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Humboldt’s soccer team rides the wave

Wildcats are unbeaten, ranked No. 1

Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Humboldt's Christian Ramirez passes the ball against Fort Dodge earlier this season.

Extending a win streak to 12 was something the Humboldt boys soccer team had been striving for all season long.

The top-ranked (Class 2A) Wildcats have done that and then some.

It’s been a banner year for Humboldt boys athletics with the football squad reaching the Class 3A state semifinals and the basketball team advancing to the 3A state quarterfinals.

All three programs had one thing in common in 2021-22: they won their first 11 games to start the season. Soccer wanted to go above and beyond.

Now with 15 consecutive victories, the Wildcats enter the postseason with an unbeaten record.

“We have a mix of guys who love soccer and are devoted to the sport,” said HHS head coach Joe Hader. “We also have a lot of multi-sport athletes from both the football and basketball programs.

“Both of those teams made it to 11-0 and we wanted to go further than that.”

The Wildcats saw progression over the last four years. Humboldt was 9-10 in the 2018-19 season. There was no season because of COVID-19 the following spring.

Last year, Humboldt was 15-3.

“This team works well together,” Hader said. “They have a nice chemistry and get after it. They want to win.”

Hader knew this group would be solid after last spring’s successful campaign, but he never saw a No. 1 season with a perfect record on the horizon.

“I looked at football, basketball and wrestling and they did well, so I knew there was a chance,” Hader said. “We graduated Max Mason, who set the school record for most goals (23 in his career), so we had to replace him.

“We have a pretty good freshman and sophomore class, mixed with some good upperclassmen.”

Sophomore Christian Ramirez and senior Isaiah Kahl have been two strong parts of the offense. Ramirez is chasing Mason’s goal record with 19. He has 34 goals in two years. Kahl has 13 goals on the season.

“Young guys like Carter Westre, Jayden Ramirez and Antonio Xum Vicario have been good,” Hader said. “Reyes Falcon (sophomore) has been the heart of our defense. Nolan Gustafson (sophomore) and Ramirez have been able to help the young guys.

“Kahl, Trever Beach (junior), and Jacob Heier (senior) were keys on last year’s team, and along with Gustafson, have led as upperclassmen.”

Hader has seen the pride in soccer grow in the Humboldt community. The boys have 53 wins in the past five seasons, while the girls have earned 38.

“We’ve had a great partnership with the Fort Dodge Soccer Association, which is our soccer affiliate,” Hader said. “We have some of our teams that go down to Fort Dodge and play. Everyone is trying to develop players, and it helps everyone in the area.

“We have over 200 players in our soccer system (from elementary through varsity). We have a great group of coaches, like John Christensen, who does an outstanding job with our youth. He makes soccer fun and is passionate about it.”

Humboldt will start postseason play on Monday against either Webster City or Spirit Lake on its home field.

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