Ridgefield Spudders appreciate their community’s support as they won their second consecutive Class 2A state title

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

It was another victory on the soccer field.

It was another shutout.

It was another win over a league rival.

It was another state championship.

The Ridgefield Spudders are getting used to all of the winning.

They do not, however, take it for granted.

And they appreciate all the support, not just from their school, but from the community.

“There is something about playing for the town you were born and raised in,” senior Abigail Vance said. “To have Ridgefield on your jersey and to say you’ve won a state championship … for your town. The support is crazy. And we’re proud to be potatoes. We wouldn’t want anything else.”

It’s been a week and a half since Ridgefield won its second consecutive Class 2A state championship in girls soccer. Clark County Today sat down with the nine seniors on the team for its Chat with the Champions series.

The Spudders discussed what it was like on the field, defeating league rival Columbia River 1-0 in the state finals on Nov. 23. They talked about their legacy, winning back-to-back titles. And they also gave a salute to all who were there for them.

“Last year, we did this whole thing where we got escorted home by our local police officers and firefighters and a couple of our parents,” Annabelle Rogers said. “This year, the same thing.”

Only bigger. 

The escort started after the exit from the freeway, to the high school campus. The Spudders rang the school’s victory bell, and put the trophies in the case. Parents and other supporters were there. Music. Sparkling cider. And lots of photographs.

That was on a Saturday night.

By Monday, the celebration continued.

“Everyone was congratulating you. All the teachers were so proud of you,” said Tori Lasch. “It just felt really special.”

“A lot of pats on the back and high-fives,” added Brielle Suomi.

“It’s cool to see a smaller community join together and really celebrate you on a big win,” said Nora Martin. “That’s probably my favorite part, seeing how happy everyone is for us.”

The Spudders had nine seniors on this year’s team. All of them were on varsity last year, as well, making them two-time state champions. They also all have attended Ridgefield High School since they were freshmen.

Yes, a true hometown team. The seniors are: Marlee Buffham, Baylee Bushnell, Alyssa Carney, Marseille Edwards, Tori Lasch, Nora Martin, Annabelle Rogers, Brielle Suomi, and Abigail Vance. 

They credited their coaching staff, too, led by head coach Steven Evans.

“We owe a lot of it to Steven. He is one of the best coaches I’ve ever had,” Buffham said. “The support from him is incredible.”
He is also a good sport. Evans made a deal with the Spudders. If they reached the state championship match again, Suomi could give him a buzz cut. He was true to his word.

Of course, it helped that this Ridgefield Spudders team was true to its word. The Spudders committed to a defensive approach. It was not just the goalkeepers and the defenders who had to protect a lead, but everyone on the field was asked to focus on defense.

It worked.

The Spudders did not give up a goal in the state tournament.

Early in the championship match, the Spudders took the lead on an own goal. The play started when Ellie Wilson won the ball, got it to Buffham, and Buffham crossed it toward the front of the goal. Lasch was there, stuck her foot out, and the ball then ricocheted off a Columbia River defender and into the net.

The way the Ridgefield defense had been playing throughout the postseason, that one goal was probably going to be enough to win the title. 

“I had confidence in everyone,” Bushnell said. “The next 70 minutes was going to be lockdown.”

Martin said the Spudders dominated on defense and “showed who we are.” Martin said River had one “goodish” shot from far away, but keeper Opal Ruddy made a diving save.

The one-goal lead was enough for the Spudders.

As soon as the match was whistled over, the Spudders rushed each other to celebrate.

“It’s crazy to think we did it again,” Vance said. “First time winning it, it was not a surprise, but it had never been done before by our school. To do it a second time, all of us were in shock, and this craziness. ‘We did it again!’ It’s hard to win one championship. It’s even harder to win two. That was a pretty special feeling.”

Adding to the degree of difficulty was facing Columbia River again. The Rapids won the 2022 state title. Ridgefield beat River last year in the semifinals en route to the championship. This year, they faced each other in the state finals. And that was after already playing each other twice in the regular season and once for the district title. Ridgefield went 3-1 against River this season.

Bushnell said playing in the Class 2A Greater St. Helens League and in District 4 helps because every match has playoff intensity.

“It’s fun to be able to compete, to know these are state-championship caliber teams that we get experience with early on,” Bushnell said. “Being pushed early on in our season makes us such  a good team. It’s where we grow a lot.”

Buffham plays on the same club team with a couple of players from Columbia River. They had club practice two days after the championship match.

“It was a good practice,” Buffham said with a smile. “Everyone was a little quiet.”

For high school soccer, it is all over for the seniors. Going out with a state title is remarkable, but the Spudders are also having to deal with the end of something so special. 

“It’s crazy that it was our last game ever,” Buffham said.

“It’s a hard transition from going to every single day training or having games, and then one game, it be over. It’s just kind of sad. But it’s the best way to end it,” Suomi said.

“That was our storybook ending,” Martin said. “To win state twice, that’s the best way to go out.”