RIDGEFIELD — For the third time in four seasons, the Ridgefield Spudders are among the four Class 2A teams left in the girls soccer state playoffs.
As the defending Class 2A state champions, this road’s return to the final four is special in its own way.
“We work pretty hard to be a tight-knit group,” senior midfielder Nora Martin said, “and I think it shows on the field.”
That showed in a big way at Saturday’s 2A quarterfinal, as Ridgefield shut out Fife, 5-0, to earn the program’s third state semifinal berth in four seasons. The game was a rematch of last year’s quarterfinal in Pierce County, when both teams’ only goals came in the final minutes of regulation before the Spudders won in a shootout. The following weekend, Ridgefield won the state championship.
Saturday, it was all Spudders. Their lead was 3-0 by the 27th minute when Martin’s header off Savvy Semlick’s free kick was Ridgefield’s second goal in 5 minutes. Semlick’s shot that hit the left back post for the game’s opening goal in the ninth minute helped set the tone for Ridgefield. Like the first half, both second-half Spudder goals also came in a 5-minute span (Tori Lasch, 54th minute and Abigail Vance, 59th).
Martin shined light on the team’s underclassmen, including Semlick, for their contributions in the shutout.
“Seeing the underclassmen come up and really bring the tempo and energy for us,” she said, “I think that gets us hyped.”
The win is Ridgefield’s 16th straight dating back to late September. Head coach Steven Evans said his Spudders are playing their best soccer heading to Tacoma. Ridgefield faces Bellingham, a 3-2 winner over Bainbridge in Saturday’s other quarterfinal, at 7 p.m. Friday at Mount Tahoma High School.
“Each game,” Evans said, “we’ve gotten a little sharper and a little better. This is the time to peak and we’re peaking.”
What’s going to be key for next weekend’s semifinals and beyond? Grit and relentlessness, players said. Plus, one more thing.
Said Vance: “We always say to just have fun with it.”
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Class 2A state quarterfinal
At Ridgefield Stadium
RIDGEFIELD 5, FIFE 0
Goals (assists) — Savvy Semlick (unassisted), Tori Lasch (Marlee Buffham), Nora Martin (Semlick), Lasch (Buffham), Abigail Vance (Alyssa Carney)
Goalkeeper saves — Tyler Merlock 0, Opal Ruddy 2
Halftime — 3-0
