The Hastings Raiders girls soccer team spent the past week putting on a scoring clinic, collecting back-to-back wins that pushed them into the Section 3AA championship. Between a ten-goal outburst against Twin Cities Academy on Wednesday and a shutout semifinal win over St. Paul Highland Park on Saturday, Hastings showed both its offensive firepower and defensive discipline at just the right time of year.
On Wednesday, October 8, the Raiders opened the postseason floodgates in a 10–2 rout of Twin Cities Academy. From the opening whistle, Hastings dictated pace and possession, peppering the net with 20 shots and turning nearly half into goals. Senior forward Siena Sanchez led the way with a hat trick, opening the scoring with a penalty kick just eight minutes in and adding two more before halftime. Her confidence from the spot and in open play set the tone for a team that has found a rhythm across all lines.
Midfielder Ellie Levine joined in on the fun, striking three times of her own, two of them assisted by #18 Magnus, whose steady playmaking helped the Raiders keep control through the midfield. Olivya Erickson, Jersey Appert, Ruby Bauer, and Olivia Levine each added goals to round out the scoring, the latter converting a penalty to cap the dominant performance. Hastings’ 10 goals came from six different players, a sign of depth that head coach Paul Armstrong emphasized at the half.
“When you go up eight-two, you tell the girls to keep the foot on the gas and don’t let them back in it,” Armstrong said. “We stopped playing for a little bit, they got two and made it interesting, and then we had to go again. So just keep going, playing the way we can.”
Armstrong made liberal use of his bench in the second half, getting younger players crucial minutes while resting key starters ahead of the semifinal.
“We’re a very deep team,” he said. “Everyone deserves time, so it’s great to give them time when we can. We sub regularly, and yeah, we’re very deep.”
Goalkeeper Grace Knoll faced only five shots in the contest, turning away three and helping the Raiders maintain shape even as the lineup rotated heavily. The lopsided win secured Hastings a spot in the Section 3AA semifinals, setting up a showdown with St. Paul Highland Park on Saturday, October 11.
If the quarterfinal was about scoring, the semifinal was about control. Under a clear, warm October sky, Hastings clamped down defensively and never allowed Highland Park a single shot in a 3–0 shutout. The Raiders again jumped ahead early, with Brynn Kelly opening the scoring just seven minutes in off a corner kick. Sanchez followed with two goals of her own, including one assisted by Kelly, who continues to emerge as a key two-way contributor.
Hastings recorded 20 shots while goalkeeper Knoll didn’t have to make a save, thanks to a back line that absorbed pressure and cleared danger before it could develop. On the other end, Highland Park keeper Ingrid Birkeland did her best to keep the game close, stopping 17 shots in a busy afternoon.
Armstrong said earlier in the week that these late-round games double as training sessions for what’s next.
“We have to prepare for not just this game, but future games, and use it as a good training session,” he explained. The Raiders did exactly that, turning two postseason matches into a showcase of teamwork and endurance.
The wins improved Hastings’ postseason record to 2–0, with a combined scoreline of 13–2. More importantly, they earned a trip to the Section 3AA championship, where the Raiders will face Academy of Holy Angels on Tuesday, October 14, at 4:30 p.m. The stakes are clear: one more win secures a place in the state tournament, something the Raiders have had their eyes on all season.
If the past week is any indication, Hastings is peaking at the perfect time. Balanced scoring, steady defense, and the kind of roster depth that keeps legs fresh and energy high have the Raiders looking ready for whatever comes next.