Youth Movement Lifts C-E-C Boys Soccer to 4th Straight State Trip

In the Lumberjacks previous three state tournament appearances, the team has only advanced past the quarterfinal round once.

CLOQUET, Minn.- It’s been almost an annual tradition for the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton boys soccer team as they are once again on their way to the state tournament.

The Lumberjacks clinched their 4th straight tourney appearance last week, when they defeated Hermantown 3 to 2 in the Section 7AA title game.

Now it’s onto a Blake squad, who posted a 13-2-1 record in the regular season.

Head Coach John Sundquist has been relying on a bit of a youth movement this season and he’s prepared to do it once again in the state tournament.

“The way that some of those younger kids had to step up. You know as coaches it’s sometimes to tough to trust those 10th graders, those 9th graders. And now, them getting some of the biggest goals in the biggest games when you’re forced to play them and they take that opportunity and make the most of it and step up. They kind of show you maybe not misjudged but maybe you were a little bit behind the curve of where they were developmentally,” said Sundquist.

In the Lumberjacks previous three state tournament appearances, the team has only advanced past the quarterfinal round once.

This year’s squad is confident they’ll be the next.

“We’ve been working every day, just working our butts off. Just trying to get the touches in, making sure the basics are perfect. Can’t mess up the passes, the small passes. That’s what the games about, just doing the good things, the little things good,” said midfielder Brody Dushkin.

“Everything kind of means more, we have nine seniors this year and they’re all starters. Everyone wanted it so bad and I think that’s why this one meant more to me, just because everyone had so much invested,” added defenseman Max Sundquist.

C-E-C and Blake will meet Wednesday at 7:30 PM at White Bear Lake High School.