MaxPreps is pleased to announce that the
Ridge (N.J.) Red Devils have officially been named to the 11th Annual MaxPreps Soccer Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard, which is in its fifth year honoring girls soccer.
This is one of the most prestigious team awards in all of high school sports and it is an exclusive honor reserved for the top 100 teams nationwide. In order to be eligible, a team must win a state championship and be highly ranked in the MaxPreps National Rankings. For soccer, only 20 of the country's best are invited and with nearly 34,000 competing varsity teams. This puts the Red Devils ahead of 99.9 percent of their opponents!
Ridge High School's girls soccer team went into the 2015 NJSIAA Group 4 state tournament in search of the program's first state championship since 2003 and its first overall Group 4 title.
On Nov. 17, Ridge dethroned the defending state champions Montclair after a dramatic1-0 win in the semi-state game. The Red Devils' Erin Keefe scored the game winning goal with 47 seconds left in second overtime to advance the team to the state finals.
The 2015 state championship matchup between Ridge and Freehold Township was played on Saturday, Nov. 21 at Kean University. The Red Devils controlled most of the game and outshot the Patriots 19-6 with a 10-1 advantage on corner kicks but they were unable to get on the scoreboard.
Photo Courtesy of Ridge Girls Soccer
The toe-to-toe battle ended in a scoreless 0-0 draw after they played through regulation and two overtime periods for a total of 100 minutes. Ridge and Freehold Township were crowned co-state champions. This was the third state title for the Red Devils girls soccer program.
The undefeated Red Devils (23-0-1) finished their season ranked No. 60 in the nation and No. 6 in New Jersey. The team was also the 2015 NJSIAA North 2, Group 4 tournament champion and named conference champion.
These incredible season achievements have earned the Ridge Red Devils an invitation to the 11th Annual Tour of Champions.
Please join us as we celebrate with the girls soccer team, head coach Katie Donahue, students and fans on Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 10:30 a.m. during the school assembly in the gym.
For more information about the Tour of Champions, please visit the MaxPreps Tour of Champions site.
Photo By Tom Ardiff | For RHS girls soccer
Photo By Tom Ardiff | For RHS girls soccer
Photo By Tom Ardiff | For RHS girls soccer
Photo Courtesy of Simeon Pincus | MyCentralJersey.com
