TACOMA — For the defending Class 2A girls soccer state champions, tradition goes beyond recent postseason success.  Dating back to the seniors’ freshmen seasons, Ridgefield High girls soccer players etch the word ‘relentless’ in marker on the back of their right legs. How the tradition began, senior Marlee Buffham isn’t sure, but it has stayed with them every season and every game of the seniors’ high school careers.  “It’s a tradition that’s gotten us this far,” she said. 

This far, once again for Ridgefield, is reaching the state championship match in consecutive seasons. Friday, the Spudders topped Bellingham in the second of two 2A semifinals.   Friday’s other semifinal — Columbia River’s 1-0 (3-2 penalty kicks) win over West Valley of Spokane in a shootout — means it’ll be all-too-familiar opponents facing off in Saturday’s 5:30 p.m. state championship at Mount Tahoma Stadium.  Saturday will be the fourth meeting this season between the Ridgefield and Columbia River — two 2A Greater St. Helens League foes. The teams split their regular-season meetings, and Ridgefield topped Columbia River 2-0 in the Nov. 9 district title match.  It also will be the third time since 2021 the two programs have met in either the state semifinals or in a trophy match. 

“I know they have a lot of respect for us and we have a lot of respect for them,” Buffham said. “It’s about who wants it more at the end of the day.” Friday, Ridgefield (21-1-1) got goals from Savvy Semlick (13th minute) and Nora Martin (56th) and the defense recorded its 13 shutout. Head coach Steven Evans commended his team for its second-half play, including referring to Martin’s goal as a “team goal.” Entering Saturday, there’s a certain level of confidence Ridgefield has as the defending state champions, players said, as the Spudders attempt to be the first back-to-back champions in 2A since Liberty of Issaquah did it in 2017 and 2018. That starts with experience, said Buffham and fellow senior Alyssa Carney and a senior-laden group hungry to go out on top.  “We’ve been here and we know what we’re doing,” Buffham said. “We’ve worked for it all season, and it’s just another check on the box.”

Said Carney, one of nine seniors: “Us seniors, we work really well together. And we’ve been waiting to do this all season.” It goes back to a tradition of what Carney said has been done by Ridgefield every game, all game, all season.  “It’s on our legs for a reason,” she said.  — Class 2A semifinal At Mount Tahoma Stadium Ridgefield 2, Bellingham 0 Goals — Savvy Semlick, Nora Martin Goalkeeper saves — Tyler Merlock 1; Opal Ruddy 2 Halftime — 1-0