Paul McDade Helps Ridgewood Lacrosse Steal Spot in NJSIAA Finals

Millburn came out soaring and jumped out to a 4-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Ridgewood fought bounced back in the second and trailed only 5-4 at the half.

As the game wore on it became a battle of opportunities. Both teams were patiently setting up their offenses and running plays but both defenses were up to the challenge. The game went to overtime knotted up at 6.

Millburn won the draw and seeming won the momentum to start overtime. That momentum was short lived. Millburn launched a long forward pass and as the ball was in the air, Ridgewood’s Paul McDade came flying out of nowhere and with his arm fully extended stole the pass.

“After we lost the draw I tried to track down the ball but then I remembered that coach kept saying ‘Don’t leave your man. Don’t leave your man,’ so I tracked back toward my man and just got there at the right time,” said McDade.

Ridgewood coach Mike Pounds had nothing but praise for the play of his midfielder.

“McDade is a workhorse. We had to play a lot of defense out there. He and the rest of the short stick midfielders really worked hard out there and didn’t give them anything,” said Pounds.

About a minute later, on the same possession, Ridgewood’s main goal scorer Owen Smith buried the game winner.

“This was a great team effort. We definitely look to Owen to get goals for us in big situations,” added Pounds.

Ridgewood will play West Morris on Sunday in the finals of the NJSIAA north group 3 tournament.