THREE DAYS AFTER A 3-2 (PK) comeback win over the De Smet Spartans, MHS boys’ soccer found themselves in the Class 4 District 5 championship against Christian Brothers College for the third year in a row.

The road to the championship wasn’t an easy one. After finding themselves in a 2-0 deficit early in the second half against the De Smet Spartans on Tuesday, Oct. 28, MHS showed resilience and scored two fast goals to tie the game at 2-2.

After two scoreless overtimes, the Mustangs were forced into a penalty shootout. Stopping two CBC penalties, Nick Bertich, senior goalie, sent his team to the District Championship against the CBC Cadets.
REWRITING HISTORY
This district rematch has proved to side with the Cadets in recent history. The past two years, the Cadets have defeated the Mustangs in two tightly contended games.

Chris Kenny, varsity head coach, says that his team knew going in that the championship was going to be a close game.

“They’re going to be a hard team to play against, no doubt about that.” Coach Kenny said. “I think the biggest thing is confidence. The fact that we can play with anybody, I think, means a lot.”

MHS fans were still piling into fan sections, as the clock began to count down from 40:00.

A strong defensive effort displayed by both sides early on kept the game scoreless after the first half of play.

Dylan Valentine, senior defenseman, says his defensive unit had to stay on same page through all 80 minutes of Thursday night’s game.

“We went a little more offensive towards the end for a bit, but then we got the goal, so we went back to a defensive mindset,” Valentine said. “We knew that as long as we stayed together, mentally, we could compete with CBC.”

MHS marched down the field in the 60th minute, to earn a corner kick to be taken by Emrah Muratovic.
After a well-placed ball entered the Cadet box, Matt Wagoner, senior, slotted the uncleared ball into the back of the net in the 63rd minute.

“This is our house!” The MHS fans chanted as the team celebrated on the sidelines. The goal lifted MHS to a 1-0 lead midway through the second half.

The next 17-minutes consisted of a strong defensive effort made by Wagoner and his defense.

STORM THE PITCH

As the game clock neared double zeros, anxious MHS fans lined up at the fence ready to storm the field.

When time expired, players, fans and coaches alike roared in celebration over the historic victory.

MHS student Jono Lazaroff, senior, charged the field, along with the rest of the student section. towards his team celebrating at midfield

“That was the single greatest sporting event I’ve witnessed throughout my four years here,” Lazaroff said.

A three year District Championship drought caused by CBC now ended with a victory that will be remembered by all in attendance.

“It feels great, it feels great,” Wagoner said. “I’m telling you, it feels good to finally beat them.”

“Going from an own goal to scoring the game winner of a district final,” Wagoner said, “It’s pretty surreal.”

“NOT THIS YEAR”

Jacob Krupp, senior forward, walked into Thursday’s game with an extra chip on his shoulder.

His team had lost to CBC the past two years.

The Brothers had stopped the Mustangs’ playoff run on a dime two years in a row.

Krupp and his senior teammates weren’t about to let the three-peat happen.
Before the match, he and teammates Andy Hoover and Joel Perkins wore white t-shirts under their navy blue jerseys that read the simple phrase, “Not This Year.”

“They knocked us out the past two years and we were harsh about it,” Krupp said. “We put it under our jerseys because we were confident we were going to win.”