Even if Max Fleischer didn’t see it at first, his parents and those around him did.

Growing up playing rec soccer on the fields in and around Glen Ridge, the prevailing sentiment was give it enough time and Fleischer would turn into quite the player.

Well, those who bought stock early have been paid major dividends as Fleischer stuck with the sport and has turned into a star at Glen Ridge and continued to raise his game in big moments, scoring two of Glen Ridge’s three goals in the first half to give the Ridgers a 5-0 win in the North, Group 1 semifinal over Waldwick.

The Glen Ridge win sends the Ridgers to the state final for the first time since 2019 and avenges two Group 1 semifinal losses to Waldwick in 2022 and again last year in 2024.

“Going into this game, we wanted revenge, and

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