Similar to the way it's distanced itself from the rest of Bergen County since the program's inception, the Ridgewood girls lacrosse team used a five-goal advantage in the second half against Immaculate Heart Academy to pull away for a 19-12 victory yesterday in front of 300 fans at sun-dappled Maple Park Field.
The Maroons (10-1) dealt IHA its first defeat of the season while staying perfect all-time against Bergen County foes. RHS, No. 2 in New Jersey, hasn't lost since a 10-9 setback to the state's top-ranked team, Moorestown, on April 6.
"I think we just wanted to stay composed and play our game," said Samantha Giordano, who finished with seven goals and two assists. "After a pretty close first half, we dictated the play in the second half and came out with a win."
Ridgewood's Jess Miller converted an Immaculate Heart turnover with two seconds remaining in first half, giving her squad an 8-6 lead. The slight advantage was a little too close for head coach Karla Mixon's comfort.
"IHA is a great team with great midfield pressure, especially in the first half," Mixon said. "We had to make sure that we were moving the ball from the girl who had the double [team on her]. We struggled with that in the beginning, but talking to them and making sure they had the outlet pass, supporting the ball and going to the ball is what made the difference."
With a 10-8 lead 10 minutes into the second half, the Maroons took control. Goalie Isabel Sippel made a tough save that she quickly cleared to Sammy Cermack. The Johns Hopkins-bound Cermack blazed a trail through the midfield before feeding Giordano for an 11-8 advantage. RHS won the ensuing draw, leading to another Giordano tally, this time off a feed from Sally Jentis.
Less than minute after making it 12-8, Giordano received a pass from Paige Pearson for a score and a five-goal Maroon lead. All told, it took Ridgewood 1:07 of playing time to put the match away.
"I think we did better with draw control in the second half, and not getting caught up in their double teams," Mixon said. "Moving the ball helped and hitting the open girls."
IHA flirted with a comeback, pulling to within 13-10 with 10 minutes remaining, but RHS closed the match on a 6-2 run.
"We didn't get frazzled and play the other team's game," Giordano said. "We're are at a point now where even if it gets close, we can regroup and, hopefully, take a game over. We did that today."
Kelci Smesko finished with six goals and an assist, and Cermack dished out five assists to go along with one goal. Miller scored three goals and registered four assists. Sippel stopped nine IHA shots.
The top-seeded Maroons will put their all-time county unbeaten streak on the line Sunday in the Bergen semis against Ramapo at Ramapo at 5:45 p.m. RHS downed the Raiders, 20-9, last week during a regular-season tilt.
Barring a major upset, Ridgewood and IHA will meet in the county finals on Mother's Day, back at Ramapo at 5:15 p.m.
Before then, however, next week is packed for the locals, facing three teams in the statewide Top 20. Number 5 Chatham visits Maple Park on Tuesday before RHS travels to No. 13 West Morris Central on Thursday. Saturday, No. 8 Glen Ridge invades Ridgewood at Somerville Elementary.
"We don't mind the challenges," said Mixon. "This is the time of the year when you want to be playing the top opponents, and also at your best."
