Parker Clennon delivered three goals, Quinn Raukar added a goal and an assist, and Hermantown earned a measure of postseason redemption Tuesday night with a commanding 4-0 victory over Spectrum in the Section 7A boys soccer semifinals at Hermantown High School.
A year after seeing its season end in the section semifinals, Hermantown made certain history would not repeat itself. The second-seeded Hawks scored twice in each half, controlled the scoreboard throughout and advanced to tonight's section championship game against fourth-seeded Proctor, which eliminated top-seeded PACT Charter 2-1 in the other semifinal.
The championship game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at Centricity Stadium, with the winner advancing to the Class A state tournament.
Clennon, wearing No. 10, was the difference-maker against third-seeded Spectrum, scoring three times and contributing an assist on Raukar's goal. He finished with four points in one of the Hawks' most important victories of the season.
Hermantown broke through midway through the opening half, with Clennon converting a feed from Raukar to put the Hawks ahead 1-0. The two reversed roles later in the half, with Raukar scoring off a Clennon assist to give Hermantown a 2-0 lead at intermission.
There was no letdown after halftime.
Clennon struck again in the second half, first finishing an opportunity created by Trevor Arntson and later completing his hat trick on an assist from Kestan Bradley. The goals pushed Hermantown's advantage to four and eliminated any realistic possibility of a Spectrum comeback.
Hermantown's offensive production was matched by another impressive defensive effort. Goalkeeper Ethan Aysta made five saves to preserve the shutout, while the Hawks' defensive unit prevented Spectrum from finding the net over 80 minutes.
The performance reflected a balanced Hermantown attack that has developed into a legitimate section championship contender. Clennon provided the finishing touch, Raukar created and converted opportunities, and Arntson and Bradley contributed important assists in a victory that moved the Hawks one step closer to the state tournament.
Now comes Proctor, a familiar neighboring rival with momentum of its own.
The Rails' 2-1 upset of PACT dramatically changed the championship matchup, eliminating the section's top seed and setting up an all-area final between two programs separated by only a few miles.
Hermantown enters the championship game with home-field advantage and the confidence of a four-goal semifinal victory. Proctor arrives having already knocked off the section favorite, making Wednesday's matchup considerably more compelling than the original seedings might have suggested.