Ridgefield headed back to soccer semifinals

Posted

The Ridgefield Spudders are headed back to the girls Class 2A state soccer semifinals.

Ridgefield cruised to a pair of shutout victories on their own field last week to advance to this weekend’s final four at Shoreline Stadium in Seattle.

Spudders’ standout Taryn Ries scored six goals to lead Ridgefield to a 7-0 win over Fife in Tuesday’s state tournament opener. Ries, a junior, was recently named the co-Most Valuable Player of the Class 2A Greater St. Helens League this season. Spudders’ junior Erin Seigel had a lone goal in the win for Ridgefield.

The Spudders then defeated Shorecrest 2-0 on Thursday at Ridgefield High School to earn the return trip to the semifinals. Last year in the state semifinals, Ridgefield lost to Shorecrest. This year, however, Senior Madison Ochoa provided both goals and the Spudders’ defense did the rest as Ridgefield avenged last season’s defeat.

Ridgefield, which now has a 14-2-2 season record, will meet Ellensburg in the semifinals on Fri., Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. Liberty will meet Squalicum in the other semifinals at 8 p.m. On Saturday, the two winners will play for the state championship and the two losers will meet to determine third place.

“We have a much better idea of what to expect,’’ said Ridgefield coach Robby Trimbo. “There are far fewer unknowns and much more excitement. There’s much less to worry about this time around.’’

Trimbo said the Spudders’ win over Shorecrest was a semifinal-caliber win, which should also help Ridgefield prepare for this year’s final four.

“It was just like a semifinals game for us,’’ Trimbo said. “It was on that same level. It was as competitive as any state semifinal game gets.’’

After scoring 20 goals in each of the past two seasons, Ries now has 29 goals this season to lead the Spudders. She also has 21 assists.



“She’s playing as well as I’ve ever seen her play,’’ Trimbo said. “She’s matured a ton. She handles pressure much better. She takes coaching much better. I’m thrilled with her ability to just play. She doesn’t get caught up with herself. She has no ego. She just competes and does whatever I ask of her.’’

Ochoa and Seigel each have 10 goals heading into the semifinals and the two have combined for 11 assists. Hailey Harris has nine goals and five assists and Kara Klaus has six goals and five assists.

Senior goalkeeper Sarah Kaufman now has 14 shutouts on the season after posting the two shutouts in this year’s state playoffs.

“Wherever we wind up Saturday, we just hope to have two very good, complete games where we compete well,’’ Trimbo said. “Last year, we had a lingering disappointment after the semifinals because we didn’t feel we played as well as we should have.’’

Prairie, Hockinson fall in first round

Prairie had a heart-breaking loss in the first round of the Class 3A state playoffs.

After playing to a scoreless tie during regulation and a 10-minute overtime period in the game at Prairie High School Tuesday, the Falcons lost 4-3 on penalty kicks to Bishop Blanchet.

In other Class 2A state playoff action, Hockinson lost 2-1 to Burlington-Edison in a game played Tuesday at District Stadium in Battle Ground.