Ridge, Pingry Battle To Scoreless Tie In Home Opener

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — The Ridge High School Varsity Field Hockey team delivered a gutsy performance in their first home game of the season, battling The Pingry School to a 0–0 tie in a game that went into overtime on Sept. 8.

From the opening whistle to the final horn, the matchup was a nail-biter. Both teams fought for every possession, and despite Pingry’s aggressive offense, the Red Devils defense held strong throughout regulation and overtime.

Leading the charge for Ridge was goalie Maddie Garcia, who delivered a lights-out performance with 16 saves, securing the team’s first shutout of the season.

"Maddie Garcia and our defense played an outstanding game," said Head Coach Kimberly Clark. "Sixteen saves for a shutout is really impressive!"

The game carried added intensity, with Pingry — known as Big Blue — bringing pressure from all sides. Clark credited Ridge’s preparation and emotional readiness as key factors in their ability to contain such a strong opponent.

"There was a lot of emotion going into our game against Pingry, and we had a clear game plan to protect the middle of the field," Clark explained. "I think we did that well today."

With a young roster, Ridge’s ability to hold off a powerhouse program like Pingry marks a promising sign as the season unfolds.

"I think the tie against Pingry was a confidence builder," Clark added. "For those girls to see that we can compete with such a formidable opponent was crucial as we move into the brunt of our schedule against our divisional foes."

— Submitted by Jenn Colodney