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Senior friends lead talented East Ridge boys' soccer

By PATRICK JOHNSON, Special to the Star Tribune, 09/06/14, 5:11PM CDT

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Tightly knit East Ridge core has lofty soccer goals.


East Ridge High School senior Connor Stevenson during practice on Tuesday. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ cgonzalez@startribune.com - September 2, 2014, Woodbury, Minn., East Ridge High School Soccer Boys

 

After spending his eighth-grade year in Spain, Samuel Ruiz Plaza returned to Woodbury but didn’t know many people when he enrolled at East Ridge High School.

But now, the versatile midfielder is a soccer team captain and part of a group of seniors who have formed a brotherhood that is paying dividends on the field.

Ruiz Plaza, Connor Stevenson, Zack Boerjan and fellow captain Kris Broughton have all spent time on East Ridge’s varsity roster since their freshman year. They also play for the same club — St. Croix Academy U18 Premier — in the offseason.

“Those four started together four years ago,” East Ridge coach Anthony Bidwell said. “They worked very hard and put in the time and effort. They’re a very talented group.”

East Ridge, which has reached the past two Class 2A, Section 4 championship games, was 4-0 heading into Thursday’s game against Park of Cottage Grove and ranked fourth in the state, according to the Minnesota coaches association poll.

“We have a lot of talent and a lot of team chemistry,” Ruiz Plaza said of his teammates. “We know each other really well and are good friends.”

Their friendship extends beyond the soccer field.

Though they play soccer year-round, Ruiz Plaza, Stevenson, Broughton, fellow senior Stephen Mog and junior Keelan Spencer all play junior varsity tennis for East Ridge, too. Midfield mates Ruiz Plaza and Spencer are doubles partners.

“Tennis helps us,” Ruiz Plaza said. “We feel comfortable out there together and communicate well.”

The current Raptors roster is comprised of eight seniors, seven juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen.

Stevenson, a 6-2, 185-pound forward who Bidwell called “a pure attacker,” has already signed to play Division 1 soccer at Loyola University in Chicago. The coach said there are three or four more seniors on his team with Division 1 potential.

Bidwell said Stevenson is one of the top five forwards in Minnesota high school soccer.

“He’s technically extremely solid and has great physical presence,” he said. “He’s very strong and fast. He’s poised and has shown a lot of growth emotionally.”

Stevenson was second in points for East Ridge last season with 22, just behind Ruiz Plaza, who had 29. The two tied for the team lead in goals with 13.

Bidwell called the 5-10, 160-pound Ruiz Plaza “very strong pound-for-pound” and “a great kid with a great attitude.” He said Ruiz Plaza and Stevenson are both “very capable of putting the ball in the back of the net.”

“Sam has tremendous vision,” Bidwell said. “He sees the field very well and plays both sides of the ball. He’s very versatile and can play any position.”

Bidwell, coaching in his third year at East Ridge, was previously the girls’ coach at Eden Prairie and led the Eagles to a state title in 2010.

“I’d say this is the best team I’ve had here,” Bidwell said. “They’ve bought in and do things the way we see them and want to do them.”

In 2012 the Raptors upset North St. Paul in the Class 2A, Section 4 playoffs, only to fall to Stillwater in the championship game.

Last year the Raptors earned revenge on Stillwater in the section semifinal but lost to North St. Paul in the final. North St. Paul went on to win the state title.

East Ridge graduated three important defenders, but has returned all of its midfielders and attackers this season. Ruiz Plaza called the team “older, bigger and better.”

“We have high hopes this year,” he said. “We want to make it to state. We think it’s our year. I hope us seniors can leave a mark at East Ridge and in the state of Minnesota before we graduate.”