District 1 Class 3A Field Hockey: Elise Shady brightens O.J. Roberts' prospects with late goal in win over Ridley

RIDLEY — Goalkeeper Elise Martin gave everything she had to keep her Ridley team’s season alive Monday night.

However, Owen J. Roberts’ Ella Shady made the most of her opportunity in front of the cage, slipping a shot past the resilient Martin with just 2:28 remaining in the fourth quarter. Shady, a freshman, didn’t lose herself in the critical moment – she seized it, delivering the game-winner just as the teams seemed destined for overtime.

Shady’s late heroics lifted 18th-seeded Owen J. Roberts to a 3-2 victory over No. 15 Ridley in the opening round of the District 1 Class 3A field hockey tournament.

“It’s funny because I was thinking right before we got the ball back, that I had to get next to the post. I had to be there and help give us a chance,” Shady said. “I just happened to be the one (who scored).”

The Wildcats pressured Ridley’s defensive zone right after one of Martin’s many crucial saves. As the ball was put back in play, OJR struck quickly. Shady netted the goal with an assist from junior Avery Taylor, who had been sidelined for two minutes earlier in the fourth quarter after receiving a green card.

“We stuck together,” Shady said. “It’s a great feeling. I’m so happy to be a part of this team.”

Martin was outstanding, making numerous kick and stick saves to keep the Green Raiders in the game after the Wildcats jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first quarter. In the fourth period, moments before Lindsay Maurone netted the equalizer for Ridley, Martin reached a significant milestone with her 500th career save.

“It’s nice, but I wish we had both” the personal milestone and victory, Martin said. “I think we all worked together as a team and we built up throughout preseason and the season, to use everything we had to put into this game.”

Martin trusted her teammates, confident they wouldn’t back down in Ridley’s first District 1 tournament appearance in a decade.

“We made it so far and we couldn’t give up now,” Martin said. “We just kept pushing ourselves.”

When the Green Raiders fell behind 2-0, coach Mara Schnellenbach urged her players to prevent Owen J. Roberts from controlling the tempo, limit their chances in the circle, and focus on better ball control. The team responded, and Sam Flemming scored with 9:18 left before halftime to get Ridley on the board.

“I would say just our experience held us back a little in the first quarter. We’re really younger, with a lot of sophomores and juniors on the field,” said Schnellenbach, who was an All-Delco field hockey player in her day at Ridley. “This is our first time at playoffs. So I think that just kind of getting that experience in that first quarter under their belt, and then they got it and they clicked, and we started doing what we do. We played our hockey. Unfortunately it just didn’t fall in our favor today.”

Martin was a star for Ridley in Monday’s game, which is fitting given she’s been a steady force in goal since her freshman year.

“I don’t even have words for what she means to this team,” Schnellenbach said. “She is like our life saver. She’s a brick wall back there. She saves us in so many games, and I’m lucky I have her back next year.”

The Green Raiders have made significant strides since Schnellenbach took over the program in 2019, finishing the 2024 season with a 12-6-1 record. Offensively, Alexa Bair, Hannah DiFilippo and Allie Decker excelled, while Keira Small used her speed and defensive skills to make solid contributions.

Owen J. Roberts, returning to the district playoffs for the first time since 2022, advances to face No. 2 Central Bucks West in the second round Wednesday. Evie Wolters and Zoe McDonald each scored a goal in the first quarter Monday.

“Ridley really stepped up and they were not willing to go down without a fight. We continued to play but I think it took us a minute to catch up to their intensity and fire that they brought after we went up,” OJR coach Amy Hoffman said. “What got us back is what’s always brought us back. We stuck to our game plan and kept our composure. We work well together and we don’t rely on any single player, and we’re looking for each other all over the field. That’s sort of what pushed us through tonight.”