Haffner's improved play leads Mason soccer

Mason High School’s girls soccer team did something this season it hadn’t done in nearly 10 years — win a district championship.

Some of it had to do with the improved play of junior center midfielder Haley Haffner.

“She’s just matured a lot in the last six to eight games,” Mason coach Andy Schur said. “She’s incredibly gifted on the ball. She’s one of our better technical players on our team, and she’s a great passer with great field vision.”

Haffner verbally committed to Western Kentucky University last month, and had registered two goals and seven assists through the district final game.

What is your role on the team? “My role is to distribute the ball and get it to the forwards so we can score. I’m the engine of the team. I get the ball to who we need to get it to and I win everything in the air.”

Do you enjoy playing the position? “I love it. It’s my favorite position. I get to play both offense and defense.”

Why did you commit to Western Kentucky? “I love the coaches. The school is amazing and not too big. It fit me really well. It’s somewhere I can go in and make an impact and be able to play my first year.”

What other schools did you consider? “Ball State, Central Michigan, Dayton and OU.”

Why did you make the decision early? “It definitely made me nervous to make the decision early. But people would say to me, ‘You’ll know where you want to go.’ I knew it would be the right fit for me.”

What can you provide for the WKU program? “I can definitely help them. I work hard and do whatever it takes to be able to play and get my time.”

What do you do in your spare time? “I played basketball until my sophomore year, but I got too busy with soccer and traveling. I love playing basketball still for fun. I hang out with my friends and my family. I’m the oldest of five kids. I like to spend time with them.”

What’s it like being the oldest of five? “I definitely feel like I need to set an example for them. It’s pressuring, but I like it.”