CEC is the team to beat in section

The names on the back of the jerseys may be different, but the results are the same for the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton boys soccer team this season. The Lumberjacks garnered the No. 1 Section 7AA playoff seed last week by pounding Proctor 9-0. They finished the regular season with a gaudy 13-3 record.

"We like to open the season with some games against some of the top Twin Cities schools," said CEC coach John Sundquist, explaining losses that came early.

CEC started with a record of 1-3 through its first four games before going on a 12-game win streak as they built upon the success of the last few seasons.

"I didn't know that we'd go undefeated in the conference and regular season after the opening, but I knew we had some very good players," Sundquist said. "We know if we play our best we are going to be tough to beat."

The 'Jacks have seven shutouts this season including the final six games of the regular season.

"We thought after last season that losing a lot of our defense would hurt us, but we're one of the leading teams in the state, giving up less than a goal a game," Sundquist said. "We have three 10th graders on the back line. It surprised me how quickly they caught on. They made it impossible for me to take them off the field."

The defense is anchored by a pair of seniors - Santi Anich and Max Sundquist - and goalie Preston Strang.

"Soccer is a different game when you have studs at positions and that's really what we have," said coach Sundquist. "There isn't an easy area on the field where another team can attack us without having to face some very good players on our side, so when you have those kinds of players it makes it tough on other teams."

Against Proctor, CEC scored just three minutes into the game with a shot by Noah Hansen. By halftime, the 'Jacks added goals by Rizal Agaton-Howes, Hansen, Hudson Snesrud, Brahm Snesrud, Eli Heehn and Jordan Sewell as CEC went up 7-0. Collin Young and Brahm Snesrud added second half goals to end the scoring.

CEC received the No. 1 seed in the Section 7AA tournament and a bye for Tuesday. They play at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10 at home, when they will face Duluth Denfeld, which defeated Mesabi East 8-0 on Tuesday.

"We're excited to be back home for the playoffs as the No. 1 seed," coach Sundquist said. "Being able to play on our new field is massive. We've had so many great compliments on the field, so we're excited to see how we can do."

All conference

CEC first-team Lake Superior all conference players include Ben Schramm, Noah Hansen, and Collin Young. Hudson Snesrud and Preston Strang were selected for the second team and honorable mention went to Santi Anich.