Keep the ball on your foot and move it forward.

It was a motto well executed by a dynamic group from Minnetonka that made easy work of visiting Duluth East Saturday afternoon with a 5-0 victory on the shoulders of another mighty offensive performance.

On a hot and windy pitch, Minnetonka controlled the match from start to finish. The Skippers, ranked No. 1 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll, outshot the Greyhounds 33-1 over two halves, using crisp passing and ball control to overwhelm their opponents. 

“Possession soccer is the key to everything,” Minnetonka coach Mike Rogers says. “It allows us to be patient and to create our own chances.”

The Skippers didn’t require much time to stake a lead against Duluth East when senior Avery Weaver scored unassisted just 3 minutes, 19 seconds into the game. He then added another goal at 9:03 on a nice give-and-go from teammate Suad Suljic to push the Minnetonka ahead 2-0, and the rout was on.

The Skippers slashed through the passing lanes and set up crosses that put the Greyhounds further and further back onto its heels.

“With Suad in the middle, he can pinpoint the ball towards us, and it creates chances,” Weaver says. “With the skill and speed we have, along with the chemistry…nobody can stop us when we are on top of our game.”

The second half began loudly as Suljic scored off a set kick just 1:04 in, and the Minnetonka scored twice more over the next two minutes and change to extend the lead to 5-0. Freshman Alejandro Ferrer and junior Josh Greiner also made their mark in the second half scoring column.

Minnetonka was at times slowed by its inability to stay onsides during developing scoring plays, and was flagged for it about a dozen times. At the half, that became a new point of emphasis for the Skippers, who worked out their timing a bit better.

“We take that personally, because you are getting outsmarted when you are getting caught offside like that,” Rogers says. “It’s being lazy.”

Weaver finished the game with two goals and two assists, giving him six goals in five games this season. Suljic leads the Skippers with nine goals.

Suljic undoubtedly will face double coverage against most teams the Skippers play. Against Duluth East, he was blanketed in the front and in the back, and what that did was open up space for others who were happy to accept their liberty.

“Every team we face is going to be familiar with Suad, and they are going to put together a plan to try to stop him,” Rogers says. “If they double up on him, that can be a fatal mistake because there is so much talent around him. He can find (his teammates), and they can find him. It’s difficult to stop all of it.”

Suljic is happy to take what is given, so long as the Skippers keep moving forward.

“We have enough quality players all over the pitch,” Suljic says. “Anyone can dish the ball to anyone else, and anyone can score. Everyone plays a big part in our game.”

The victory moves Minnetonka’s record to 5-0-0 on the season. The Skippers have outscored their opposition 27-6 through five games, and only St. Louis Park has scored more than once against Minnetonka. 

The Skippers return to action next week with three Lake Conference games, starting with Hopkins (2-2-0) at home Tuesday evening.

“Last year, there were times when every team in the Lake Conference was ranked in the top 10,” Rogers says. “We know we are going to be in for one war after another. Next week we will find out who we are.”

Weaver says the players are excited to face the challenge of another Lake Conference schedule. It’s a familiar routine.

“We always play our best when we are playing against the best competition,” Weaver says. “Everyone is going to be ready to play because we know what to expect.”

Minnetonka made easy work of visiting Duluth East Saturday afternoon as the Skippers cruised to a 5-0 victory on the shoulders of another mighty offensive performance.

On a hot and windy pitch, Minnetonka controlled the match from start to finish. The Skippers, ranked No. 1 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll, outshot the Greyhounds 28-1 over two halves, using crisp passing and ball control to overwhelm their opponents. 

Minnetonka needed a little time to stake a lead when senior Avery Weaver scored unassisted just 3 minutes, 19 seconds into the game. He then added another goal at 9:03 on a nice give-and-go from teammate Suad Suljic to push the Skippers ahead 2-0, and the rout was on.

The second half began loudly as Suljic scored off a set kick just 1:04 in, and the Skippers scored twice more over the next two minutes and change to extend the lead to 5-0.  

Weaver finished the game with two goals and two assists, giving him six goals in five games this season. Suljic leads the Skippers with nine goals.

The victory for Minnetonka moves the team's record to 5-0-0 on the season. The Skippers have outscored their opposition 27-6 through five games, and only one team (St. Louis Park) has been able to score more than once. Minnetonka returns to action next week with three Lake Conference games, starting with Hopkins (2-2-0) at home Tuesday evening.

Duluth East heads back up I-35 having dropped its record to 2-2-1. The Hounds will look to bounce back at home against Duluth Denfeld (1-3-0) on Sept. 10.

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