For someone who plays Division I tennis in college, Ridgewood midfielder Niko Martirossian certainly looked at home on a soccer field Friday night.

And that’s also a good thing.

His goal with 5:39 left put Ridgewood up for good, 1-0, over No. 12 Clifton in the North Section 1, Group 4 final, which Ridgewood won 2-0 for its first crown section since 1993.

Martirossian’s goal was the highlight of a game where Ridgewood seemed to have chance after chance and possessed the ball in its attacking third for much of the final 40 minutes.

A physical, lively and intense game, Ridgewood managed to play his style and take Clifton out of his style, ultimately taking advantage.

“In the second half we definitely broke through and had most of the chances,” Martirossian said. “Unlike the first half, where I think we were a little hesitant and nervous, we just had a little break and the game changed from there.”

Even before that point, Ridgewood coach Aidan McCluskey, now in his ninth season at the helm of the Maroons, felt Ridgewood played the better game.

“That second half performance was just brilliant,” McCluskey said. “They worked hard to get there. There’s been something about this team all year, so I’m excited for them.

Clifton, normally known for his technical possession-based style, opted to play a lot of direct balls and overhand balls, but Ridgewood stayed within himself, took what he was given and was able to

“We can move the ball pretty well and we created chance after chance after chance,” McCluskey said.

Last year, it was Clifton who had the last laugh and ended Ridgewood’s season in the sectional quarterfinals with a 3-0 victory. So on Friday, Ridgewood made sure to return the favor in a lively, physical and high-intensity match from the first whistle.

“Since we’ve played them many times, we know how they play at this stage,” senior midfielder Niko Martirossian said. “But this year too, I think our team chemistry and the way we’ve grown is really top-notch.”

The other thing that was top notch? The atmosphere.

McCluskey said her team asked to play a Friday night game under the lights to show they belonged on the team and could handle the big moment.

The crowd, which was standing room only on Ridgewood’s side and was the largest for a football game that McCluskey or his players had ever experienced – was also a big factor in Ridgewood’s favor and embraced Martirossian, Kosuke Yoshikawa and everyone else players who rushed into the audience. crowd after the victory.

And although it was uncharted territory for every player on the team, the mission was clear and Ridgewood was more confident than ever.

“All the work we’ve put in, especially the kids who have been on the team since second grade, we knew coming in that no one was going to beat us,” said Gettysburg commit and star forward Cameron Linnington. “We knew we wouldn’t take a loss for an answer in this game. No one was going to come on our field and outplay or outplay us.

After the match, the fist bumps, the points to the crowd, the smiles, the jumping in the crowd, the pure, unbridled joy said it all.

The message? Maybe now, after all this time, Ridgewood football has finally arrived.

It took a long time – 31 years in fact. But now, after Friday, perhaps the Bergen County school, long a hotbed of football, lacrosse, tennis and other sports, can now firmly establish itself as a football school.

“I’ve been trying since the day I took over,” McCluskey said. “It’s a lacrosse and football town and I hope that kind of thing inspires kids to want to play this game and it’s a beautiful game.”

And no matter what happens Tuesday in the state semifinal against No. 3 Scotch Plains-Fanwood, one thing is certain and can’t be taken away anytime soon.

“This is for everyone who has been a part of this program and many have paved the way for these guys,” McCluskey said. “But now they have created history. And it’s pretty special.

Jake Aferiat can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow him at @Jake_Aferiat.

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