JOURNAL Sports

By Bruce Karnick [email protected]

The seasons progressed for both the boys and girls soccer team along the same trajectory for most of the year. Both teams having very talented players that simply never fully gelled as a team. Both teams unable to overcome injuries at key times during the season. Both teams left searching for answers to the question of “what next?”

The boys graduate 15 seniors, the girls 11, each team losing nearly 75 percent of their Varsity roster. Something that should have been a strength for them this year and in many ways, it was. Neither of the teams quit on the season or each other. In fact, they became closer to one another as the season progressed, better teammates, friends, and better family. Family was a word they used to describe their group, ‘we’re not just friends or teammates, we are family’ was the basis of the season. When one member was down, the others lifted them up.

The most impressive thing for each team, when something went wrong, there were not signs of finger pointing, it was ‘we need to improve here, or we need to work on this’ collectively. Unfortunately for the Raiders, it was a down year for both squads, both earning the eight seed for sections.

The boys travelled to Apple Valley to take on the Eagles Tuesday afternoon for a 4:30 start. By 4:45, Apple Valley had taken the lead 1-0 and did not look back. By the half, it was 3-0 but Hastings felt they were still in the game, like they still had a chance. The boys didn’t quit, one offensive rush turned into four and suddenly Hastings had shots on goal. They were not clean shots though, and Apple Valley’s speed and quick/crisp ball handling skills gave the Eagles a big edge and two more goals before the Raiders season was over.

With the final 5-0 Apple Valley, a distraught Raiders team gathered for one last time on the sidelines of the soccer pitch. They were the last to leave the Apple Valley field. The captains spoke about supporting the younger players as they fill in the ranks behind next years juniors and seniors and hoping they will have better successes than the out going senior group did. There were some very heartfelt messages that will remain on that field, just know they were kind messages of respect even in the frustration of knowing they should have done better this season.

According to the MN Soccer Hub, the boys finished the season 3-12-1 overall which is a .231 winning percentage. They scored 22 goals allowing 76. Their conference record had them finish sixth overall with a record of 2-5-1 ahead of Tartan, South St. Paul and Simley.

The girls travelled to Rosemount to take on one of the toughest teams in the state. The Irish have eight Division I commits on their starting roster. Heading into this contest would have been a tall task for the Raiders if they were 100% healthy, but for Hastings, it was made much more difficult by the fact that they were missing some key players. Not only were they missing their starting goalkeeper Ava Doffing, they were also missing backup Lexi Qualy and the JV keeper that would have been pulled up to start with the injuries to both varsity keepers. Missing three experienced keepers against any team can make for a long day, so the Rosemount game was set up to be interesting.

Lauren Hubbart stepped up for the starting keeper role and she did remarkably well against the Irish attack. Of the three goals Hubbart allowed in the first half, the first one was clearly nerves and a lack of playing time in the position. The second goal was a beautiful shot by the Irish player that was going in on even the most seasoned keeper, the third goal was one that could have gone either way, it was a well-placed shot and Hubbart did get a hand on it, it just made it past her. She was impressive in goal for Hastings and kept the Raiders within striking distance the entire first half.

At the half, Hubbart tagged out with Jaylen Hanson on the keeper spot, as she walked past, she said with a smile, “I’m not finishing my final game of my career out of position.”

Hanson took over and played admirably as well. Again, as difficult as the keeper position is to play in general, it is even more difficult to come into the goal mid game, even as a seasoned keeper. To come into a section game against one of the top teams in the state, at half, down 3-0 has got to be extremely stressful and Hanson did so willingly. That sacrifice alone deserves player of the game status, so hat’s off to Jaylen Hanson.

Unfortunately for Hanson, the Irish could smell the proverbial blood in the water and their relentless attacks put five into the mesh behind her. Both replacement keepers played so hard for their family. They played aggressive and smart, the sacrificed their bodies dive after dive, but the Irish onslaught was simply too much for Hastings to overcome.

It is never easy to see kids’ seasons come to an end, the raw emotion of the seniors knowing their Raider career is over, the rest of the team knowing they won’t see their mentors with them on the same field again and the door closing. Especially the door closing 8-0. The girls never gave up, they fought to the final horn of their season, and you hate to see it end for these great kids.

The girls finished the season 3-12-2, a .214 winning percentage. They scored 23 goals allowing 53 against. Their conference record had them finish fifth overall with a record of 2-3-2 ahead of South St. Paul, Tartan and North St. Paul.

I know I break the rules at the end of each team’s season, the closing story of their teams’ chapters, and I plan on continuing that tradition. There are so many of the boys and girls players that have made this season another fun season to be a small part of even though the records and the outcomes are not what were hoped for. I can’t name them all because I will miss many more names than I will write, but to each and every one of you players, a heartfelt thank you for the interactions we have on the sidelines of your games and in the stands of others. The conversations around town and the official recorded interviews after tough games. I mean it when I say the students of HHS are the best part of my job and I wish you all nothing but the best.