SHORELINE — The 2014 Ridgefield team had already made its imprint on the school’s girls soccer program.
Saturday, the Spudders literally left a few marks on the Class 2A state final four.
Ridgefield outmuscled, outhustled and knocked around Ephrata in a 2-0 victory to claim third place, the best finish in school history.
Feeling blue after Friday’s semifinal loss to Shorecrest, Ridgefield left Ephrata black and blue. Ridgefield played as physical as the referee would allow.
“We didn’t want to come this far just to roll over and die,” Ridgefield coach Robby Trimbo said. “Yesterday we played a good 20 minutes, maybe. There was no way we were going to leave with that being our mark on the final four.”
Ridgefield was the more aggressive team, knocking Ephrata off the ball whenever the Tigers tried to mount an attack at Shoreline Stadium.
Madison Ochoa and Jordyn Voyles headed in goals from close range in the second half as Ephrata finally buckled under Ridgefield’s persistent pressure.
“Ephrata lost yesterday just like we did,” Voyles said. “We knew they were going to come out hard. But we’re not going to back down. We were going to go all out.”
Ridgefield (19-3-1) possessed the ball for much of the first half in Ephrata’s end. The Spudders put eight of their 11 first-half shots on goal, but could not put the ball in the net.
Ridgefield’s best chance came seven minutes in. The Spudders put three shots on goal in a 45-second period, forcing three high-quality saves.
The Spudders finally scored in the 61st minute, when a Ries cross from the left side found Ochoa unmarked in front of the goal.
Ridgefield doubled its lead 10 minutes later. A corner kick from Ries found the head of Voyles, who elevated above a scrum of players at the goal mouth.
The second-half breakthrough was a fitting end for seniors Ashley Christensen and Courtney Zumstein, who led a defense that allowed only four shots on goal Saturday.
“It has been a long time coming,” senior defender Courtney Zumstein said. “We’ve always talked about going, so it hasn’t been a surprise, per se. But just making it to the final four has been surreal.”
Voyles is among nine seniors who have elevated Ridgefield to a level it has never been. When asked what strides the team has made in her four years, she took a deep breath.
“Oh wow,” she said. “We just believe in each other so much, it just inspires us to go farther than ever before.”
Ridgefield served notice that the state final four might not have seen the last of the Spudders. Seven starters will return next year including leading scorer Taryn Ries, whose crosses set up both goals Saturday.
“It’s a milestone for us,” Trimbo said of what this year’s team accomplished. “They’ve set whole new expectations for us.”
RIDGEFIELD 2, EPHRATA 0
Ridgefield (19-3-1)
Goals (assists) — Madison Ochoa (Taryn Ries), Jordyn Voyles (Ries). Goalkeeper saves — Sarah Kaufman 4.
Ephrata (19-3-0)
Goalkeeper saves — AdriAnna Simmons 9.
Halftime — 0-0.
