped behind outside hitter Polar Zacherau and Maya Flores. Zacherau led Montgomery with 11 kills, 12 digs, and 3 aces, sparking a 25–21 win in the third and a gritty 25–23 finish in the fourth to level the match. Flores was superb in the back row, piling up 57 digs to steady serve-receive and extend rallies throughout the comeback.

Anna Braem added 8 kills and 8 digs, and middle Anshika Verma chipped in 5 kills and 1 block. Luiza Honorio and Isabella Barber contributed 12 and 8 digs, respectively, while setter Sonia Gupta guided the attack with 22 assists and 11 digs; she also registered an ace. Leah Fenmore provided key net play with 2 blocks and an ace.

Ridge opened with two strong frames and closed the fifth set with a decisive run. The Red Devils were led by Amiya Harish (24 kills, 6 aces) and a sharp service game that produced momentum at key points; Tenley Jabanoski added 27 assists and 8 aces, and Audrey Phan notched 41 digs.

Montgomery (3–18) exits the county bracket after a performance that showcased resilience, defensive grit, and a balanced offense in the middle sets. The Cougars return to conference play looking to build on the fight they displayed against a 12–5 Ridge side.

Boys Soccer – Jerdonek Hat Trick, Oliu Orchestrates as Montgomery Blanks Hamilton West, 7–0

SKILLMAN, N.J. — Montgomery boys soccer turned in a wire-to-wire performance Wednesday, overwhelming Hamilton West 7–0 behind Mac Jerdonek’s hat trick and a playmaking masterclass from Luke Oliu.

The Cougars (13–3–1) put the match away early with six first-half goals, then added one more after the break while closing out a combined shutout. Montgomery outshot the Hornets 18–3 on frame and dictated tempo throughout.

Scoring summary (Montgomery):

Mac Jerdonek 3G
Luke Oliu 1G, 2A
Sid Goyal 1G, 1A
Ryan Spicer 1G
Nico Savard 1G
Dylan Heines 1A, Christian Truppi 1A

In goal, Alex Acot (2 saves) and Cameron Olsen (1 save) split time for the clean sheet. Hamilton West fell to 0–17.

With postseason seeding looming, Montgomery’s blend of ruthless finishing and organized defending looked playoff-ready—Jerdonek stretching back lines, Oliu pulling strings, and the midfield pressing in waves to keep the ball in the attacking third.

Boys Soccer – Goyal Pulls the Strings as Montgomery Blanks North Hunterdon, 3–0

SKILLMAN, N.J. — Montgomery kept its late-season surge rolling Thursday, dispatching North Hunterdon 3–0 behind a commanding midfield display from Sid Goyal and a defense that never cracked. The Cougars (14–3–1) struck twice before halftime and added a third after the break while bottling up the Lions (6–10). Goyal finished with a goal and two assists, orchestrating sustained pressure that produced a 13–3 edge in shots on goal.

Scoring (Montgomery):

Ryan Spicer (1G) — opened the account in the first half
Luke Oliu (1G) — doubled the lead before the interval
Sid Goyal (1G, 2A) — sealed it in the second half and set up the first two tallies

North Hunterdon goalkeeper Thomas Flynn was busy throughout, piling up 10 saves to keep the margin respectable. For Montgomery, Cameron Olsen (2 saves) and Alex Acot (1 save) shared the clean sheet, limiting the Lions to half-chances.

With postseason seeding approaching, the Cougars looked balanced and playoff-ready: Goyal linking lines, Oliu and Spicer finishing clinically, and a back line that turned transitions into counters in a blink.

Girls Soccer – Seamon Scores, but Montgomery Falls 2–1 to Gill St. Bernard’s

Montgomery — A first-half strike from Emma Seamon put Montgomery on the board, but Gill St. Bernard’s netted the winner after the break to hand the Cougars a 2–1 defeat on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Montgomery moved to 9–7, while Gill improved to 14–3.

Seamon opened the scoring in the first half, finishing off a setup from Amelia Montas to give the Cougars early momentum. Gill answered before halftime through Madelyn Sabol, who converted following service from Audri Carraher, sending the teams to the interval level at 1–1.

In a tight second half, Emma Hyland produced the decisive goal for the Knights. Montgomery pressed late, but goalkeeper Chloe Lemanowicz made seven saves to preserve the result.

For the Cougars, goalkeeper Victoria Formica turned in another strong performance with nine saves, keeping the match within reach as the Knights pushed forward.

Montgomery scoring: Seamon (goal), Montas (assist).
Goalkeepers: Formica 9 saves

Girls Soccer – Montas Orchestrates, Huss and Riddell Brace as Montgomery Rolls 6–0

Montgomery, N.J. — Montgomery’s attack clicked from the opening whistle Thursday, cruising to a 6–0 win over College Achieve Central behind a playmaking masterclass from Amelia Montas and two-goal outings by Skylar Huss and Ryane Riddell.

Montas jump-started the surge with a goal and later set up two more, while Alex Kasimatis added a goal and two assists as the Cougars built a 4–0 halftime lead and never looked back. Quinn Donahue chipped in two assists to round out a balanced, high-tempo performance.

In goal, Victoria Formica (3 saves) and Nuvika Shah (1 save) combined for the shutout, snuffing out the few chances the visitors generated.

Montgomery scoring: Huss 2, Riddell 2, Montas 1 (2A), Kasimatis 1 (2A); Donahue 2A.
Goalkeepers: Formica 3 saves; Shah 1 save.

Field Hockey – Garrison Scores, but Hun’s Jones Nets Four in Montgomery’s 6–1 Setback

Montgomery, N.J. — Montgomery fell to Hun, 6–1, on Friday as Hun’s Delaney Jones delivered a four-goal performance to pace the visitors.

Hun struck twice in the opening quarter—goals from Jones and Camryn Arndt—and added another before halftime to build a 3–0 cushion. Montgomery found a spark early in the third when Ella Garrison pushed in a finish to cut the deficit to 3–1, but Jones answered with two more strikes before Evelyn Miller closed the scoring in the fourth.

The Cougars generated chances—12 shots on goal and seven penalty corners—but were turned back by Hun goalkeeper Lynsey Parrott (nine saves). Montgomery keeper Phoebe Rounds made six saves under steady pressure as Hun logged 14 shots on goaland 12 corners.

Scoring summary

Hun: Delaney Jones 4; Camryn Arndt 1; Evelyn Miller 1
Montgomery: Ella Garrison 1

Goalkeepers

Hun: Lynsey Parrott 9 saves
Montgomery: Phoebe Rounds 6 saves

The loss puts Montgomery at 9–8 on the season.

Photo Credit: Nicholas Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomery.com