The Hastings Raiders boys soccer team turned in a tale of two matches this week, falling just short in a 4-3 loss to Two Rivers on September 9, then roaring back with a commanding 5-0 win over South St. Paul two days later.
The loss to Two Rivers was a tough one, not for lack of effort but for a brief lapse that proved costly. Head coach Jamie Swanson pointed to a critical stretch early in the second half when the team’s intensity dropped. “Outside of about the first seven or eight minutes of the second half, we played a great match,” Swanson said. “It was a few minutes of the match we just decided to not come out with the intensity and the fury that we were kind of preaching at halftime.”
In those minutes, Two Rivers capitalized on missed marks and shaky defensive positioning, slipping past Hastings defenders and burying goals that made the difference. Despite that, Swanson felt the match was evenly played and that his squad “probably deserved a little bit more than a 4-3 loss.”
What did go well for Hastings was the attack. Once in the final third, the Raiders moved with purpose and precision. Their runs were sharp, and the goals, Swanson said, showed the kind of intent they’ve been training for. Junior forward Caden Pollack led the scoring with two of the team’s three goals, including the final strike with just under a minute remaining. That late push nearly turned the tide, as the Raiders had Two Rivers pinned back and scrambling in the final moments. Swanson believed that with just five more minutes, the outcome might have looked very different.
Two days later, the Raiders got their rebound. Hastings throttled South St. Paul in a 5-0 shutout that saw the team clicking on both ends of the field. The defense held firm throughout, erasing any memory of the breakdowns from earlier in the week. Offensively, the same aggressive runs and attacking vision paid off, with five goals on the board and plenty of energy from the bench.
The week’s results underscored what this team is capable of when locked in. Even in the loss, there was belief and urgency. In the win, there was control and confidence. With fitness still building and a few players managing injuries, the Raiders are being tested early. But the pieces are there. When the pressure is high and the runs are right, this team looks ready to compete.
The next chance to see the boys in action is September, 18 at North St. Paul at 5:00 p.m. then at River Falls High School on September 20 at 1:00 p.m. before they return home on September 23 to host Simley at 7:00 p.m.