Ridge Honors Ice Hockey Seniors in Game Against Pingry

The Ridge Red Devils varsity hockey team lost on Saturday night, 7-3, to the Pingry Big Blue in a game that was close until the third period. Pingry was undefeated for most of this season and boasts a 15-1-1 record, dropping their first game to Morris Knolls on Feb. 1.

Ridge celebrated senior night before the game, honoring the nine graduating seniors, Eric Holck, Matt Burnett, Evan Hughes, Zach Fischi, Joe Madden, Eric Menard, Sam Sisto, Eric Von der Linde, and Jake Hotz with plaques.

Pingry out-shot Ridge in every period, but by the end of the first Ridge held the lead. Pingry's first goal was scored by Ryan Kiska during a power-play 4:45 into the first period.

Just over two minutes later Von der Linde tied the game on a breakaway, faking out the Big Blue's goalie and slipping into the left side of the net. Zach Fischi had the assist for Ridge.

With less than one minute left in the first period, the Red Devils took their only lead of the night on a goal from Madden and an assist from Matt Zarabara. Despite being out-shot by Pingry 20 to 3 in the first period, it was Ridge that held the lead going into the second, 2-1.

Pingry scored three goals in the second period, again out-shooting Ridge, 14 to 1. Two of the goals were during power-plays: both teams were being given roughing penalties liberally as scuffles were breaking out all over the rink. Going into the third period, Pingry was leading 4-2.

With 9:19 left in the game Hotz scored the third Ridge goal of the night with an assist from Menard, bringing the score to 4-3. It seemed as though the Red Devils were threatening to come back, but then Pingry went on a scoring spree that had seemed inevitable considering how many shots they had taken in the game.

The Big Blue's final shot tally was 48 for the game, while Ridge's was 12.

"This game meant a lot," said Madden after the game. "They're really good, so we tried to step up our game."

Ridge's next game is against another impressive team, Montgomery, who have gone 12-3-2 so far this season. In the Red Devils' last meeting with Montgomery, on Dec. 11, Ridge was shut out 3-0.

The Red Devils will have another chance against Montgomery at 4:10 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the Bridgewater Sports Arena.