By, David Hashagen
NEWARK, NJ — A first time state champion was a guarantee in the 2026 Public Final; a chance to erase bad memories for two proud programs who came so close to glory. For Ridgewood, the wounds were fresher, losing last year against Westfield. For Bridgewater-Raritan it had been over a decade of waiting and frustration after falling in back to back seasons to Randolph in 2013 and to Morris Knolls in 2014. But for the Panthers faithful, that wait has finally come to an end, winning 2-0 at the Prudential Center on Monday, in one of the most complete performances of the 2026 NJSIAA playoffs.
The first period started at a breakneck pace with both teams probing the defense but with not a ton of shots. Both Ollie Grant and Justin Madison came up with a big save a piece in the first four minutes, but it was long until LoSauro would make his presence known. In the early going, the phenom rang two shots off the post, sounding the warning bell for the BR defense. Ridgewood would get the first chance on the power play with 5:49 left in the first, but only managed one SOG while Grant had to fend off a chance in front of his own cage.
The breakthrough finally came for the Panthers with 2:10 left in the first. After Alex Kotelnikov fired one hard off the crossbar, the puck sat perfectly for Stanley Xenakis in the low slot who beat Grant over the shoulder for his 19th goal of the season. The junior’s second goal of the postseason came in back to back games after scoring in the south final against Middletown North. Ridgewood would come on strong late in the period unleashing a three shot volley, none of which found their way to Madison finding a forest of legs in front instead.
In the second period the Maroon offensive led by LoSauro picked up the pace. The sophomore rang another one off the post before Madison pulled off what could be classified a felony in 35 states, lunging to his left and robbing Ridgewood with a stunning save with his shoulder. The Panthers netminder stood on his head once again just minutes later, scrambling to make a save with the paddle at the top of the crease before making another save on a rip from the slot. The constant pressure also suffocated the BR offense, holding them to just three shots for the first nine minutes of the second.
It was then the junior Xenakis would step up again and deliver what would be the gut punch to end the second period. Following yet another shot from Kotelnikov which was sent aside by Grant, the center followed up the rebound and buried a backhander over Grant’s right shoulder for his second goal of the contest.
After killing off a penalty to start the third, the Panther defense went into overdrive as Ridgewood mounted a stronger and stronger challenge. Yet no matter what the Big North side tried, Madison and his defense had the answer. The sophomore finished the night with a 34 save shutout, finally sealing a moment of joy that had escaped the BR program in their back to back defeats in 2013 and 2014.
What is certain now, Bridgewater-Raritan can finally call themselves a state champion.
