Maple Grove plays fast, furious and unbeaten to boys' soccer tourney

Maple Grove capped its most important boys' soccer victory of the season in subdued fashion.

As a 3-0 defeat of Mounds View in the Class 2A, Section 5 championship game concluded last week, players moved toward each other at a gradual pace that belied their frenzied, wildly successful playing style.

Huddling around assistant coach Chad Morse, players finally erupted as he yelled, "How 'bout it, boys?"

How 'bout it is right.

The Crimson (19-0) stayed undefeated and secured its first trip to state since 2011. Maple Grove, the No. 2 seed, opened play against Rosemount (7-8-3) on Tuesday night at Osseo High School after this edition went to press. If the seeds hold, the Crimson could advance to face fellow unbeatens Minnetonka (16-0-2) and East Ridge (19-0) in the ensuing rounds.

A fast and furious style suited Maple Grove well all season. Chemistry and depth — the starting lineup consists of 10 seniors and one junior while another four players contribute off the bench — propelled the Crimson to a flawless record.

On offense, eight players have scored between five and 10 goals. The defense, meanwhile, has allowed only one goal in the past 12 games. Maple Grove permitted more than one goal in a game just once all season.

Cortez and Diamond each scored on a corner kick in the game, something Maple Grove players did all season to help the team average 3.42 goals per game.

"Corners are where we strive," Cortez said. "We've got people who get up and win the ball. We're hungry in the box, and a lot of times we just overpower the defense."

Senior Kevin Hoof and sophomore Ryan DeBois shared the team lead with 10 goals each. Senior Ben Zaver is next with nine goals, followed by Cortez and senior Carson Thomas (seven) and junior Garrett Maupin (six).

Technical and tactical ability are paramount in soccer. But Maple Grove's goals also owe to tenacity.

"At the beginning of every game we have three points on a whiteboard and one of them is always, 'Put them under pressure,' " Cortez said. "If they are defending, we're not."

"Our goal was to only concede five goals and to this point, not counting penalty shots, we've only conceded five goals," Cortez said. "It's not really a scheme; it's just a mentality."

As the season went on and the undefeated record ballooned, players found themselves trying to cope with success.

"We've ignored it and denied it for as long as we could," coach Greg Leininger said. "Then we just had to start dealing with it. It's definitely not something we chased but it's out there now."

Hoof, one of five finalists for the Mr. Soccer award, said: "You feel confident but then again it's nerve-racking at times because you have a big target on your back and every team wants to knock you out."

Having played varsity soccer as a freshman, Hoof is Maple Grove's lone connection to the 2011 team. He said he talked to teammates all season about the experience, the fans and the pressure to "give them a little taste so they want it just as much."

David La Vaque • 612-673-7574