RIDGEFIELD — Sure Max Hauser enjoys scoring goals. It is, after all, the point of a soccer match.
But ask the Ridgefield High senior to explain why soccer won out over baseball, basketball and football, and his answer is nuanced.
“It’s very challenging technically and skillfully. And there’s a mixture between teamwork, hard work and talent,” Hauser said.
That is the mixture Hauser has used to make a consistent impact over four varsity seasons for one of the most consistent high school soccer programs in Southwest Washington.
The 2015 co-player of the year in the Class 2A Greater St. Helens League who had 16 goals and five assists as a junior last season, Hauser has helped continue a tradition of excellence for Ridgefield boys soccer. The Spudders are shooting for their eighth consecutive trip to a state tournament this spring.
Hauser, a playmaker who this season has eight goals and two assists through eight games, said the Spudders have many ways to attack opponents.
“We can play the ball on the ground this year pretty well, so we like to possess the ball. But when we can play forward we play forward and play positive and look to score all the time,” Hauser said.
Creating goals is Hauser’s primary focus for Ridgefield, where he plays more attacking roles than the defensive assignments he had for much of his club soccer career.
“I think a lot of players get caught up in the game and they don’t think: How can I score? How can I help the team score?” Hauser said. “That’s usually what I think when I get the ball, especially in the final third.”
That instinct shows up in different ways, and was evident on his favorite high school goal — a 35-yard rocket in the first round of last season’s state tournament, one of three he scored in a 4-0 win over Tyee of SeaTac. When the ball came bouncing his way he didn’t hesitate.
“I just said: why not? It just came off my foot really well,” Hauser recalled. “That was a pretty fun goal.”
Hauser intends to keep playing soccer. He said he has spoken with coaches at a few four-year colleges, but is leaning toward playing for a community college in the fall as he considers options for his education. He wants to follow his father and older brother into engineering.
Engineering offense for Ridgefield is as much a mental exercise as it is physical, according to Ridgefield coach Brian Newman.
“Max is a very intelligent soccer player,” Newman said. “He understands the game and he knows how to attack teams.”
Adding to the challenge this season is the extra attention Hauser is drawing from opponents. Newman noted that teams are working to keep Hauser from getting the ball, sometimes with double teams. So Newman has moved Hauser around the attacking positions.
“Max knows it’s not about how many goals he scores,” Newman said.
“Our team is like a puzzle and everybody is a big piece of that puzzle,” Hauser said.
A second-year team captain, Hauser credits fellow team captains Andrew Williams and Brittan Gullickson (both juniors) for driving the Spudders forward.
“They are the real workhorses in midfield. They make everything run,” Hauser said.
With eight starters back from a team that reached the state quarterfinals in 2015, Hauser said Ridgefield has what it needs to make a run at the program’s first state title.
But the Spudders — 4-0 in league play and 6-1-1 overall including a loss to Class 4A Skyview — are not looking beyond the next challenge.
“We try not to get caught up in expectations,” Hauser said.
What to watch for this season
Early season highlights: Woodland has scored more goals through the first five league games this season than in all 12 league games last year. The Beavers have more league wins than they finished with in 2015. … Columbia-White Salmon has started the season 5-0, including an early 1-0 Trico League win at La Center that might have title implications. … After being shut out in its first two 4A GSHL games, Skyview gave Camas its first loss. The 2-1 win for the Storm on March 31 ended a 30-match regular-season league game unbeaten run for the Papermakers (27 wins, 3 draws) since a 1-0 loss to Union on April 16, 2013.
State tournament streaks: Camas has made the state tournament for 17 consecutive seasons (in classes 3A and 4A), winning 3A state titles in 2006, 2008 and 2011. Ridgefield has made seven consecutive trips to state (Classes 1A and 2A). Columbia-White Salmon has played in eight consecutive 1A state tournaments, winning the title in 2008.
Bennett Lehner’s return: Last season’s all-Region player of the year for The Columbian, Lehner was playing for the Timbers Academy but chose to return to the Papermakers before heading to play at Dayton University. Already this spring he has 12 goals and three assists. Also, his older brother Evan, who played on the Papermakers’ 2008 state championship team, has joined the program as an assistant coach.
Key matches: Camas at Union, April 15; Skyview at Camas, April 27; Union at Camas, May 3; Columbia River vs. Fort Vancouver on April 14 and May 3 (both at Kiggins Bowl); Ridgefield at R.A. Long April 21; La Center at White Salmon, April 19.
Postseason: Top two 4A GSHL teams after the district tournament play one-game playoffs against KingCo league opponents for the right to go to state. … Two of the four 3A GSHL teams make a bi-district tournament to try to advance to state. … In 2A District 4, the top four from both the GSHL and the Evergreen Conference play a double-elimination district tournament for three state berths. … The top three Trico League teams and top three Evergreen Conference teams make the Class 1A District 4 tourney, with three of those teams advancing to state. … State final four cities: 4A and 3A at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup; 2A and 1A at Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner.
