River Bluff boys soccer rolls past Ashley Ridge

If River Bluff boys soccer coach Phil Savitz had any concerns his team was looking ahead to a looming third round match-up with national power Wando in the Class 4A playoffs on Saturday, it took about two minutes to put any worries to rest.

Senior Connor Deany scored two of his four goals in the first two minutes to help propel the Gators to a dominating 5-1 victory over Ashley Ridge Thursday night at The Swamp. That sets up a rematch with Wando with a berth in the lower state title game on the line at home on Saturday at 7 pm.

The two nationally ranked programs played a couple of weeks ago with Wando earning a 3-1 victory. The stakes will be much higher this time around. Wando advanced to the third round with a 5-0 victory over Fort Dorchester.

“I expect a very hard fought, very well played match,” Savitz said. “Seems like every time we’ve played them, it’s a lot of good soccer. It will probably be very close. They’ve found a way to make a couple of more plays than us the last couple of games. Our goal is to make a couple of more plays than them and move on to the lower state championship.”

The teams have played six times in the last three years with Wando winning five of them, including the last two. The Warriors eliminated River Bluff last season from the playoffs and won 3-1 to end the regular season on April 23.

“I think you have two teams playing with great confidence,” the veteran coach said. “I also think it’s two teams that every time they step on the field they expect to win. It’s unfortunate that we have to meet this early.”

It didn’t take the Gators long against the Swamp Foxes to show they weren’t looking ahead. Deany scored his first goal 45 seconds into the contest then added his second 75 seconds later off of a free kick.

Deany thought the fast start put the Gators at ease and let them focus on executing the game plan.

“We got two goals really fast and that sort of took the pressure off,” he said. “We still had to play at a high level the rest of the game, though, and I thought we did that.”

He later added his third goal in the 27th minute to give River Bluff (22-1) a 4-0 lead at the half. Sean O’Hara scored the other first half goal on a header in the 13th minute. Deany added his final goal in the 50th minute to put an exclamation point on his strong start to the postseason.

“He’s special right now,” Savitz said. “He has so much confidence and is such a great finisher. I hope it continues for a few more games. He’s always gotten goals, but they’re just coming in bunches now.”

Ashley Ridge (14-8) avoided the shutout when Jimmy Davis scored in the 65th minute.