North St. Paul's Ata Claremond is Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year in boys' soccer

North St. Paul junior forward Ata Claremond can score from anywhere. Whether he beats everyone going coast to coast with the ball as his coach Casey Holm said he is known to do, or secures a cross pass and outmuscles defenders before scoring.

Claremond knows how to net goals, and it is Holm who often is faced with the task of trying to reel in his scoring machine in fear of running up scores.

"If I just let him go," Holm said, "He would pretty much shatter the state record for goals in a season."

Claremond also tends to cramp up late in games if Holm doesn't manage his minutes. Between keeping the junior sensation healthy and avoiding backlash from opposing teams, Holm has his hands full most nights.

Despite only playing four complete games this season, Claremond scored 38 goals, including a goal in 14 consecutive games. In addition to his 16 assists, he helped the Polars to a 16-3 record.

His knack for the net and overall playmaking earned him Star Tribune boys' soccer Metro Player of the Year.

Of the award, Claremond said he could not succeed without the support of his teammates and Holm's guidance on and off the field.

Since then, he has been determined to get the Polars back to the state tournament.

"That is my dream," Claremond said. "To play in the state tournament and win a championship. We all want to win it."

The past two seasons, Claremond almost achieved his dream, but back-to-back section final losses have kept him and the Polars out of state. Thursday they lost 2-1 to undefeated Stillwater, the top-ranked team in Class 2A.

Claremond gets one more shot next fall at holding a state championship trophy. He said he is going to keep working on a part of his game that is already considered elite.

Because in his mind, 38 goals wasn't enough.