North Jersey girls soccer star commits to national powerhouse
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One of North Jersey’s brightest talents is off the board.
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Ramsey girls soccer star Hope Ernst committed to national power Virginia on the heels of an All-American sophomore season.
Ernst’s rise has been meteoric. She powered Ramsey to a perfect 25-0 season last fall, sweeping league, county and state titles and finishing No. 20 nationally. Her numbers were absurd: 31 goals, 23 assists, points in 24 of 25 games, and the state-final winner just 21 seconds in against Allentown.
She was named North Jersey Girls Soccer Player of the Year and cemented herself as one of the most complete attacking players in the region – a forward who can beat defenders 1-on-1, stretch the field with pace, or track back and win possession like a defensive midfielder.
Virginia is one of the sport’s gold-standard programs. The Cavaliers climbed to No. 1 in the nation for four weeks last season and reached the NCAA Round of 16, marking seven Sweet Sixteens in the last 10 years. They’ve also built a pipeline from North Jersey: Wayne Hills alum Sophia Bradley made 19 appearances last fall, contributing two goals and two assists.
This wasn’t a one-year breakout for Ernst. As a freshman, Ernst started every game, posting 22 goals and 17 assists and helping Ramsey earn a share of the county title. She entered high school as an attacking mid before shifting to forward.
Ramsey coach Drew Strohmeyer saw the potential long before she wore a varsity jersey. He remembers driving through town two years ago and spotting Ernst – then an eighth grader – firing shots with her father Nick. He said it was clear she was one of those players who put in extra work.
“She works so hard on and off the field,” Strohmeyer said. “They all spend so much time during the season, but it's just those special few that do it on their own, and she's one of those kids.”
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Ernst grew up in a soccer household, coached by her father at the youth level and following the path of her older brother Luke, who also won a state title at Ramsey. Her game is built on speed and skill, but her mentality is what coaches rave about most.
“I'm big on if you make a mistake, you work back for it,” Ernst said. “You try to cover up if someone loses the ball or one of your midfielders loses the ball. Because at the end of the day, we're all trying to win the game. We're all working together.”
Star midfielder picks Princeton
Ernst's commitment comes just days after Ramsey teammate Lizzie Rubin announced that she’s headed to Princeton. A rising senior and an All‑North Jersey first‑team selection, Rubin delivered 22 goals and a North Jersey‑best 30 assists last year.
The Rams midfielder emerged as a prolific scorer with either foot, burying a late game-winner in the Group 2 semifinal and another goal in the Group 2 final. She dominated the Bergen County tournament with four goals and three assists across four games.
“First, I want to thank my mom and dad for their unwavering commitment and sacrifices to support my dreams, and for always believing in me,” Rubin wrote on Instagram. “I can’t thank you enough. To my sister, Katie, and my brother, Jackson, thank you for always cheering me on and supporting me every step of the way.
I’d also like to thank all of my PDA coaches for pushing me to become a better player and helping me develop both on and off the field. Lastly, thank you to all of my PDA teammates for an incredible soccer journey over the past several years—I could not have done this without you.”
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: North Jersey girls soccer star commits to national powerhouse