It has been quite the 2024 season for the Hermantown Boys Soccer Team, which currently boasts a 7-2-2 record on the year heading into a showdown against Grand Rapids tonight at 7 p.m. at Centricity Credit Union Stadium - Corey Veech Field. The contest is just the fourth home game for Hermantown, who closes out its regular-season slate with four of its last five games on its home turf.
"It always helps to have fan support at games and the players certainly thrive off of that," head coach David Thompson said. "We have a winning record currently and are in second place in our conference standings - one game behind Cloquet-Esko-Carlton. That said, our most difficult games of the season lie ahead of us. Grand Rapids is the arguable favorite in our section. We also play at Superior after tying them earlier at home. Then we play at home against C-E-C, Duluth East, a top AAA team in the state, and Denfeld, who we also tied earlier this year. Our team's success will be strongly challenged and tested in these next five games and will determine where we sit going into the playoffs. It will be very competitive and I believe we are up to the task."
Over the Hawks' last three games, they have outscored their opponents 10-2 with back-to-back shutouts versus Proctor (6-0) at Superior High School on September 14 and at Marshall (1-0) on September 16, before knocking off the Thunderhawks on the road Thursday, 3-2.
Including the two shutouts last week, Hermantown has tallied five total shutouts on the year and has not allowed more than four goals in a single game during the season. Along with a strong defense, the Hawks have also relied on the solid play of their young goalkeeper Ethan Aysta.
"I don't like to single out individuals, since our team concept is very solid," Thompson said. "We are very strong back to front, but I am going to give much-earned praise to our sophomore goalkeeper, Ethan Aysta. He did not play in a single Varsity game last year and had to grow quickly into a resilient athlete, as well as a vocal leader in the back of our defense. For a young player, he has impressed me very much."
Aysta has had offensive support to calm his nerves, as Hermantown has outscored its opponents 33-13 over the course of the season. Owen Landrigan paces the Hawks' offense with 11 goals, while Hunter Nelson and Cole Palokangas have five and four goals, respectively. Six additional players have scored at least one goal for Hermantown, proving the depth of Thompson's squad and the reason for its success.
"I think a primary factor in our success is the character and work ethic of the team, as well as their trust in each other," Thompson said. "This, of course, helps build team chemistry and winning always contributes to a more positive experience for everyone. But, this team's priorities are about doing their job, supporting each other and having a lot of fun together. Outside of practice and the soccer environment, these young men are good students and contribute positively to our school environment."
Fans are encouraged to support the boys soccer team as it closes out its regular-season schedule with four of its last five games at home.
Monday, Sept. 23 vs. Grand Rapids - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 26 @ Superior - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 28 vs. Cloquet-Esko-Carlton - 1:00 p.m. (Senior Night)
Wednesday, Oct. 2 vs. Duluth East - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 3 vs. Duluth Denfeld - 6:30 p.m. (Youth Night)