In an early season battle of two of the top teams in the state, Skyridge defeated Mountain Ridge 15-9 behind the stellar play of senior attacker Tessa Jamison on Tuesday.
Skyridge was led by Jamison and sophomore Summer Buechner, who had five and four goals, respectively.
“Our team prepared really well for Mountain Ridge because they deserve every bit of respect that they can get. They are such a good team. Our team just outfought them today. We had to fight from the very first draw. We got down, then came back up, and got that flurry of scores in the third quarter. I’m just so proud of their grit,” said Skyridge head coach Michelle Buechner.
As you can imagine with two of the top teams in the state, it was a physical, back-and-forth battle for much of the first half. Mountain Ridge scored two minutes into the game on a goal by Taylie Anderson. Skyridge answered almost immediately with Buechner getting her first score of the night.
The first quarter ended with Skyridge leading 5-2. Mountain Ridge kept within shouting distance, scoring four of the next five goals to tie things up at 6-6.
It was still a tight contest heading into half, with Skyridge leading 8-6 at the break.
Mountain Ridge scored three quick goals to start the third quarter by Taylie Anderson, Lucy Rigby and Claire Pomeroy.
The Skyridge defense was able to stymie Mountain Ridge, however, and Skyridge scored seven unanswered goals in the third quarter to break the game open.
“Our defense really played together as a unit. They were really able to help each other out and they really had that synergy. When they’re out there they’re doing it for their teammates. They’re crashing and communicating for their teammates,” said Buechner.
The togetherness and cohesion was on full display throughout the entirety of the game, so much so that Mountain Ridge decided on two players of the game with Jamison and goalie Taylor Brems earning the honors.
“Tessa’s game was all about her ground balls. She was clutch on those loose balls she was going 100% for and I just love that. I love it when the seniors can take leadership and ownership like that. Her shots were all just spot on. She’s been working really hard in practice, and it showed up in a big game like today,” added Buechner.