Barnegat Completes Perfect Colonial Division Run with Gritty Win Over Toms River East
TOMS RIVER — Winning one of the top divisions in the Shore Conference is never easy. Each matchup presents a unique challenge, and a team’s ability to respond often defines its season. That has been the story for Barnegat this year—and it was on display again Tuesday, as the Bengals earned a hard-fought 10-8 victory over Toms River East to secure the outright Colonial Division title.
The win did not come easily for Barnegat. Toms River East struck first when senior Allison Momm capitalized in transition, finishing off the rush to give the Raiders a 1-0 lead. Barnegat responded just over a minute later, as junior Molly Carroll found the back of the net to even the score.
The Raiders regained control with back-to-back goals from sophomore Ciley Francis and Momm, but Carroll answered again for Barnegat, scoring with 70 seconds remaining in the first quarter to cut the deficit to one.
Toms River East opened the second quarter with another push, as sophomore Jaeda Batin scored with 9:34 remaining to extend the Raiders’ lead to two. Barnegat responded with composure. Senior Lizzie Medina beat the goalkeeper to bring the Bengals within one, and Carroll completed her first-half hat trick with 3:50 left in the half to tie the game at 4-4.
Barnegat’s Lizzie Medina (Photo by luch.visualz)
The back-and-forth nature of the contest continued in the third quarter. Medina gave Barnegat its first lead of the game, cutting inside and finishing with 10:51 remaining. Junior Sadie Guiro followed with a goal to make it 6-4.
Toms River East answered once again. Francis scored her second goal of the game to cut the lead to one, and junior Libby Dickman finished off a feed to tie the game at 6-6 with 4:59 remaining in the third. Barnegat regained the lead when junior Ella Tortorici delivered a well-placed goal, but the Raiders responded yet again, as Batin tied the game with just 42 seconds left in the quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Barnegat delivered the decisive response. Medina scored back-to-back goals to give the Bengals a two-goal cushion. Momm brought Toms River East back within one, but Barnegat held firm. Tortorici added an insurance goal from the left angle, and the Bengals closed out the 10-8 victory.
The win carried significant meaning for Barnegat, which completed a perfect run through division play.
“It’s pretty awesome,” said head coach Lindsey Torre after the game, “Especially with this group of girls”. “We needed a lot of people to step up, and they did exactly that.”
“It feels amazing,” said Tortorici. “We did not get it last year, and it feels really good to finally know we won it again”.
Barnegat’s Ella Tortorici (Photo by luch.visualz)
Something that stood out was how closely knit this Bengals team is.
“It feels really good, we’ve worked really hard all year for this,” said Lizzie Medina. “We just really love each other, and we play for each other,” said Medina.
Medina, in the midst of a standout senior season, led Barnegat with four goals, bringing her season total to a career-high 32.
“I think Lizzie is a phenomenal player; she really knows the game and is able to step in big spots,” said Torre.
“It’s always so much fun getting to play with Lizzie, I know she always has my back,” Tortorici said.
Barnegat’s Molly Carroll (2) and Kylei Grant (13) defend Toms River East’s Gianna Pascale (9) (Photo by luch.visualz)
Tortoricci continued her all-around strong season with another impactful performance, finishing with two goals, five draw controls, five forced turnovers, and four ground balls. The junior now has 43 goals on the season, along with 65 draw controls and 43 forced turnovers.
“Ella is an amazing player,” said Torre. “Every time we are in a close game, I know she will step up”.
“I love playing with Ella, I always know she’s going to give it 110%,” Medina said.
Barnegat will look to carry its momentum into Wednesday’s matchup against No. 9 Holmdel, while Toms River East returns to action against No. 6 Manasquan.
