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Thursday, November 6, 2008
GP Soccer
St. Paul, MN
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By: Lori Tolzman
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Photo(s) By: Mark Mallory
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Titans get first conference title
Tartan High School captured a part of the boys soccer Classic Suburban Conference title for the first time in their 36-year history. Head coach Caleb Drexler-Booth has led the program since 2003 when the Titans came close to being champions, but fell short earning the runner-up spot. The Titans have to share the title honors with St. Thomas Academy, but that hasn’t taken anything away from a dream come true for the team of 18 young men.
The Titans quickly realized early in the season that they had talent, skill and a desire to succeed, but knew it would take a team effort to make their dream happen. Leaders of the team included quad-captain seniors Chad Blair, Aaron Thelen, Matt Wind and junior Kyle Erickson.
Throughout the season, conference rivals like Hill-Murray and Simley proved to be their biggest challenge. They tied the Pioneers twice and lost to the Spartans but continued to face each game with a must-win attitude.
Before the final game of the season, Tartan’s athletic director Lee Alger informed the coaching staff that they had to win in order to earn a co-conference title with St. Thomas Academy, even though they beat them in head-to-head competition. With only 12 minutes left in a scoreless game against Mahtomedi, a handball call inside the box resulted in a successful penalty kick giving Tartan a 1-0 lead. The team worked hard together to successfully defend their lead through the final minutes of the game. The Titans ended their 2008 regular season with the school’s best season record at 9-1-2 and clinched the conference title.
The Titans achieved one of their goals this season and worked hard to go after the other two of earning the Section 4AA title and becoming the Class AA state champions. No matter what happened throughout section and state play, the memory of garnering the school’s first-ever conference title will stay with them forever.
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