Ridge Girls Soccer Rides Strong Season Into Semifinals

Ridge High School girls soccer's strong season (10-2-2) has advanced the team to the semifinals of the Somerset County Tournament, during which Ridge as the second seed will host Watchung Hills Regional High School on Saturday.

The home game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

In the meantime, Coach Katie Donahue said the girls will on Tuesday travel to Bridgewater-Raritan High School for a game scheduled to begin at 3:45 p.m.

Then it's back at home for an afternoon contest against next-door neighbor Pingry on Thursday. 

The team also posted two victories is over Hillsborough in recent days, beating the girls in red by 3-0 in regular conference play last Thursday, and 2-0 in the Somerset County quarterfinals, played last Saturday, Donahue said.

Donahue said the team is ranked sixth in the entire state of New Jersey.

"We have one of the top defenses in the state, with 10 shutouts thus far, with only four goals against," Donahue said on Monday. She added the team's two losses were to top 20 teams in the state.

"We are playing some really nice soccer — outscoring our opponents 30-4" collectively for the season, the coach said.

She said this year's captains are seniors Rachel Axt, goalie, and Nicole Bates, a defender.