Howie
Hermantown boys soccer faces immediate test as Hawks open with four games in eight days
Howie
Note: Howie's daily column is powered by
Lyric Kitchen & Bar.
Hermantown will not have the luxury of easing into the 2026 boys soccer season. The Hawks open Thursday at home against Holy Family, travel to Mesabi East the following day and face defending Section 7A champion Duluth Marshall before the first week of September is over.
By the time they visit Proctor on Sept. 3, they will have played four games in eight days and gained an early understanding of whether their experience, speed and leadership can carry them beyond last season’s section semifinal exit.
The opening stretch begins at 6 p.m. Thursday against Holy Family, followed by a 5 p.m. road game Friday against Mesabi East. Duluth Marshall visits Sept. 1 at 6:30 p.m., bringing an immediate rematch against the team that ended Hermantown’s previous season with a 4-2 victory in the Section 7A semifinals. Two days later, the Hawks travel to Proctor for another important regional matchup.
Coach David Thompson believes his team has the personnel to handle the demanding start, beginning with three captains positioned to influence the game across the entire field: Kestan Bradley in the defensive midfield, Quinn Raukar in the attack and Ethan Aysta in goal.
“First week went well,” Thompson said. “I’ve got exceptional leadership with my three captains, Kestan Bradley, Quinn Raukar, and .”
That leadership will matter because Hermantown enters the season with both established production and significant holes to fill. The Hawks finished 9-5-4 last season, including 7-1-3 in the Lake Superior Conference, before Duluth Marshall eliminated them on its way to the section championship.
Graduation removed Hunter Nelson, who produced 14 goals and 13 assists, along with defender Quinn Andrews, Brennan Malmstrom and other experienced seniors. Nelson’s departure leaves a particularly large opening in the attack, but Hermantown returns a proven scorer capable of keeping pressure on opposing defenses.
Raukar matched Nelson’s 14 goals last season and added five assists. Thompson expects his speed to become an even greater factor this fall, particularly after Raukar and Bradley spent the spring competing in track.
“Kestan will anchor the top of our defense as a center defensive midfielder,” Thompson said. “He and Quinn spent last spring breaking Hermantown track records in short field events which means Quinn will be dangerous up top as our most lethal scorer in his attacker position.”
Raukar’s ability to stretch the field should become particularly important during the opening games, when opponents are likely to test how Hermantown intends to replace Nelson’s scoring and playmaking. Holy Family will provide the first look Thursday, while the quick turnaround against Mesabi East should reveal how well the Hawks manage their depth and maintain their pace on consecutive days.
The Duluth Marshall game carries the most obvious early significance. Hermantown will not need to wait until late in the season for another look at the program responsible for its playoff exit, and a strong performance against the defending section champion would provide an immediate measure of where the Hawks stand.
At the other end of the field, Aysta gives Hermantown one of its most reliable returning pieces. The senior goalkeeper made 151 saves in 18 appearances last season and posted an .839 save percentage, numbers that reflect both his experience and the demands he faced against a competitive schedule.
“Ethan has proven he is an elite goalkeeper and I predict he will be an All-State recipient come October,” Thompson said.
Aysta’s presence should provide stability while the Hawks adjust to personnel changes around him. Bradley’s defensive midfield role also gives Hermantown an experienced player responsible for disrupting opponents before they reach the back line, an assignment that becomes especially important against skilled attacking teams such as Duluth Marshall.
Junior Parker Clennon could emerge as another central figure. Clennon contributed two goals and four assists last season, but Thompson believes those numbers only begin to reflect his potential.
“Parker is likely our most dangerous offensive player,” Thompson said. “He has ability and vision placing him into the top midfielders in the state.”
Clennon’s development could help determine how effectively Hermantown replaces Nelson’s 13 assists. His ability to connect the midfield with Raukar and the rest of the attack gives the Hawks another potential source of offense, while also making them less dependent on any single scorer.
Jack Johnson, who recorded five assists last season, adds another experienced playmaker. Eyan Winkelman, Liam Sundell, Keegan Bradley, Owen Dennee and Emmett McDonald also return, giving Thompson additional options throughout a lineup that must balance established talent with the need to replace graduating seniors.
“Our entire roster is balanced and we just need to enjoy watching them play,” Thompson said.
The schedule will continue to demand consistency after the opening stretch. Hermantown hosts Hibbing on Sept. 8, travels to Cloquet on Sept. 10 and visits Duluth Denfeld on Sept. 15 before welcoming Proctor for a rematch Sept. 17. A Sept. 19 trip to Superior precedes another meeting with Duluth Marshall, this time on the Hilltoppers’ field Sept. 21.
A road game at Bemidji on Sept. 26 leads into a Sept. 28 home matchup against Grand Rapids. The Hawks close the regular season with Cloquet on Oct. 3, Duluth East on Oct. 7 and Duluth Denfeld on Oct. 8.
Hermantown cannot replace Nelson’s production with a single player, and Thompson’s team still must prove it can turn last season’s experience into a deeper postseason run. But Raukar provides an established scoring threat, Clennon offers another dangerous presence in the midfield, Bradley strengthens the defensive structure and Aysta gives the Hawks a goalkeeper capable of keeping them competitive against anyone on the schedule.
The first opportunity arrives Thursday night. By the following week, Hermantown should know considerably more about the team it has and the season it might be capable of producing.