Double OT loss ends Humboldt High's dreams of soccer perfection

Last update: October 1, 2007 - 9:30 PM

The magical year for the St. Paul Humboldt High School boys' soccer team may not be over. But its undefeated season ended Monday.

St. Paul Central defeated Humboldt 2-1 in double overtime, scoring with just 1:56 left to play in the second extra period. Humboldt is now 10-1 for the season as the team gets ready for section playoffs.

This is the first year in anyone's memory in which Humboldt's team, profiled in the Sept. 22 Star Tribune, has been a favorite to win most of its matches. Humboldt is small by urban high school standards, with only about 900 students. Most of the team's members come from such far-flung places as Laos, Thailand, Somalia and Mexico, and are or have been in classes for students who cannot speak English.

The boys had stormed to an undefeated record through a majority of their season, earlier beating conference favorites St. Paul Highland Park and St. Paul Central. Central's team gained revenge for an earlier one-goal loss to Humboldt with Monday's one-goal victory.

Humboldt has one consolation, however -- the team is the 2007 St. Paul City Conference champion.

JIM WALSH