Warriors Come Up Short at Ridge

The Watchung Hills Regional High School girls soccer team turned in its flattest effort of the young season Saturday, as the Warriors could not capitalize on a first-half possession advantage and managed just one shot on goal for the contest as they fell to Ridge 1-0 at Lee Field in Bernards Township.

IN SHORT
The Warriors controlled the ball for the large majority of the game, and absolutely dominated in the first half, as Watchung Hills managed several runs into Ridge territory. But the Warriors couldn’t sustain inside the offensive third and managed just three shots on the day, including just one on goal.

Watchung Hills was also turned aside on five corner kicks, as it was shutout for the first time this season.

Senior co-captain Amy Park and the rest of the Watchung Hills defense did a fine job limiting Ridge to just four shots on goal, but a well-placed prayer toward the end of the first half proved the difference in the contest.

Sophomore midfielder Gigi Cifelli took a pass from senior Stephanie Campo near the 40-yard line for the Red Devils, and Cifelli tucked a
blast under the crossbar with 9:15 left in the first half to account for the game’s lone goal.

The shutout marked the first time Watchung Hills had been blanked in a regular-season game in nearly a year. The Warriors, who were shutout in the state Group IV semifinals last season, were last stifled in a non-playoff game last year on Sep. 28 against Bridgewater-Raritan.

WARRIOR OF THE GAME
Amy Park – The senior sweeper led a Warriors defense that held Ridge to just four shots on goal and kept the Red Devils 0-for-4 on corner kicks.

THEY SAID IT
“We thought in the first half the opportunities we had was our outside midfielders crossing the ball, we just couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net. “ – Watchung Hills coach Dan Root on his team’s inability to crack the scoreboard Saturday

UP NEXT – Franklin: Watchung Hills plays host at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday at Tozier Field.