Hermantown did considerably more than defeat Hibbing on Thursday night. The Hawks overwhelmed the Bluejackets with waves of pressure, seven different goal scorers and one of their most complete offensive performances of the young season in a 9-0 girls soccer victory.
Bryden Giesen and Vienna Kolenda scored two goals apiece, Kolenda added three assists and Hermantown scored five times during a 14-minute stretch late in the first half to put the match away before halftime.
Giesen started the scoring in the 25th minute, finishing a pass from Kolenda. Kaitlyn Patterson scored unassisted in the 33rd minute before Giesen struck again three minutes later for a 3-0 lead.
Hermantown then scored twice in a span of two minutes. Kaija Markovich converted another Kolenda setup in the 37th minute, and Kolenda scored unassisted in the 39th to send the Hawks into halftime ahead 5-0.
There was no easing off after the break.
Harper Nelson scored from Kolenda in the 49th minute, Kolenda finished a McKenna Johnson pass in the 51st and Kaitlyn Glanville converted another Johnson assist one minute later. Hermantown had scored three goals in four minutes and extended its advantage to 8-0.
Aveyah Shykes completed the scoring in the 69th minute off an assist from Scarlett Carlson.
The balance was as significant as the final margin. Giesen and Kolenda were the only Hawks with multiple goals, while Patterson, Markovich, Nelson, Glanville and Shykes also scored. Kolenda was directly involved in five goals with two goals and three assists, and Johnson contributed two assists during Hermantown's second-half surge.
Hibbing goalkeeper Averi Skalsky faced pressure throughout the match and finished with 17 saves despite allowing nine goals.
Hermantown was nearly untouched at the other end. Ava DeTray made one save while playing the first half, and Isla Radzak stopped two shots after halftime as the Hawks combined for the shutout.
The result continued an impressive offensive start for a Hermantown team that entered the season believing its experienced attacking group could become its strength. Giesen, Kolenda, Markovich and Nelson have repeatedly created problems in the attacking third, but Thursday's performance showed considerably more depth. Seven players scored, four players recorded assists and the Hawks continued attacking after the outcome was no longer in doubt.
The schedule becomes more demanding immediately. Hermantown travels to Cloquet for a 4 p.m. match Saturday, then returns home to face Duluth Denfeld at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The Hawks play at Esko at 7 p.m. Sept. 17 before hosting Benilde-St. Margaret's at 3 p.m. Sept. 19 and Grand Rapids at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 22.
That Grand Rapids match carries particular weight. The Thunderhawks defeated Hermantown 1-0 in overtime in last season's Section 7AA championship, ending the Hawks' season one victory short of the state tournament.
Hermantown then plays at Duluth Denfeld on Sept. 26 and Two Harbors on Oct. 1 before closing the regular season with home matches against Cloquet on Oct. 3 and Duluth East on Oct. 7, sandwiched around an Oct. 6 trip to Proctor.
The tests ahead will say considerably more about Hermantown's postseason prospects than a nine-goal victory in September. But Thursday established something important: When the Hawks are allowed time and space in the attacking third, they have enough scoring options to make an opponent pay from virtually anywhere in the lineup.