RIDGEFIELD — As a central defender on the Ridgefield girls soccer team, Nora Martin’s main job is preventing goals.
But that doesn’t mean she can’t score them too.
Martin scored twice in the first four minutes of Ridgefield’s 9-0 win over Sequim in the first round of the Class 2A state playoffs on Wednesday.
Both came off corner kicks perfectly delivered by Keaira Farley.
Both set the tone for what would be a dominant night for the No. 7 seed Spudders against the tournament’s No. 10 seed.
Ridgefield (17-4) is into the state quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive time. The Spudders will travel to face No. 2 seed Fife on Saturday.
When Ridgefield earned a corner kick, Martin joined her teammates in jostling for position in front of the goal.
In the second minute, Martin headed Farley’s corner kick into the net from 8 yards out. Two minutes later, she again won the ball in prime scoring position and put a swift shot by Sequim’s goalkeeper.
“Keaira makes them easy to put away,” Martin said. “Honestly I’m just trying to get my body on it.”
Those two quick goals had Sequim on its heels. In response, Ridgefield ramped up the pressure.
“It gives us the passion to keep pushing and getting more goals,” Farley said. “It gives everyone energy because we know we can put them away.”
Ridgefield’s pressure prevented Sequim from maintaining any consistent possession.
Ella Rorabaugh scored in the 13th minute and Baylee Bushnell extended the lead to 4-0 nine minutes before halftime.
Tori Lasch opened Ridgefield’s scoring in the second half with the first of her two goals.
Rorabaugh added a second goal and Marlee Buffham closed out the Spudders’ goal tally with two goals in quick succession.
The Class 2A Greater St. Helens League’s power trio of Ridgefield, Columbia River and Hockinson have amassed seven Final Four berths since 2019. The Spudders are one win away from their third semifinal trip over that span.
“Our words for the year have been Assert and Grit,” Martin said. “We’ve been working really hard to put that onto the field in how we play.”
RIDGEFIELD 9, SEQUIM 0
Ridgefield
Goals (assists) — Nora Martin (Keaira Farley), Martin (Farley), Ella Rorabaugh (Marlee Buffham), Baylee Bushnell (unassisted), Tori Lasch (Buffham), Rorabaugh (Lasch), Lasch (Abigail Vance), Buffham (unassisted), Buffham (Lasch).
Goalkeeper saves – Tyler Merlock 1, Gabriella Semlick 2.
Halftime — 4-0.
