SUMNER — Ridgefield moved up to Class 2A soccer this season but found itself in the exact same spot as last year.
The Spudders lost to the Sedro-Woolley Cubs, 1-0, in the consolation game of the state tournament on Saturday at Sunset Chevrolet Stadium.
Ridgefield was shut out through the weekend and finished in fourth place — the same position it concluded last season while competing against the Class 1A field.
“We played really well at the beginning,” senior midfielder Tanner Konkright said, “but we’ve never won a game here (in Sumner) so I don’t think that helped us.”
Ridgefield (18-5-1) tried to change its misfortune on this field by altering the starting lineup.
Sophomore Justin Stay got the nod in the net and made an impact through the first half by stopping several threats.
In the 33rd minute, Sedro-Woolley junior Kyle Witzel targeted the goal but Stay defended the shot well and covered up the ball. Also, within the final two minutes of the first half, Stay made a diving stop to his right for his second save.
With the teams locked in a scoreless tie after halftime, the Cubs finally broke through in the 66th minute. Sedro-Woolley forward Nef Camacho centered a pass to Witzel, who was streaking in from the left side and just found the corner of the net for the game-breaking goal.
“I thought it was a pretty even game,” Ridgefield coach Jason Staley said. “They just finished a play. It’s the way soccer is.”
Sedro-Woolley, a school located approximately 60 miles from the Canadian border, completed its first trip to the state tournament with a 16-6-2 record.
After the game, Staley could praise his team’s progress through the season. Ridgefield only has three seniors on roster — Konkright, Dalton Reis and Tyler Bocchi.
“It was a really successful season,” Staley said. “We had fun and played well. The guys improved a lot and we were playing pretty well heading into this weekend.”
SEDRO-WOOLLEY 1, RIDGEFIELD 0
Sedro-Woolley
Goals (assists) — Kyle Witzel (Nef Camacho). Goalkeeper saves — Michael Moser 7.
Ridgefield
Goalkeeper saves — Justin Stay 5.
Halftime — 0-0.
