Duluth East vs.

Cloquet-Esko-Carlton

7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 17

Duluth East’s state runner-up finish in 2018 aside, northeastern Minnesota isn’t known for its soccer supremacy. But both the Greyhounds (5-0-0) and neighbor Cloquet-Esko-Carlton (4-0-0, 1-0-0) are unbeaten halfway through the pandemic-shortened season and looking for respect.

Junior Kai Hoffman has scored a team-best eight goals for No. 9-2A Duluth East, which has allowed just 15 shots on goal while shutting out all five of its opponents. 

Senior Drake Schramm is the Lumberjacks’ top scorer with 11 goals. His best performance came on Aug. 27 when he tallied four goals in a 13-1 triumph over Two Harbors. So far this season Cloquet-Esko-Carlton has outscored its opponents 35-3.