For Lenape girls, five straight state titles

EWING - Through 90 minutes of smooth, composed soccer, there were too many times when the Lenape girls' team made it look easy.

Every set piece was dangerous, almost every loose ball in the midfield was contained, and every chance by the opposing team was turned away.

In other words, the Indians (24-2-1) looked as if they had been there before in an efficient 2-0 win over Ridge (16-5-3) in the state Group 4 final Saturday at the College of New Jersey.

It was the team's fifth consecutive state title, marking the longest such streak in New Jersey Group 4 history.

And perhaps the greatest gift that previous experience offered the Indians was the ability to contain their emotion, to stay totally composed even when they wanted nothing more in the world than to win.

"When we were freshmen, we would dream about this day, about being on this field and walking out as champions, and it came true," said an emotional Katie Rigby, a senior who put Lenape ahead by 2-0 with a goal in the 29th minute.

"We're sisters. We're family. We work for each other, and we never wanted to let each other down, and we didn't let each other down today."

Rigby was the perfect symbol of her team's performance. She's as composed in the 18-yard box as any player in the state, and she was as sharp as any player on the field Saturday. During the game, Rigby's precise, calm performance looked almost routine.

But when the clock hit zero, the senior, who missed last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, broke down in tears, a sign of how much this title means to the state's girls' soccer dynasty.

"I love these girls with all my heart, and I'm going to miss playing with them when I go to college," Rigby said. "And missing last year was tough. I couldn't just end my senior year without playing in this game. I wanted it even more this year for myself and my teammates."

It didn't take Lenape long to establish control. The Indians scored less than five minutes into the game when Tori Prager sent a line drive that bounced off the keeper's hands and toward Courtney Kovac, who put the rebound into the back of the net.

Credit for Rigby's goal has to be given to Shannon Westhead, who won a tough 50-50 ball at midfield and set up an open look for Rigby.

"The girls really rose to the occasion, and I'm just so happy for them," Lenape coach Kevin Meder said. "We have 14 seniors, and this team means the world to all of them. So that's why I'm just so happy for them."

Even as Ridge started to apply pressure early in the second half, there was never a hint of panic. On Ridge's best chance of the game, with 13 minutes left, keeper Allison Johnson made a tough, leaping save look effortless.

But as seamless as they made it look, the celebration afterward made it clear how much this win meant to every player on the Indians.

"It just keeps getting better and better," Prager said. "And it just feels so good to win it for our 14 seniors. The whole team was so close; these are my best friends. So winning with them is the best feeling."

Lenape   2 0 – 2

Ridge   0 0 – 0

Goals: L-Courtney Kovac, Katie Rigby.

Saves: L-Allison Johnson 3; R-Rachael Axt 5.