The Ridgefield Spudders girls soccer team breezed through the round of 16 and quarterfinals round last week with a total of 9-0 goals allowed.
On Tuesday, Nov. 12, the Spuds found unconventional scoring opportunities to knock out Nathan Hale High School with a 4-0 win. On Saturday, Nov. 16, the Spudders put the pedal down and didn’t let up as they won 5-0 over Fife, against whom last year the Spudders found themselves in a penalty kick shootout to advance through the quarterfinal round.
Ridgefield, having conquered the 2A state championship last season as the No. 7-seed, find themselves as the hunted team with the top seed in the 2024 tournament.
“The difference this year is that we’re trying to keep the target off our back, but it’s hard to keep the target off your back this time,” Spudders head coach Steven Evans said. “Whereas last year, we were kind of maybe under the radar a little bit more. So I think staying levelheaded, staying humble, knowing that these playoffs can go either way and every team that we face is going to be good.”
When the Ridgefield girls sustained their 5-0 lead halfway through the second half, Evans turned to his bench to ensure his starters avoided injury or foul cards. When the senior starters sat down on the bench, they began relishing in the moment that they played their final game on home turf.
“It’s just special, I’d say,” Spudders senior defender Brielle Suomi said of their final game at home. “We’ve been counting down the days, and I think it finally being here, we’re all just feeling a little sentimental.”
Ridgefield senior forward Tori Lasch finished last week’s first two state tournament games with two goals in each. Lasch and Marlee Buffham have led the Spudders attack. In their 5-0 win over Fife, Buffham got the assist on both Lasch net-finders.
“It means a lot to us because we’ve all been working so hard at this, and we need to keep pushing through,” Lasch said after her last home game.
This year’s group of seniors have helped establish a lasting culture for the Spudder girls soccer program. The class of 2025 fills nine spots on the roster, last season, the class of 2024 filled eight spots. Despite the deep senior class, underclassmen have been a huge piece to this season and last season’s successes.
“The underclassmen know how us seniors play. Like, they’ve seen us play, and they’re perfect when they step right in and come with us,” senior midfielder Nora Martin said.
Suomi believes this year’s bond among the players has factored in the team finding their peak form in the postseason. Evans joined the program as head coach their sophomore season and has enjoyed watching their growth in all facets of being a teammate, athlete and person.
“I think the best thing about them, there’s a lot of talent, but I think the environment that they create, the positivity that we have within the team and the good leadership that they all bring in in such a great way is very refreshing, and I think that the group thrives on that,” Evans said. “And so to have that great culture and a positive leadership group is very fortunate for us.”
Abigail Vance, a crucial senior who flies under the radar when looking at the stat sheet, was all smiles after she recorded Saturday’s fifth goal.
“That felt really good,” Vance said with a huge smile. “The coaches were really egging me on to finally get it, so that felt really good.”
Now, the Ridgefield girls enter semifinals weekend with a lot of experience and memories of last year’s title success at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma.
The Spudders start their final-four journey with a matchup against the No. 4-seeded Bellingham Bayhawks with a 7 p.m. start Friday, Nov. 22. Pending the result of their semifinal matchup, the 2A state title game is slated for 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, while the third/fourth place game is scheduled for earlier at 12:15 p.m. The other side of the bracket includes 2A Greater St. Helens League rivals Columbia River Rapids and West Valley (Spokane) High School.
