SHS soccer team keeps coming close

The Superior High School boys soccer team lost another close battle with a 1-0 loss Monday evening at Hibbing.

The Spartans, who fall to 4-7-1 on the season, also lost 3-1 Saturday at New Richmond and battled to a 2-2 overtime tie with Duluth Marshall last Thursday at home.

“For the last several years games between Superior and Hibbing have been decidedly close and this year was no exception,” SHS coach Gabriel Mozzini said.

The Spartans and Blue Jackets battled through nearly all 80 minutes of the game without scoring a goal. That is until Hibbing scored in the final two minutes to avoid overtime.

Senior goalie Jarret Byrnes finished with 20 saves for the Spartans, who will play Sparta and La Crosse Logan at the Chippewa Falls Quad on Saturday.

Senior Ali Maamoun scored both goals for the Spartans against the Hilltoppers. One goal was assisted by senior Tyler Gravening and the other was unassisted.

Thursday’s tie was the first time in school history that the Spartans have not lost to the Hilltoppers.

“We played as a team,” Mozzini said. “All of the players were extremely focused all game long and they played solid defense, which guaranteed us the tie.”

Senior Connor Anderson-Petroske scored for Superior at New Richmond with an assist from senior Cameron Gray.

New Richmond, now 13-3 on the season, is averaging more than five goals a game.

“New Richmond has a solid team this year and even though it was a loss, I was happy with the way the we played,” Mozzini said. “It was a tough match for us, but we’re improving defensively every game.

“We had couple of lapses, but I was pleased with the way we played defensively, mainly during the second half, when we did not get scored on.”

SPARTAN SPIN: The SHS junior varsity won 3-2 Monday at Hibbing. … Anderson-Petroske leads the Spartans in scoring with 11 goals and five assists. Gravening is next with nine goals and five assists. … Byrnes, who has started all 13 games for Superior, has allowed 33 goals.

Superior High School

Scoring Leaders

G A Pts

Connor Anderson 11 5 27

Tyler Gravening 9 5 23

Ali Maamoun 4 1 9

Cameron Gray 2 4 8

Logan Kittelson 1 2 4

Aaron Foley 1 1 3

Salam Bajjali 0 2 2

Zach Brosdal 0 2 2

Jake Semborski 1 0 2

Alex Huwaish 0 1 0

Felix Leck 0 1 0

Matthew O’Shaughnessy 0 1 1

Goalkeeper Stats

GS GP GA

Jarret Byrnes 12 12 33

Nick Hesselgrave 0 2 3

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