Heartbreaker: Girls Soccer Lose in Final Minutes to Ramapo

It was a heartbreaking game for the Ridgewood girls soccer team after a Ramapo rally bested it in the final minutes of Tuesday's game.

The match was an exciting back-and-forth affair between two of the better teams in the state – there were four lead changes, including two in the final 10 minutes of play. Ultimately, Ramapo pulled out a victory by a score of 4-3, and in dramatic fashion, no less.

Despite a check in the loss column and punch to the gut, Ridgewood coach Jeff Yearing is upbeat about his team's performance and how it bodes for the upcoming schedule.

"Believe it or not we actually feel good coming out this game," the coach said after the game.

The cause for optimism?

"We're currently missing one of our better players, Julie Campbell, so to be able to remain competitive with one of the top two or three teams in the county is something we can definitely use as a springboard going forward," he said.

With All-State midfielder Campbell out with a hip injury, Ridgewood was in desperate need of some playmakers. It got just that in the form of three different girls scoring on goal–Tara Porfido, Charlotte Criqui and Katie Garbarini.

However, Ramapo also had its share of playmakers and their quick feet, crisp passes and good timing were just too much for the Ridgewood defense. Jen Anderson led the way for the Raiders, with two goals and assisted teammate Ariel Naftali on the game-winning score.

"I thought we really worked well together," said Anderson, who began the action-packed game with a fast break flick over the goal keeper's head. "After they came back and took the lead from us we didn't get down, we remained positive and I think that was the difference in the game."

The match was actually a defensive struggle for much of the first half, but after the break the offenses began to open up on both sides.

Set plays were the key for the Maroons, thanks in part to the accurate ball striking of Garbarini. After collecting an assist off of Porfido's first-half goal, Garbarini added another when she found Criqui with a perfectly placed corner kick in front of net.

The score put Ridgewood ahead 2-1, but the advantage was fleeting as Ramapo answered back with a goal of the foot of Caroline Chagaras. Then, at the 13:53 mark, Anderson put Ramapo back ahead 3-2 with a nifty cut back dribble and an unimpeded ball strike to the lower left corner of the cage.

Still, Ridgewood remained unfazed and responded five minutes later with a goal of its own. With just 8:13 left in regulation, Porfido placed a side throw in perfectly off the head of Garbarini to tie things back at 3.

"I started on the near post and worked my way up the field before tara through the ball," said Garbarini, who ended the day with a goal and two assists.

"Once I saw the ball in the air I just tried to get myself in to position to make a play on it, and luckily I got my head on the ball to flick it backward for the goal."

With the clock winding down, Ramapo was able to take back the lead once and for all thanks to Naftali's powerful right-legged finish.

"Jen set me up perfectly with the pass so all I had to do was get a good shot off!," said an excited Naftali, whose score came with just 2:03 left on the clock.

From there, Ramapo (2-0) was able to play keep-away until the final whistle to give Ridgewood (1-1) their first loss of the season.

The Maroons will try and bounce back when they host Passaic County Tech this Thursday.