When Maple Grove was awarded a penalty kick in the 59th minute of Thursday’s Northwest Suburban Conference game with Centennial, anyone with knowledge of the Crimson’s success last season knew that Meredith Haakenson would be taking the shot. 

But Haakenson wasn’t so sure. 

“I didn’t know I was going to take it,” Haakenson said with a grin after the game. “Then (Maple Grove coach Ben LeVahn) called my name and I knew that I could do it.”

There was little doubt that Haakenson would convert the penalty, and she delivered a beautiful shot into the lower left corner for what turned out to be the game-winning goal in the 1-0 victory. 

Only a sophomore, Haakenson’s resume is impressive. She set a school record with 12 assists last season and had 11 goals for a team-leading 34 points last year, helping her earn Class 2A all-state honors from the Minnesota State High School Soccer Coaching Association. 

LeVahn said the win was important for the young Crimson for more reasons than simply winning. 

"At this point, when we’re struggling to find our identity, it feels pretty good to get a ‘W,’” LeVahn said. 

LeVahn, named the 2014 Class 2A, Section 5 Coach of the Year, said that Haakenson’s development as a player and a field presence is essential to Maple Grove’s identity. 

“She helped last year as a freshman,” LeVahn said. “This year she’s really asserting herself more as a leader.”

Haakenson’s development has included international exposure, including a trip to Costa Rica with the U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program’s Region II team. 

“It was cool just to see the difference in play from here to there,” Haakenson said. 

International trips aside, Haakenson has performed in the classroom just as well as she has on the field.

Her 3.9 grade-point average helped the Crimson finish with a 3.79 team GPA, earning them a Gold team academic award from the coaches’ association. 

LeVahn said the academic performance of last year’s team has continued this season and translates to the playing field as well. 

“Excellence in the classroom, excellence on the field,” he said.

Sophomore attacker Meredith Haakenson scored on a penalty kick in the 59th minute to lift Maple Grove over Northwest Suburban Conference rival Centennial 1-0 on Thursday at Maple Grove High School. 

Haakenson beat Cougars goalkeeper Caitlyn Bangert with a well-placed low shot to hand Centennial, ranked No. 9 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll, its second consecutive loss. 

The Crimson improve to 2-2 with the win, while the Cougars drop to 3-2-1.

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