After a heartbreaking loss to Bridgewater-Raritan last week, the Ridge ice hockey team has had a roller coaster ride of highs and lows, defeating Governor Livingston 6-1 on Saturday and then losing to Pingry 6-1 yesterday.

With the loss, the team will need to win at least four of its seven remaining games to have a chance at finishing .500 or better to qualify for the state playoffs. Ridge's record agains six of the seven remaining opponents that they have already played this season is 0-4-2. The Red Devils will also have to play Pingry again on Feb. 6.

The game on Tuesday started out slowly, with no score through the first 10 minutes of play. But that quickly changed when Pingry punched in two quick goals, less than a minute apart with 8:20 and 7:48 to go in the period.

Down 2-0, Ridge clawed back and took advantage of a power play to cut the lead in half. Accepting a pass from senior forward Eric Von der Linde, Ridge captain Eric Menard faked a centering pass and put the puck into the far side of the net to put Ridge within a goal, down 2-1. It would turn out to be the last highlight of the game for the Red Devils.

The first period couldn't end fast enough for Ridge. Pingry's Matt Beattie got free on a breakaway and beat Ridge goalie Alec Wells with only 41 seconds to go in the period, and Pat Lackey picked up his second goal of the game for the Big Blue by tipping in a loose puck with 11 seconds to go.

Down 4-1 going into the second period, Ridge settled in and put together several scoring chances. After Wells stonewalled two shots from dead center midway through the period, senior forward Jake Hotz and sophomore forward Tommy Carpenter each had good scoring chances in front of the net but both shots were saved by Pingry's goaltender, who had a great night.

Wells held his own in the second period too, stopping a flurry of shots and shutting out the quick Pingry squad. The defense tightened to for both teams as the second period closed, the Red Devils still trailing 4-1.

Pingry's Ben Rogers and Ryan Kiska killed any thoughts of a Ridge comeback halfway through the third with a goal each, spaced less than two minutes apart.

"They were a very good team obviously," Assistant Coach Doug Mullin said after the game. "We needed every break to bounce for us."

Ridge's next opponent will be A.L. Johnson on Friday, 8 p.m. at the Bridgewater Sports Arena.

"Going into that [game], it's is a must win – do or die," Mullin said. A loss to Johnson would put Ridge five games under .500 with only six games to play.

Remaining Schedule

Opponent                             Date                                 Previous Result

A. L. Johnson (H)               Friday, Jan. 29               N/A
Brick Memorial (H)            Saturday, Jan. 30          Loss, 5-2, Dec. 4
Watchung Hills (A)            Wednesday, Feb. 3        Tie, 1-1, Dec. 18
Hillsborough (A)                 Friday, Feb. 5                 Tie, 1-1, Jan. 16
Pingry (H)                            Saturday, Feb. 6             Loss, 6-1, Jan. 26
Montgomery (H)                Wednesday, Feb. 10       Loss, 3-0, Dec. 11
Hunterdon Cental (A)       Friday, Feb. 12                 Loss, 3-2, Jan. 9