Ridge Boys LAX Takes Down Immaculata in TOC

The Ridge Red Devils got a taste of revenge against season-long foe Immaculata in the first round of the NJ boys lacrosse Tournament of Champions.

Ridge lost to Immaculata 7-4 on April 27 and then again 8-6 in the Somerset County Tournament Final on May 12 to lose out on the chance to take home the local title. The Red Devils saved their best game against the Spartans for last, beating their opponents 8-4 to move on in the all-state champion winning teams tournament.

Immaculata scored first, but Ridge's Alex Otero answered in the first quarter and the team never looked back. Otero and defenseman Alex Rosen scored goals in the second quarter to give Ridge a 3-1 lead at the half that they would not relinquish.

The third quarter provided a flurry of scoring, four by Ridge and three by the Spartans, but the Red Devils were able to keep the lead and wear their opponents down. Red Devils' goalie Jonathan Wilkins notched 13 saves on the night, thwarting the Spartans attack.

Otero finished with three goals as the game-leader, and also contributed by dominating at the faceoff circle.

The next task for Ridge will be the toughest of all, a game against defending Tournament of Champions winner Summit High School, which is undefeated this season, and is currently working on a 43-game win streak, one victory short of tying the state record.

The game will be played at Kean University on Wednesday, June 2 at 7 p.m. The winner secures a trip to the Tournament of Champions final.