Ridge Girls Soccer Gets Back on Field For Shutout Victory

The Ridge High School varsity girls soccer team took to the field again this weekend after Sandy kept them out of practice for 12 days — and still managed to notch a 4-0 shutout victory over Edison High School.

"I was really pleased that we were able to step out there not looking rusty.  We literally hadn't done anything in 12 days," said Ridge Head Coach Katie Donahue. School has been closed for two weeks in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Scoring the goals were Alex Weyrach, Gigi Cefelli (penalty kick), Kelly McWhorter and Kristina Mueller. Meanwhile, senior goalkeeper Rachel Axt achieved her 13 shutout game for this season.

Axt and the team's defensive line, including senior Nicole Bates and sophomore Jenny Haskel, held Edison to zero shots on goal throughout the game.

The team is scheduled to play its second round state game against Piscataway at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at Ridge.

"I thought the girls asserted themselves and they dictated the tempo," Donahue said. "I was very pleased we were able to get four goals into the back of the net. We had two players getting their first goals of the season."

Assistant coach Jessica Musumeci said the Red Devils girls dominated the first half on their way to the decisive win over Edison.

Weyrauch, junior midfielder, scoring the first goal of the game, rocketing a left-footed shot in the bottom left side of the goal from a pass by junior defender Brittany Sheehan in the 6th minute of the first half.

The Ridge girls increased their lead to 2-0 when junior Cifelli converted a penalty kick given in the 36th minute.

In the second half, junior forward McWhorter scored in the 27th minute, volleying a ball flicked by senior Bates. In the 32nd minute of the second half, sophomore Kristina Mueller drilled a shot off of a pass by sophomore Amanda Bosland and earned Ridge's fourth goal of the game.

Ridge girls soccer will host 5th seed, Piscataway, in the second round of the North II Group 4 state tournament, Musumeci said.