Ridgefield surprises Aberdeen again with late game-winner, 1-0

RIDGEFIELD — For the second consecutive time, two league champions — Ridgefield and Aberdeen — met in the first round of the District IV 2A boys soccer tournament on Saturday.

And, just like last year’s first meeting, the hosts got a late goal to secure a 1-0 win.

With the wind at his back, Ridgefield’s Jonathan Flury hit a 30-yard free kick that dipped in the wind and hit the left post for the marker to provide the margin over Aberdeen in the 76th minute.

On Tuesday, the Evergreen 2A/1A League champions Aberdeen (17-2) will travel to Centralia in a district loser-out contest. The Greater St. Helens 2A League champions Ridgefield (14-2-1) will host Mark Morris in a district winner-to-state match, also on Tuesday.

“I’m disappointed that was the goal that decided it,” AHS head coach Larry Fleming said. “(Goalkeeper Alexis) Garcia played really well in goal. It was a solid effort. In future years, we won’t be the No. 4 seed coming into the tournament, even as league champs. So, that will help. We had good opportunities, some good chances, but they had more possession. It was a good back and forth game.”

A physically played contest throughout, this match featured two stout defenses that limited chances. Thus, the free kick by Flury stood out as one of just a few dangerous moments in the match.

A foul on the right wing set up the free kick for Flury. With the bulk of the Spudders and Bobcats gathering just outside the penalty area on the left side, there was just one player between the kick and the goal. Garcia stood in front of the middle of the goal.

With the wind at his back, Flury’s kick was aimed for the left post and the wind bucked the shot. As it knuckled toward goal, it went over Garcia and hit the left post to deflect into the net.

Aberdeen spent the rest of the time furiously chasing the tying goal. A Miguel Torres cross was dangerous enough for Ridgefield goalkeeper Joe Lindbo to come out and meet Cesar Corona at the left post in the 77th minute. The ball was cleared.

Corona, Torres, Isaiah Contreras, Victor Medina and Tony Oropeza all tried for one last shot, but couldn’t find the room to do so as the whistle blew at full time.

“This happened exactly the same way as last year — a lucky goal,” Corona said. “It was a very good game. It was really hot, but that’s not an excuse. They had to play in this, too. Some of our chances were on target, others weren’t. We thought, with the wind, we could create more in the first half. Now, we have nothing to lose (against Centralia).”

For 75 minutes, the defense and the goalkeepers stood tall. Lindbo finished with three saves and Garcia six saves on the day, but the biggest ones came off Aberdeen feet.

Torres had the best shot of the first half, getting a bouncing long ball from Corona to the left side of the penalty area. On one bounce, Torres unleashed a rocket volley shot that forced Lindbo to deliver a punch save in the 32nd minute.

Four minutes later, sweeper Robby Lewis delivered a dangerous throw-in into traffic where reserve Alejandro Felipe got a poke shot in that just cleared the crossbar from 6 yards out.

Garcia had some easy saves in the first half, but had to dive and cover two Ridgefield potential goal-scoring shots that went wide of the post. Two-time GSHL 2A MVP Max Hauser, who scored the game winner last year, had a rocket shot go just wide right of the post in the 49th minute. Earlier, Flury’s head off a corner kick just missed the right post, where Garcia had the space covered.

Corona’s sliding shot with the ball in traffic in the 53rd minute forced a Lindbo save, while Medina and Contreras each had potential goal-scoring shots flash just wide of the net.