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New Jersey

Westfield Soccer Secured Draw Against Top-Ranked Rutgers Prep

The No. 6 Westfield team battled to a 2-2 tie against the state's top-ranked Rutgers Prep squad.

Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Soccer

Expressive sports illustration showing soccer players in navy and gold jerseys competing for a ball, representing a competitive high school match.
Westfield secured a 2-2 draw against top-ranked Rutgers Prep on Tuesday, as Westfield attacker Emilie Cadigan scored two late goals to balance the score. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Westfield and Rutgers Prep ended their high school soccer match in a 2-2 draw after 100 minutes of play. Rutgers Prep opened with two goals early in the game before a late-game rally from Westfield balanced the score.

Why it matters

The outcome between two of New Jersey's top-ranked high school soccer programs serves as a key indicator of competitive parity among the state's elite squads. The result highlights the resilience of the Westfield roster against the current No. 1 team in the state rankings.

Rutgers Prep entered the match as the state's No. 1 ranked team, while Westfield held the No. 6 position in the NJ.com Top 20. The match concluded at a 2-2 deadlock following 100 minutes of regulation and overtime play.

The players

Emilie Cadigan

She is a soccer player for Westfield who recorded both goals in the team's draw against Rutgers Prep.

Westfield

This high school soccer program is currently ranked No. 6 in the NJ.com Top 20 rankings.

Rutgers Prep

This school maintains a top-tier soccer program and currently holds the No. 1 ranking in New Jersey.

The details

Rutgers Prep established an early lead by scoring two goals within the first 30 minutes of the match. Westfield attacker Emilie Cadigan sparked the comeback by scoring in the 53rd minute and adding a second goal with less than 10 minutes remaining in regulation.

Timeline

  1. Rutgers Prep scored two goals within the first 30 minutes of play.

  2. Emilie Cadigan scored the first Westfield goal in the 53rd minute.

  3. The tying goal was scored by Cadigan with less than 10 minutes remaining.

  4. The match concluded in a 2-2 draw after 100 total minutes of play.

Season Trajectory

This draw alters the competitive narrative for two of New Jersey's top-ranked programs as they look toward postseason positioning. The result challenges the existing hierarchy established by the NJ.com Top 20 high school soccer rankings.

This 2-2 draw significantly impacts the head-to-head records for both programs in the state rankings. Westfield demonstrated it can maintain parity with the No. 1 ranked team through a full 100 minutes of play.

The takeaway

Maintaining composure after an early two-goal deficit proved essential for Westfield to secure a draw against top-tier competition. Teams at this level of play benefit from high-pressure scenarios that test their ability to execute tactical adjustments deep into overtime.

Further reading

For more on high school athletics across the state, visit the Soccer section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by NJ.

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