The sting from last year’s section championship loss in a shootout hasn’t faded for the Hermantown girls soccer team. And that’s exactly how head coach Nathan Hanson wants it.
“That feeling isn’t sitting well with the girls and they’re motivated,” Hanson said. “The standard set by the team and coaching staff this year is a state tournament berth. It won’t be easy with the talent we have in our section, but our girls are battle-tested from last year and are ready to bring our game up a whole new level this season.”
Hermantown enters the 2025 campaign with most of its offensive firepower intact. The Hawks graduated just one of the 37 goals scored last season, and the front line chemistry continues to evolve behind juniors Kaija Markovich and Bryden Giesen, the team’s top scorers.
“We look to be strong offensively,” said Hanson. “The chemistry only continues to grow up front as we look to continue to put our top goal scorers, Kaija and Bryden, in dangerous positions to continue to put the ball in the back of the net.”
Defensively, Hermantown will lean heavily on senior captain Brooke Wiese, a two-year leader who sets the tone from the back line.
“Brooke is an outstanding defender who puts the team first,” Hanson said. “She’s someone we will heavily rely on this year in times of adversity.”
Senior Cambriia Thomas is an ultra-elite netminder.
The Hawks open their season Thursday, Aug. 21, at North Branch before returning home to face Marshall on Aug. 26 at Centricity Stadium’s Corey Veech Field. Other notable nonconference matchups include Benilde-St. Margaret’s on Sept. 13 and a road test at Coon Rapids on Sept. 18.
Conference rivalries will heat up quickly, with showdowns against Proctor (Aug. 28 and Sept. 30), Duluth Denfeld (Sept. 9 and 20), and Cloquet (Sept. 2 and Sept. 27) highlighting the regular-season schedule. The Hawks will close the regular season with a high-profile matchup at Duluth East on Oct. 1.
Section playoffs begin Oct. 7, with Hermantown aiming to return to the title game—and finish what it couldn’t last fall.
The girls are, as Hanson put it, “fired up and ready for the season.”
And they’ll need to be. With expectations high, the path to state won’t come easy—but the Hawks aren’t looking for easy. They’re looking for redemption.