LSC boys' soccer enters crunch time

As of Thursday, Proctor, Duluth Denfeld and Duluth Marshall each had only one loss in Lake Superior Conference boys soccer action. The teams will bring clarity to the blurred conference picture when Proctor faces off against both Duluth schools in the next two weeks.

Things became particularly interesting in the conference Saturday, Sept.18, when Marshall handed Denfeld its first conference loss. The upstart Hilltoppers had done the same to Proctor just two days prior.

Marshall, however, dropped an early season game to Denfeld 3-0 en route to their current 5-1-0 conference standing.

The Hunters tied the Rails, 1-1, in the teams' only meeting thus far and stand at 4-1-1. Proctor has earned the most points in Lake Superior mathcups through Sept. 23 and is 5-1-1.

The Proctor/Denfeld contest is Thursday and the Proctor/Marshall game is Oct. 5.

Proctor (5-1-1)

Rails head coach Glen Sorenson said Wednesday a person would have to pick the Hunters or the Hilltoppers to emerge as conference champions.

"We're young. We're the least experienced," Sorenson said. "But we've been playing quite well with our personnel."

The Rails are in the hunt despite losing 14 seniors to graduation.

Proctor finished second in the conference the last two seasons to Denfeld, but made it through sections in 2002 on their way to a third place finish at state.

Senior mid-fielder Tim Clark is the one key contributor remaining from that squad. Clark has three goals and four assists this season, but Sorenson said his playmaking is his greatest asset.

"He keeps our team together," Sorenson said.

Dallas Marnich and Tyler Houghton are among the conference leaders in points. Marnich has seven goals and three assists, while Houghton has added six goals and one assist.

Sorenson also singled out the play of senior Alex Mickelson in goal and senior Gary Kmecik. He said they've been stingy on allowing goals and are hard to break in their end.

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Denfeld (4-1-1)

Odds are on the side of the Sorenson family to emerge as conference champions. Glen's son Tony is the keeper for the Hunters and is the main reason they are in the fight for a Lake Superior three-peat.

The senior has allowed only seven goals in 10 games and has 119 saves.

Perhaps most impressive is that Sorenson is in goal for the first time at Denfeld and is trying to fill the void of departed all-state keeper Alex Owens.

"He knew his time was coming and he prepared for it," said Hunter head coach Scott Anderson. "He stepped right in."

Sorenson said he prepared for "his time" by playing goalie the last three summers in a league.

His nerves will be well tested for the playoffs. Denfeld has had five games extend to double overtime, going 2-0-3 in those contests.

Anderson and Sorenson both said the team would be fine if the offense starts contributing more. "We've had trouble scoring this year," Sorenson said. "We have the individual talent; we just need to play as a team."

Blake Conboy is leading the offense with four goals and three assists.

Junior Kyle Swetkovich, an all-state honorable mention last season, has only two goals.

Marshall (5-1-0)

The Hilltoppers are led by a first-year coach and start three freshmen, but are keeping pace with two proven conference powers.

Coach Mike Sengbush's only varsity experience had been as Esko-Carlton's girls coach in 2000, but he has his squad on the verge of a championship.

Doug Frey, Jesse Geary and Blake Erickson start as freshmen and Jack Connolly as a sophomore.

"Marshall's always been competitive," said Proctor coach Glen Sorenson. "Now they're a team to be reckoned with."

Sorenson said the Hilltopper's young players are "bonafide, good players."

"Despite their youthfulness they are all technically strong soccer players," Sengbush said.

Sengbush said Connolly and senior Eric Goldschmidt are a "strong attacking duo" on offense and junior Zach Schneider provides solid goalkeeping.

Despite their youth, Sengbush said his players are a resilient bunch. "Our guys have been behind in a couple matches and could have thrown the towel, but they have shown the fortitude to keep plugging away."