Ridge Girls Soccer Heads to Somerset County Final After Win Over Pingry

Information from Jessica Musumeci, and photos from Liz Villano

The Ridge Girls Soccer team defeated The Pingry School 3-2 in Saturday's Somerset County semifinal game, after a hard-fought contest with two hometown teams that had Ridge twice trailing the Big Blue team.

Ridge now advances to the Somerset County Championship final, currently scheduled for 1 p.m. against Bridgewater-Raritan High School (2nd seed) at Watchung Hills High School, a neutral site, at 108 Stirling Road in Warren. However, the game time may be changed due to the scheduled SAT test.

Last Saturday's semifinal, played at Pingry's Martinsville campus in Bernards Township, was an intense and exciting, back and forth match, that was hard fought by both teams. Throughout the game, Ridge Red Devils showed their team resilience and determination, having to overcome being down a goal twice, and scoring three goals in the second half, according to information from the Ridge team.

The win on Saturday's county semifinal also marked head coach Katie Donahue's 100th career win as head coach. 

Game Stats:

Scoring:

1st half: 

Pingry — Started from a breakaway and cross by Tanika Roach, Maddie Temeres scores off of a pass from Senior Midfielder Rachel Corboz (Score: 1-0 Pingry)

2nd half: 

Ridge — Equalizes (1-1) with a cross by Alex Weyrauch (Senior Midfielder) across the 18 yd box, finished by Chrissy Weyrauch (Sophomore Forward), who volleyed the ball passed Pingry's keeper into the back of the net.

Pingry — goes up again on the scoreboard with a lofted shot by Freshman Alexa Ferreira over the head of Ridge Keeper Sam Carney. Ferriera's goal assisted by Rachel Corboz. (Score: 2-1 Pingry)

Ridge — Gigi Cifelli (Senior Midfielder) hustles to make a back post run, finishing a ball deflected from a diving save by Pingry's keeper Emma Thomas, bringing Ridge back from their second one-goal deficit of the game. (Score: 2-2)

Ridge — With 6:33 left to go in the game, Ridge's Jenny Haskel (Junior Defender) converts a penalty kick to push Ridge ahead on the scoreboard for the first time in the game. (Score: 3-2 Ridge) 

Saves:

Pingry: Emma Thomas — 3 saves

Ridge: Samantha Carney — 4 saves