The family that plays together wins together.
That is the theme of the girls’ soccer players and coaches at Bridgewater-Raritan High School this season.
The word “family” is printed on the backs of the team's practice shirts, a daily, steady reminder of what their mindset is all about.
“That is our slogan, family,” all three senior captains said at once during a break at a recent practice on the turf field at Basilone Memorial Field.
Those senior leaders are backs Stella Grant, Joanna Xu and Maddy Corbitt.
They will team with fellow senior back Shiloh Leung and junior goalie Brooke Engstrom to form a formidable wall that opposing teams will struggle to break.
“We have a lot of experience in the back with those four backs and Brooke, who has been a starter in goal since her freshman year,” Coach Sean Casey revealed.
“We do have a really good back line there,” Grant added.
Bridgerwater-Raritan will have some pop on offense, too.
Senior Summer Winchock, a midfielder and forward, is the top returning scorer after recording 11 goals in 2025.
Also providing a scoring punch up front are forwards, sophomore Madison Brocklehurst and junior Ella Giacomazza, each a starter a season ago.
Coach Casey, who said that “this team will show more growth,” and his club will challenge yet another brutal schedule that kicks off on Wednesday, September 9, against perennial state power Rutgers Preparatory School at Basilone Memorial Field.
Rutgers Prep, the defending Non-Public B state champion, and Bridgewater-Raritan will play at 4 p.m. on that day.
Local heavyweights Pingry School, Ridge High School and Montgomery High School, as well as Montclair High School, an annual force from the northern part of the state, are among the tough nuts that the Panthers must try to crack.
And, of course, there is always Westfield High School awaiting the North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 state sectional tournament. Bridgewater-Raritan has been defeated in the state sectional final the past two years by Westfield.
“We need to come back and beat Westfield,” Grant said.
Bridgewater-Raritan, which finished 14-9 last year and 16-5-1 in 2024, may have that attitude that can result in a state sectional trophy this fall.
“We have a lot of chemistry,” Xu said.
“We are very close and we like being around each other,” Corbitt concluded.
BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN HIGH SCHOOL 2026 GIRLS’ SOCCER ROSTER
Head Coach: Sean Casey
Assistant coaches: Zack Bray, John Kowalski, Jim Becza
Name Grade Position
Laila Acquista Sr. G
Brooke Engstrom Jr. G
Ella Giacomazza Jr. F
Madeline Corbitt Sr. B
Ashlyn Ravi Sr. M, F
Shiloh Leung Sr. B, M
Summer Winchock Sr. M, F
Sofia Casamento Sr. F
Stella Grant Sr. M, B
Madison Brocklehurst So. M, F
Erin Brocklehurst Jr., M, B
Juliet Casamento So. F
Jada Jones Sr. M, B
Joanna Xu Sr. B, M
Abigail Turchi So. B
Madeline Frick Sr. F, B
Isabella Kaiser Fr. B
Emma Kipila Sr. G
Sophia Koroneos Jr., M, B
Emiliana Luis So. B, M
Arianna Pinto So. F
Charlotte Ribeiro Sr. F
Sarah Straka Sr. B
Sophia Velastegui Sr. B
Breanna Zuniga Sr. B