Hazen boys soccer continues unbeaten run

The Hazen Highlander boys soccer team is off to its best start since 2022 in which they started 5-0 and ended up in the quarterfinals of the state tournament.

This year’s Highlanders team is now 6-0-1 after downing a 2024 state tournament team in the Foster Bulldogs, 2-0, on April 1.

Even with a hot start, Hazen has been bitten by the injury bug to start the year, according to Manager Ryan Johnson.

“We have just been trying to get through it. Guys are showing up and stepping up and we were able to get a win against a scrappy Foster team,” Johnson said.

Hazen is no April Fool’s squad. The team is led by Vitaly Polyukh, one of the tallest and most physical players on the pitch.

“It’s a very good way to start this season. I feel like we need to keep going with this run (of play) and keep our momentum going to state finals,” Polyukh said.

He made his presence felt almost immediately after the referee blew his whistle to start the game.

Hazen had a corner kick taken by Kai Hirano — a beautiful ball that was directed into the back of the net by Polyukh in the fourth minute of the game. His celebration wasn’t anything special, and it seemed more like a day at training rather than a game.

“The goal just gave us more comfortability on the ball and helped to stay more calm throughout the game. It gave us more energy and adrenaline throughout the whole game since we had an early lead,” Polyukh said.

That confidence and poise comes from the culture of this Hazen side. The roster, which consists of 17 juniors and seniors, has been through the thick and thins of Hazen soccer.

“The team feels really close. Since freshman year, we have been friends, but not all us us played very much. But this year all of us are playing and all of us hang out after school and keep hanging out on the weekends. It feels like family,” Polyukh said.

They’ve been one game short of the state tournament, and they have just missed the KingCo tournament.

“We are a very veteran group and we want to make sure we give them opportunities. We are trying to get better every week so we can make a run in the playoffs,” Johnson said.

Now they are sitting atop the KingCo Mountain Division table with their eyes on the prize.

“I feel like we have a chance of winning state because of this momentum. … Once our injured players come back, I feel like we will be even stronger,” Polyukh said.

The second goal came at the end of the first half after Polyukh drew a foul near the corner. Polyukh took the free kick quickly and found one of the only underclassmen, Stephen Cruz, at the top of the 18-yard box, who slotted a perfect shot to beat the Foster keeper.

The second half was just a hodgepodge of loose chances from both sides, and Hazen had the majority of chances. But the game got extremely physical as the yellow card made its way out of the referee’s pocket.

“They have always been a scrappy team ever since I have been coaching years ago. They always play with a lot of heart and stuff. It was a physical game, but we got through it,” Johnson said.

So far this season, Hazen has allowed just two goals all season and have kept five clean sheets. A big part of that has been the goalkeeping from Owen Pruitt, but also the back three of Jayden Pham, Giovanny Rodriguez and Niko Uzelac — all seniors and all great defenders who play with a determined personality.

“They have played together since they were freshmen, so they have a lot of experience. They work hard together as a unit,” Johnson said.

Hazen’s big test will be against Bellevue on April 8 at Renton Memorial Stadium. The two sides are destined to be on a collision course for the Mountain Division leaders and get their first shot at one another in just under a week’s time.