The Ridgeview boys soccer team is hoping to finally pick up some victories against Bend schools this season, which could propel them to the playoffs.

The Ravens (0-0-1 in Intermountain Conference, 4-1-2 overall) came close Sept. 22, coming away with a 1-1 draw at Mountain View. A victory would have been the team’s first against a Bend school in five seasons.

The draw comes after a successful nonleague schedule for the Ravens, who nearly equaled their win total for all of last season. They finished the 2015 season in fourth place in the league, behind the three Bend schools, with an IMC record of 2-4-2 (5-5-4 overall).

The Ravens are not yet crowing about their results, however.

“I think it’s a really good start to our season,” Ridgeview coach Jimmy Kim said before the Mountain View game. “The nonconference matches are a little bit tricky. They’re not really indicative of what we are going to face during the season, because it is such a tough league.”

Ten of the 17 Ridgeview players are new this year, but players say that hasn’t hurt the team’s chemistry.

The players are noticing how much better they are playing together. Senior right back Zach Nelson, who had an assist to Joseph Brant in the second minute for the Ravens’ only goal against Mountain View, said the team has been loose.

“I think our chemistry is pretty good, better than last year,” he said. “We’re laughing in practice, but at the same time we can get serious and buckle down to play the game.”

Many of the players have been together for years, coming up on the same club teams. But senior center midfielder Gerardo Herrera said they have been having dinner at a different player’s house each Wednesday night since school started to get to know the newcomers.

“It really helps us bond as a team and get to know each other as friends,” he said. “If someone makes a mistake, we try to help him up. We keep our heads held high and play on as a team.”

The Ravens were scheduled to get another chance against a Bend team when they faced the Lava Bears Sept. 27, which was after the Spokesman’s print deadline. They play another Bend team at 3 p.m. Thursday when they go to Summit.

Mountain View beat fourth-place Ridgeview out for a postseason play-in spot in 2015 IMC play. This season, the players are hopeful they can make it in.

“A realistic goal for us is to make the playoffs,” Nelson said. “To do that, we’re going to have to beat a Bend school twice…It really comes down to working together as a team.”

Also contributing to the Ravens are junior forward Westley Carter and junior goalkeeper Alex Nadermann, both second-team all-league selections last season.

“Alex is an outstanding keeper and good leader for us,” Kim said. “He’s been really solid back there. I think we’re going to be in a match where he’s going to make a huge save for us.”

— Reporter: 541-548-2186, gfolsom@redmondspokesman.com