Without question, Columbia River High senior forward Alex Harris said Thursday’s performance on the pitch was the Rapids’ best of the season.
“For sure,” the Cornell-bound player said, “it was our best performance all-around.”And he makes a strong case for it. A 7-0 shutout in a victory over Hockinson not only in a match featuring the 2A Greater St. Helens League’s top-two boys soccer teams, but also a top-10 state showdown in RPI rankings with a league title at stake.
The defense, the midfield, the scoring was on point, he said.
“I don’t think anyone expected a 7-0 result,” Harris said.
River has now captured 11 straight league titles dating back to 2012 as a Class 3A program.
Harris’ five goals helped the Rapids stay perfect on the season and secure its 11th straight league title dating back to 2012 as a Class 3A program. The 2A District IV tournament starts next Saturday where River (15-0-0, 14-0-0) already has locked up a No. 1 seed.
Thursday’s shutout was the 10th posted by the River defense this season. Its allowed just five goals in 15 matches, but one of those was one against Hockinson on March 28 when the Hawks (11-3-1, 11-2-0) grabbed an early 1-0 lead in what turned out to be a 3-1 River on Hockinson’s grass field.
In fact, jumping out to a quick start Thursday behind aggressive energy was a talking point pregame, Harris said.
It rang true and quickly. Harris’ first goal came in the second minute. By the time he was subbed out with 6 minutes left before halftime, he registered four more goals and River had a commanding 6-0 lead.
The performance by Harris comes one match after hitting a major milestone. In Tuesday’s win over Mark Morris, Harris registered his 100th career goal and now has 106 (and counting) for his career. Of all the achievements and accolades Harris has — and surely will continue to receive — becoming a 100-goal scorer in high school is memorable for many reasons, he said.
For starters through, it’s his teammates.
“It’s a testament to my teammates,” he said, “and them putting me in the position because I can’t score alone. It takes a whole team to play soccer and be a successful team.”
Harris registered seven goals as a sophomore in the COVID condensed spring season in 2021. Last season, he recorded 51 helping River go 23-1 and reach the 2A state semifinals. After Thursday, he’s now got 48 goals on the season.
And after an all-around team performance such as Thursday, River continues to be on the right track toward its largest goal with the postseason one week away. The program has three consecutive state semifinals (excluding no WIAA state tournaments in 2020 or 2021), including a state champion in 2018.
“I think we’re still proving ourselves, but all of our eyes are on the state championship,” Harris said.
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COLUMBIA RIVER 7, HOCKINSON 0
Columbia River
Goals (assist) — Alex Harris (JP Guzman), Harris (Colby SNellman), Harris (Guzman), Harris (Ryland Perron), Perron (Harris), Harris (unassisted), Alex Snyder (Owen McGreevey).
Goalkeeper saves — Cameron Smith 1 save, Eli Smith 0 saves, Aeden Pena 0 saves.
Hockinson
Goalkeeper saves — Gianni Ionashku, 2 saves.
