Hastings vs. Mahtomedi

5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 4

The Metro East Conference title race is still wide open with a week to play, and Hastings will end its regular season against an opponent possessing similar traits. If things go in the Raiders' favor, they could secure at least a piece of the conference title with a win over Mahtomedi. 

Hastings (9-3, 5-1) has been scoring at a steady, if not prodigious, clip the entire season — failing to score multiple goals only in the opening game of the season, a 1-0 win over Richfield. Joe Carlson and Logan Boogren have been vital to the offensive consistency. Carlson leads the team with 13 goals; Boogren is the assists leader at seven and has also tallied seven goals. 

The Raiders' defense, backed by goalkeeper Sam Kelly, has also shown consistency in allowing only three opponents to score more than one goal. They've posted five shutouts.  

Mahtomedi's defense is a near carbon copy of Hastings' — recording five shutouts and allowing just three teams to score multiple goals. The similarities don't stop there: The No. 6-1A Zephyrs (10-1, 4-1) also have a pair of attacking weapons in Helio De La Torre (10 goals, 5 assists) and Gavin Goralnick (8 goals, 6 assists), both of whom will be faced with opening up a strong defense.

One difference, however, is Mahtomedi has a game in hand in the conference race. A win here would give the Zephyrs a strong position to capture a piece of the conference crown.