SHORELINE – The Ridgefield girls soccer team had rehearsed it all.
From warmups to introductions to the national anthem, a walkthrough earlier this week included everything Ridgefield would encounter before Friday’s semifinal match in the 2A state playoffs.
But the Spudders could not have scripted a better start to the match.
Hailey Harris scored twice in the first six minutes and Taryn Ries had three goals in the second half as Ridgefield beat Ellensburg 5-1.
Ridgefield will play for its first state soccer championship at 4 p.m. Saturday against Squalicum.
Last year in its first state semifinals, Ridgefield quickly fell behind in a loss to Shorecrest.
Ridgefield coach Robby Trimbo wanted to ensure there would be no surprises this year. Though many key players from last season are back, the Spudders went through an extensive dress-rehearsal and scrimmage on Tuesday.
Friday, the Spudders played like a team that had been here before.
“The girls didn’t seem nervous to me,” Trimbo said. “They seemed ready. It was a huge difference from last year. You get up here and things happen so fast.”
The Spudders maintained most of the possession and pressure. Ridgefield was more aggressive and imposed its will physically.
“We talked about how they are the underdogs this year and how we were in that spot last year,” Ries said. “We had to step up because we’ve been here and have the experience.”
Ellensburg (19-2-1) entered the 2A state semifinals having won 15 straight. But the Bulldogs hadn’t faced a team like Ridgefield.
“That was definitely a different level of play today,” Ellensburg coach Levi Teasley said.
Now Ridgefield (18-2-2) will face a team that has been at a higher level than any other in Class 2A. The two-time defending champions from Bellingham haven’t lost in 45 matches, a span of 729 days.
“I think it’s going to be an emotional roller-coaster,” Trimbo said of the time before the final match. “They’re going to be ecstatic tonight. They’re going to have dinner at the hotel. But even by the time dinner is over, reality is going to set in. … Hopefully they manage to sleep tonight.”
Ridgefield can score in bunches, but its defense has been just as crucial. Ellensburg’s goal Friday was the first Ridgefield has allowed in six postseason matches.
“We need to start out hard and play our game,” Ridgefield defender Riley Smetzler said. “We can’t get caught up in what anybody else is doing.”
On a chilly night in at Shoreline Stadium, Ridgefield came out on fire. Five minutes into the match, Ries sent a curving corner kick that Smetzler headed high in the air. Ellensburg goalkeeper Jocelyn Egan jumped to grab the ball, but mishandled it. The ball deflected off Harris and rolled into the goal.
“I hit heads with (forward) Maddie Ochoa and we were both kind of dazed,” Harris said. “But we looked in the goal and there it was.”
One minute later, Harris struck again. Ries sent in a cross that found a sliding Harris 10 yards in front of the goal.
Ridgefield’s physical style led to its third goal. Ries outmuscled a retreating Ellensburg defender inside the penalty area, stripping away the ball and shooting it past the goalkeeper from close range.
Ries would add two more goals in the next 15 minutes as Ridgefield continued to dominate possession.
Ellensburg scored in the 71st minute when Rachel Jeffries rocketed a 30-yard shot into the upper-left corner of the net. But the Bulldogs only mustered two shots on goal compared to 10 for Ridgefield.
RIDGEFIELD 5, ELLENSBURG 1
Ellensburg
Goals (assists) – Rachel Jeffries (Unassisted).
Goalkeeper saves – Jocelyn Egan 5.
Ridgefield
Goals (assists) – Hailey Harris (unassisted), Harris (Taryn Ries), Ries (Brittanie Hoang), Ries (Riley Smetzler), Ries (unassisted).
Goalkeeper saves – Sarah Kaufman 1.
Halftime – 2-0.
