Proctor Boys in Section 7a Championship Game

Wes Vork-NSO

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Oct 19

Wes Vork-NSO

PROCTOR – Having 13 seniors on your team doesn’t guarantee a win, but it does help
in not creating a panic as a tight game progresses. Despite having a couple of good scoring chances, Proctor did not score until three fourths of the way through their semi-final match against North Branch. In the end it was that stay calm demeanor which prevailed, giving the Rails a 1-0 victory and sending them back to the Section 7a title game for the first time since 2003.

After a scoreless first half, Chris Carlson showed his speed by taking a pass from Derrick Vennavold and splitting the defense for the only score of the game at the 60:29 mark in the second period.

Five minutes into the second half Proctor came close, but could not find the handle on a bouncing ball that was behind the North Branch goalie and in front of an open net. Ten minute later a Rail’s shot hit the crossbar so hard it may have knocked some of the paint loose. Still Proctor kept playing good defense and worked for the eventual game winning shot. Proctor Head Coach Jesse Smith had nothing but praise for his goalkeeper and defense. “I thought Nathan Jenkins as well as the entire defense had an outstanding game. Iziah Schramm was terrific in goal also.”

One thing Proctor had to do was play good solid team defense. Although #6 seed North Branch came in with 8 losses, Smith explained they were not taken lightly. “They are a very solid team and play in a very good conference. We knew we needed to keep #14 (Nicholas Miller) in check, he is third in the state with 31 goals. Brody Morin shadowed him and did a great job keeping him bottled up.”

I was a bit nervous before the game wondering how the kids would respond, but they did just fine.” Smith explained. “Iziah jokingly told me he had trouble brushing his teeth this morning because he was nervous, but once the game started he was phenomenal.”

What helps Smith in his first year at the varsity helm is the Rails have 13 seniors on the team, most of which have played together for many years. “It certainly isn’t about me or the coaching, these kids are the ones who put in the hard work and have played together for a long long time that is what makes the difference.

Schramm made 7 saves, picking up the shutout for Proctor while his counterpart
Jacob Borash notched
4 saves for North Branch.

In the Section 7a finals, Proctor will face Grand Rapids, a team they lost to 2-1 back in September. “They scored the winning goal on a phenomenal shot with less than a minute left in the game. We will work real hard to keep that from happening this time,” commented Smith. The game, originally scheduled to be played at Chisago Lakes will take place at 5:00pm on Thursday at Public Schools Stadium in Duluth.

Wes Vork can be reached at wes@northlandsportsonline.com