Even though Ridley entered last night's field hockey game with a 1-4-1 record, Conestoga head coach Karen Gately didn't want her team to take the visiting Green Raiders lightly in the annual Central League matchup.
 

Gately pointed out to her Pioneers, who figure to be a serious contender for the league title, that they had yet to defeat the Raiders since she took over the coaching duties four years ago.

"Even in a year we won a championship, we tied them," a relieved Gately said after the host Pioneers managed a 2-0 victory.

It wasn't easy.

Conestoga (6-1 overall, 2-0 league), ranked No. 9 in Southeastern Pennsylvania by The Inquirer, needed a first-half goal from sophomore Emily Speck and another score early in the second half by junior Melissa Deutsch to put away the pesky Raiders.

Megan Deakins "crossed the ball over and I wasn't marked," Speck said of her third goal of the season, with 9 minutes, 31 seconds left in the first half.

"Coach told us this was a big game, so I was happy to get the first goal," Speck said, noting that she was surprised to be starting as a sophomore.

Speck's goal came after a nine-minute stretch in which Ridley controlled the ball in the Conestoga half of the field, most of the time inside 25 yards. Despite the advantage in possession, the Green Raiders stalled time and again in the offensive zone. Ridley managed just one penalty corner, and it came with less than five minutes to play.

Conestoga goalie Charlotte Packman did not have to make a save in the first half. She had two saves in the second half.

"That's been the story of our season," said Green Raiders coach Mary Piffath, who gave birth to a baby boy two weeks ago. "We have not been able to put the ball in the net."

Ridley, which has lost three one-goal games this season, has scored just three times in seven games.

"We said this would be our tough week," Piffath said.

Tomorrow, the Raiders will face Haverford, ranked No. 8 by The Inquirer. The Fords appear to be Conestoga's stiffest challenger for the league crown.

Ridley           0  0  -  0

Conestoga     1  1  -  2

Goals: C-Emily Speck, Melissa Deutsch.

Saves: R-Lauren Patterson 6. C-Charlotte Packman 2.

Contact staff writer Don Beideman at 610-701-7613 or dbeideman@phillynews.com.