Sophomore midfielder Gigi Cifelli took a pass from senior Stephanie Campo near the 40-yard line and tucked a blast under the crossbar with 9:15 left in the first half Saturday. Her goal proved the difference, allowing the Ridge High School girls soccer team to claim a 1-0 victory over Watchung Hills at Lee Field.

WATCHUNG HILLS (3-2) 0-0 – 0
RIDGE (5-2) 1-0 –0

IN SHORT
Saturday’s was anything but a spectacular performance for the Red Devil, who were dominated in possession, especially in the first half. But Ridge made the most of its opportunities, while limiting Watchung  Hills to just three shots — with just one on goal.

With the Watchung Warriors winning the possession battle for most of the opening period, Ridge cashed in on its third of three shots of the half.

Campo sent a ball into Cifelli who was hovering near the 40-yard line. The sophomore settled the ball and crushed a shot toward the right corner of the net. Watchung Hills keeper Alicia Maziarz leapt to try and knock the ball out, but the ball settled under the crossbar, just out of her reach, to snap the scoreless tie.

Ridge looked better in the second half, generating a few runs, as the Red Devils defense continued to shut the Warriors down. Watchung Hills finished with just one shot on goal and were 0-for-5 on corner kicks.

The shutout is Ridge’s third straight and fourth of the season.

RED DEVIL OF THE GAME
Gigi Cifelli — The sophomore midfielder scored the game’s lone goal, converting a 40-yard blast in the 30thminute.

OTHER KEY PERFORMANCES
Brittany Sheehan — The sophomore defender stepped up on the backline, reading passing channels and disrupting Watchung Hills’ attack. The Red Devils held the Warriors to just one shot on goal and no scores.

Stephanie Campo — The senior captain set up Cifelli’s tally with a well-placed pass to notch the assist.

Andrea Rijo — The junior midfielder turned in some quality minutes and stood out, especially defensively, defending the weak side for the Red Devils.

THEY SAID IT
“It’s great to finally get one in the back of the net. It felt so good that I just knew it was going to go in.” — Sophomore Gigi Cifelli on finally converting after taking several shots from a distance lately

“That’s an incredible goal. Her strength is being able to strike the ball from a distance. And that’s the kind of goal you can’t depend on for your team to produce because it happens once every blue moon, but she just got a good hold of it, struck it and was able to put it on the frame. She made something happen for us because I don’t know if we would have gotten one otherwise.” — Ridge coach Katie Donahue on Cifelli’s goal and its importance, considering her team’s struggles otherwise on Saturday.

UP NEXT – Montgomery: The Red Devils will visit the undefeated Cougars at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday at Cougar Stadium.