1A boys' soccer: Mahtomedi 3, Hermantown 0

By MICHAEL RAND, Star Tribune

Last update: November 6, 2009 - 12:55 AM

Mahtomedi started its boys' soccer program in 1982. Since then, the Zephyrs have had only one head coach. Until Thursday, they also had no state championships -- a fact that changed with a 3-0 victory over Hermantown.

Coach Paul Beggin was asked if this was a long time coming. He smiled.

"You could say that," he said.

But the answer was multi-faceted. It wasn't just for him, but also for the team's 14 seniors. They were freshmen during Mahtomedi's last state appearance in 2006.

"They set this goal way back in middle school," Beggin said. "The older guys [in 2006] said, 'We're going to show you what it takes.'"

Of course, the unseeded Zephyrs had some help from a new addition Thursday. Bernardo Medellin, a senior who played football each of the past three seasons, decided to come out for soccer this year. His goal off a 25-yard free kick -- Mahtomedi's second goal in a 1:07 span of the first half -- gave the Zephyrs a commanding 2-0 lead 15 minutes in.

From there, Mahtomedi continued to use its quickness. Third-seeded Hermantown had limited chances and was outshot 20-2. The only downer was a collision with 4:08 left in regulation. Mahtomedi senior goalkeeper James Neher, who didn't allow a goal in the entire tournament, landed awkwardly on his shoulder and neck after colliding with a Hermantown player and was taken away in an ambulance as a precautionary measure. Beggin said Neher is expected to be fine.

"It really hurt to see him go down," said Medellin, who is good friends with Neher and was carrying his gloves after the match. "But we said we had to finish it off for him."

Mahtomedi did that in style.

"This team has added something each game throughout the season," Beggin said. "It's just been a lot of fun watching them improve."

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