The Hastings Raiders boys soccer team closed its 2026 season with a 4-0 loss to Eastview in the Class AAA, Section 3 quarterfinals on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The Raiders entered the tournament as the No. 8 seed and traveled to face top-seeded Eastview, a team that had also defeated Hastings in the season opener.
Eastview took a 3-0 lead into halftime and added another goal in the second half to secure the victory. The loss ended Hastings' season with a 5-12 overall record.
Under head coach Jamie Swanson, the Raiders finished 3-5 in Metro East Conference play, placing seventh among nine teams. Although the final record reflected a challenging season, Hastings put together several memorable victories, including a dramatic comeback against Chanhassen and a pair of conference shutouts.
The Raiders opened the season with four consecutive losses before breaking through on Sept. 10 with a 1-0 road victory over Tartan. Goalkeeper Michael Wenisch made several important saves to keep the Titans off the scoreboard, while Parker Gieb scored the winning goal late in the second half on a free kick started by Cole Harder.
Swanson praised his team's defensive effort following the win, particularly its ability to pressure opposing players, provide defensive support and stay engaged in marking assignments.
Two days later, Hastings delivered its highest-scoring performance of the season with a 9-0 victory at Mankato Loyola. The win gave the Raiders consecutive victories heading into the heart of their conference schedule.
After a 3-0 loss to Two Rivers on Sept. 15, Hastings returned to the win column with a 4-3 road victory over South St. Paul on Sept. 17.
The Raiders followed that with perhaps their most exciting match of the season, a 3-2 comeback victory over Chanhassen on Sept. 19.
Hastings trailed 2-0 in the second half before Cayden Pollex scored in the 59th minute to cut the deficit in half. Gieb tied the match in the 65th minute, then scored again in the 79th minute to complete the comeback and give Hastings the victory.
Both teams finished with 11 shots on goal, but the Raiders made their late opportunities count. The win marked Hastings' fourth victory in a five-match stretch, the team's most successful run of the season.
The Raiders also showed their scoring ability during a 5-3 loss to North St. Paul on Sept. 24. Noah Bernard scored in the 31st minute, while Pollex added goals in the 36th and 65th minutes.
Hastings earned its fifth and final victory on Sept. 29, traveling to Simley and returning home with a 2-0 shutout. The win was the Raiders' third shutout of the season, joining the victories over Tartan and Mankato Loyola.
The final stretch of the regular season proved difficult. Hastings dropped a 2-1 decision to St. Thomas Academy on Oct. 1, fell 8-1 at Park of Cottage Grove on Oct. 3 and lost another close 2-1 match at Mahtomedi on Oct. 8.
Those results left Hastings at 5-11 entering section competition.
The section tournament brought the Raiders back to Eastview, where their season had begun with a 4-0 defeat on Aug. 27. The rematch ended with the same score, bringing the 2026 campaign to a close.
Despite the losses, the Raiders finished the season with five victories, three shutouts and a four-wins-in-five-matches stretch in September. The comeback against Chanhassen, the nine-goal performance at Mankato Loyola and the conference shutouts provided highlights for a team that battled through a demanding schedule.
With the section quarterfinal loss, the Hastings boys soccer season is complete, with no remaining varsity matches scheduled for 2026.