Ridge Boys LAX Beats Rutgers Prep to Head to State Final

Just a month ago, Ridge boys lacrosse faced Rutgers Prep in the Somerset County Tournament and took that game 10-4. In Wednesday night's state Tournament of Champions game, as at the county tournament, Rutgers Prep repeated its early gain of three goals. That may have kickstarted Ridge, which relentlessly closed out Prep for the rest of the game, moving the Red Devils onward to a final winning score of 11-3.

The team now returns to Kean University on Saturday to face Don Bosco Prep for the final state TOC game.

The first quarter was a closely contested period, with each team scoring three goals. During the period, Rutgers Prep managed to take the lead at 3-2. But at the close of the first quarter, Ridge put an end to the Rutgers offense once and for all. For the remainder of their time on the field, Ridge would shut out Prep and score more eight goals of their own.

Ridge's offense started with successful faceoffs by Alec Burckley, giving the team possession. Burckley also had a goal and two assists of his own.

Owen Molloy, a scoring machine since he moved from part time goalie to full time attacker, put up a game high of four goals for the Devils. Junior J.TPalladino posted two goals and added six assists.  Freshman attacker Kevin Quigley added three goals and an assist for Ridge. Middie Alex Gaydos posted a goal to the team's total. 

"Defense," said Eric Scott, summing up the game. "Defense after that first quarter really held it down. That is not something you see too often — they score three gaols in the first quarter and don't score the rest of the game. That was pretty impressive. It is just something about this team, but works for us.  We are psyched to get this win today." Just days earlier, Scott had been named 2013 Player of the Year in the New Jersey Interscholastic Lacrosse Coaches Association Individual Awards.

"Our defense locked it down," said Ridge goalie TJ Jones. "We gave up three goals early, and then I only think I had two saves in the rest of the game.  That's not good for me, but it was all the defensive guys in front of me today.  They did everything for me, they held it down to three goals, not me."

"I give (goalie TJ Jones) a lot of credit for this win," said defender Mitchell Gray. "He makes saves that shouldn't be saves. All together, the defensive unit, we were pretty good.  Once we stopped their transition game, then in the six-on-six, we were solid. We just have to prepare for Don Bosco."

"I couldn't have done it (scoring a game high four goals) without those guys feeding me the ball and getting it to me and coach telling me to go to the spots were I was getting the goals," said Owen Molloy. "I am definately ready for Saturday. We have a good team ahead of us."

"It was a tough team, they only use six offensive kids and they are like warriors our there, they don't stop playing," said Ridge head coach Ken Marsh. "We battled in the second half and did what we do: methodically pull away from teams. And that is exactly what we did again tonight." 

About the defense, Marsh said, "They don't allow people to get looks and they work so hard on taking away the crease.  I think they were a little shocked in the beginning when they scored those three goals in the first quarter.  We were off for a week, we were a little sloppy on some exchanges early on, but then we settled in."       

UP NEXT — Ridge will play in the Tournament of Champions final Saturday night at 5 p.m. at Kean University.