FRANKLIN LAKES, NJ — Ridgewood's season has been a story of obstacles, and Saturday night the Maroons wrote its best chapter yet. Down a goal against one of the best defenses in Bergen County, No. 7 seed Ridgewood struck twice in the final 10 minutes to stun No. 2 Ramsey 2-1 in the Bergen County Tournament quarterfinals at Ramapo High School — the kind of comeback that defines a team.
TEN MINUTES OF MAGIC
Junior midfielder Brody Higgins started the rally in the 75th minute, pouncing on a rebound in the box to level the match. Then came senior midfielder Caden Ferrara, who got a touch on a corner kick from the right side to complete the comeback and send the Ridgewood bench into celebration. Remarkably, it is the second consecutive year Ferrara has scored the winner in the quarterfinal round — some players just own the big moments.
The win fits everything this group has endured. The Maroons' stadium field was deemed unplayable early on, a starting defender was lost for the season to a broken toe in the opener, and another missed nearly a month with a broken foot before returning at less than full strength. Through it all, Ridgewood kept finding ways: Saturday's win was its seventh in its last eight matches, lifting the Maroons to 9-2-3.
Now Ridgewood gets a semifinal rematch with Tenafly, the team that beat it 3-0 on Oct. 3. A battle-tested team on a hot streak, with a knack for late winners, is a dangerous underdog — and Ridgewood has earned every bit of that label.
Game details compiled from published box scores.