Hermantown Boys Soccer Headed To Championship Round

Wes Vork-NSO

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Nov 2

Wes Vork-NSO

MINNEAPOLIS – It took an extraordinary play from a couple of extraordinary players to advance the Hermantown Hawks to the boys soccer class A state championship game to be held Thursday afternoon.

Hermantown’s quest for victory started with a great pass from Charlie Comnick to Brandon Crusan for a goal with just 1:27 remaining on the Metro Dome clock in the Hawks semi-final game against Simley on Monday afternoon. Comnick commented on his pass after the game, telling NSO “They [Simley] play great team defense and it was tough getting through balls, we got one and I just went for it:” Crusan cradled in a perfectly placed pass from Comnick and then zigzagged his way toward the Simley net. There he let loose a shot that beat Simley’s diving goalie, Andrew Nelson, to give the Hawks a 2-1 lead and an invitation to play in the finals.

Up until that point, Simley had done a good job of not allowing Crusan to get free in the offensive zone. But big players capitalize on big opportunities and the star forward did his job to send the Hawks into the championship round.

Hermantown had taken a 1-0 lead in the first half in the 16th minute when Kevin Danielson picked up a rebound on a corner kick and rifled a shot in the upper portion of the goal. However, Simley tied the game right before halftime on a nifty play by Oja Ena to make it 1-1.

Overall Hermantown’s strong defensive play that allowed eight shots on goalie Andrew Samberg, who finished with seven saves, also assisted the Hawks’ cause.

Furthermore, Samberg displayed magnificent skill in stopping a variety of tough shots. Yet, none were more difficult than a pair of shots right on top of him in the first half that kept the game even instead of putting the Hawks in a hole heading going into the intermission break.

Hermantown will now face Mahtomedi, who defeated #1 seed Totino-Grace in a shootout in the other semifinal game. The championship game will take place at the Metrodome at 12:30 on Thursday.

The Hawks are now 22-1 on the season with their lone loss coming from Duluth Marshall.

Wes Vork can be reached at wes@northlandsportsonline.com