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North Branch 2, Zimmerman 1

Jared Landon’s second half goal provided the margin of victory as the Vikings beat the Zimmerman Thunder 2-1 at North Branch to open the 2006 high school soccer season. 

The Vikings played a tough first half, but fell behind on a penalty kick awarded to the Thunder after a slide-tackle by a Vikings defender in the box was ruled a dangerous play.  Viking head coach Brad Gustafson said “I thought my player did everything he needed to on that slide.  I was pleased that it was clean, but acknowledge that some contact was made with the Zimmerman attacker. 

“The officials did a nice job during the game and have a right to make the tough calls.  I have a lot of respect for those guys and appreciated how they stayed on top of the game, making six offside calls on the Zimmerman forwards who were feisty and ready to run.”

Almost immediately after the penalty kick, Viking freshman Brian Grand served a beautiful ball to Zach Brandstrom who scored on a well placed header.  The score was 1-1 going into halftime. 

In the second half, Landon notched his first high school goal, unassisted, on a spectacular shot from roughly 25 yards out. Late in the game, the Vikings returning starting goalkeeper, freshman Austin Holmes, made a nice save to preserve the win. 

Gustafson commented, “Austin is one of those guys that is gifted in the net.  He has a bright future in North Branch.  It takes a lot of courage to step in and start as an eighth grader, which he did last year, and he’s even better this year, due in part to his experience.” 

Gustafson continued, “Our team has talked about attacking from the back and that showed Friday night.  The midfield also played a solid game. I especially liked how our team responded being down a goal after controlling most of the first half.  If we had the budget, I would be handing out 11 game balls to players after that one.  

“Ryan Schwab played a great game at midfield, along with Grand, who really helped to control the tempo of the game. Captains Matt Klevin, Sean Karvonen and Drew Lundquist showed exactly why their teammates voted them captains.  They are in the right place at the right time and do the right thing with the ball.  They are very confident – something our young team needs.  The fact that we don't have any seniors did not show tonight. 

“Those who watched carefully couldn’t have missed the way the guys controlled the ball and maintained possession--at one point connecting on 15 consecutive passes late in the second half.  I am really proud of the way we played together.  That’s what we have been working towards the first two weeks of practice.  Everybody matters and tonight the guys showed why and what that really looks like,” Gustafson concluded. 

NB 2, St. Agnes /St. Bernard’s 0

The youngest players continue to come up big for the Vikings early in the season. Freshman Brian Grand scored both goals for the Vikings as they defeated the St. Agnes/St. Bernard’s Saints 2-0 Monday, July 28 at Pioneer Park in Little Canada.

The Vikings remain undefeated with a 2-0 record early in the season. Earning the shutout for the Vikings was freshman Austin Holmes and his defense of juniors Matt Klevin, Sean Karvonen and Zach Brandstrom, and sophomore Andrew Lundquist.

Sophomore midfielders Tom Mork and Ryan Schwab were charged with man-marking the Saints’ best player, with four goals in just two games.  Mork and Schwab proved too much for the talented midfielder as they held him scoreless. 

“The Saints beat us in the playoffs last season to end our year,” said Viking head coach Brad Gustafson.  “I think that they felt they would win today, but we knew that we had a great chance as long as our team played together.  That’s the focus this year.  Each player has a role, and we are trusting each other to do it.  That’s opening things up and allowing us to move the ball around more - the while maintaining possession,” the coach explained. 

“These guys are playing tough and won’t settle for anything less.  That’s all I can ask.  I’m really proud of all of them.  Even though we happened to have one player put the ball into the back of the net, today it was a team effort.  Zach “Z-Train” Brandstrom is playing out of his mind right now.  He has really stepped it up on defense and taken us to a new level.  I know our young keeper appreciates that.”

The undefeated Vikings host the Totino Grace Eagles this afternoon, Thursday August 31, at 5 p.m. at the North Branch High School football field.

“We look forward to playing Totino Grace,” said Gustafson. “We lost by a large margin to Totino last year, but this year we are playing an improved game with a new emphasis, and all of this without any seniors.”

Tuesday, September 5, they travel to St. Anthony Village High School to take on the Spring Lake Park Panthers at 7 p.m.

The Viking soccer program is hoping to attract more fans this season, and offering activities like a halftime shootout for all ages.   Many local businesses have chipped in to help with shootout prizes like cool treats from Dairy Queen.  “If you haven’t taken your family to a soccer game, you’ll want to take one in,” said Gustafson. “It’s a fun atmosphere.

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