Cougars Deliver Strong Multi-Sport Showing Highlighted by Golf, Softball, Tennis, and Lacrosse Victories

Nicholas Mistretta

MHS ’79 Cougar Sports Correspondent

MONTGOMERY, NJ — Montgomery High School athletics turned in a well-rounded and impressive day across multiple programs, with victories in boys golf, girls softball, boys tennis, and girls lacrosse underscoring the depth and early-season momentum of Cougar teams.

Golf: Balanced Lineup Powers Montgomery Past Bridgewater-Raritan

The Montgomery boys varsity golf team continued its strong start to the season, defeating Bridgewater-Raritan 159–175 in a nine-hole stroke-play match.

The Cougars, now 5-2, showcased both top-end talent and lineup depth in securing the 16-stroke victory. Tyler Sugarman and Arav Rathore led the way, each carding rounds of 39 to share medalist honors alongside Bridgewater-Raritan’s Bobby DeCarlo.

Montgomery’s advantage came through its supporting scores, with Connor Benedict posting a 40 and Aidan Sim adding a 41. The Cougars’ ability to consistently place multiple golfers near the top of the leaderboard proved decisive, as Bridgewater-Raritan was unable to match Montgomery’s depth beyond its top scorer.

The performance continues a trend for Montgomery, which has relied on balanced scoring throughout its lineup to build a strong early-season record.

Softball: Suh Dominates in Complete-Game Win Over Belvidere

Montgomery’s girls varsity softball team delivered a composed and efficient performance in a 4–1 victory over Belvidere, improving to 4-2 on the season.

After falling behind 1-0 in the opening inning, the Cougars responded with steady offensive pressure and strong pitching. Montgomery broke through with a run in the second inning before taking control with a three-run fifth inning that ultimately proved decisive.

Matilda Suh led the effort in the circle, tossing a complete game while allowing just four hits and one run. She struck out seven and limited scoring opportunities throughout, effectively shutting down Belvidere after the first inning.

Offensively, Montgomery tallied nine hits, with Grace Gandolfo leading the way with a 3-for-4 performance and an RBI. Ryane Riddell contributed two hits and drove in a run, while Allison McKnight added two hits and an RBI of her own. Suh also helped her cause at the plate with a double as part of a multi-hit effort.

The Cougars combined timely hitting with aggressive baserunning, swiping seven bases to maintain pressure throughout the game.

Tennis: Doubles Strength Secures Win Over Ridge

Montgomery’s boys varsity tennis team edged Ridge 3-2 in a tightly contested match, earning its second win of the season.

After splitting the singles matches, the Cougars relied on their doubles teams to secure the victory. Ethan Qian delivered a key win at second singles, outlasting Ridge’s Nikhil Narsi in a competitive 7-6 (9-7), 6-3 match.

The decisive momentum came in doubles play. The first doubles team of Srikar Bavigadda and Advaith Molakaseema battled through a three-set thriller, winning 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 1-0 (10-8) in a match tiebreaker. The second doubles pairing of Sanjay Balaji and Nathan Han provided additional stability with a straight-sets victory, 6-1, 6-3.

The Cougars’ ability to perform under pressure in doubles proved to be the difference in a match defined by narrow margins.

Girls Lacrosse: Fast Start Propels Undefeated Cougars Past Bernards

The Montgomery girls varsity lacrosse team remained unbeaten, improving to 5-0 with an 11-6 victory over Bernards.

Montgomery set the tone early, jumping out to a 4-0 first-quarter lead and maintaining control despite Bernards narrowing the gap in the middle quarters.

Elliana Pizzulli led the offensive effort with three goals and an assist, continuing her standout season. Lexi Lopez added two goals and two assists, while Kennedy Dexter contributed two goals and an assist. Mollie Little also chipped in two goals as part of a balanced scoring attack that saw multiple players contribute.

Montgomery’s ability to control possession was evident, particularly in draw controls, where Pizzulli and Sophia Soron combined for significant contributions. Soron also added a goal and was active throughout the field.

Defensively, goalkeeper Elizabeth Andes recorded six saves to help preserve the lead, especially during Bernards’ second-half push.

Photo Credit: Nick Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomry.com