Ridgewood strikes quickly

Rams score twice in final three minutes to beat Wesley Chapel; Land O'Lakes ousts Central 2-0.

By STEVE LEE
Published January 26, 2006

LAND O'LAKES - With overtime looming, Ridgewood scored twice in the last three minutes for a 2-0 win over Wesley Chapel on Wednesday.

In the other semifinal, Land O'Lakes defeated Central 2-0, setting up a Ridgewood-Land O'Lakes matchup for the title on Friday night at 7.

Moments after Ridgewood goalkeeper Dave McNally, who notched his eighth shutout, robbed Vince Lopez with a diving stop to his left, Wesley Chapel's Matt Colontonio was red-carded for taking down Ryan Piemonte at the top of the penalty box.

Piemonte and Ryan Memoli lined up for the free kick, with Memoli faking a shot and Piemonte passing to Joe Renda near the right post. Renda beat Wesley Chapel keeper Marc Quiles low to the far side.

A minute later, Ryan Memoli converted a pass from Renda for his 13th goal.

"We usually do that to make them flinch a little bit," Piemonte said of the strategic move. "I saw (Renda) getting behind the defense and the corner was open, and he poked it in."

Ridgewood (11-6-5) advances to the playoffs for the first time since winning a district title in 2003. That was the only season Mark Pearson has missed the playoffs in nine seasons coaching Land O'Lakes.

Matt Goolsby, a senior defender who missed most of this season with a torn hamstring, headed in a free kick from Louis Falcon to give the Gators (17-6-3) a 1-0 lead in the 38th minute.

"He's going to be one sore puppy (today)," Pearson said of Goolsby, who joined the lineup for the first time in two months. "(This) was his first game back and he almost played every minute. He stepped up."

Michael Weaver added a goal in the second half, tucking the ball inside the left post off a cross from Evan Cornett.

Land O'Lakes keeper Andrew Kimpland made six saves, including a point-blank rebound bid by Nick Sarabalis, for his seventh shutout.

[Last modified January 26, 2006, 01:02:16]