Coming into this season, the Cedar Ridge women’s soccer team hadn’t won at Orange since 2019. This season, they did it twice. On Monday night, the Red Wolves defeated the Lady Panthers 3-0 in the opening round of the 5A State Playoffs at Orange Soccer Field. Kate Finnegan scored three goals for her fifth hat trick of the season. Finnegan scored the game-winning goal off a throw-in from Peyton Decker with 20:07 remaining in the first half. Junior Ava Smith assisted on the second goal with 9:18 remaining in the first half. Smith found Finnegan along the near sideline. Finnegan found an open spot and tucked the ball into the lower left corner. It was a physical game. Cedar Ridge centerback Hayli Headrick helped preserve the clean sheet for Cedar Ridge goalkeeper Ellamarie Perel. The Red Wolves now have clean sheets in three consecutive games. Overall, Cedar Ridge has had seven clean sheets in 2026. It is the second state playoff win for Cedar Ridge since 2018. The Red Wolves claimed two wins and one draw against Orange this year. Finnegan has 33 goals in 2026. Smith has registered five goals and three assists. Cedar Ridge advances to the second round to face defending 3A State Champion Western Alamance on Thursday night.
