Prep Soccer: Hermantown boys, Denfeld boys & girls advance to Section 7AA semifinals

On Tuesday the Hermantown and Duluth Denfeld boys, and Denfeld girls soccer teams won their respective Section 7AA quarterfinal matches.

In Section 7AA boys action, No. 3 Hermantown defeated No. 6 Mesabi East Area 6-1 behind a Nate Hill hat-trick. The Hawks advance to visit No. 2 Grand Rapids, who beat No. 7 North Branch 7-0, in the semifinals Thursday at 6 p.m.

Across the bracket, No. 4 Denfeld shutout No. 5 Hibbing/Chisholm 5-0 behind Matt Eklund’s first career hat-trick. The Hunters advance to visit No. 1 Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, riding a bye, Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Esko School Fields. The title game is Tuesday, October 17 at 7 p.m. at the sight of the highest remaining seed.

In Section 7AA girls action, No. 2 Denfeld toppled No. 7 Mesabi East Area 10-0 following a four goal and three assist performance by Alyssa Doyle. The Hunters advance to host No. 3 North Branch, who defeated No. 6 Hibbing/Chisholm 6-0, in the semifinals Thursday. Game time is still TBD.

The other 7AA girls semifinal will be between No. 5 Hermantown, who beat No. 4 Grand Rapids 2-1, and No. 1 Cloquet-Carlton riding a bye. Game time is 3 p.m. Thursday at Hilltop Field in Cloquet.

In Section 7AAA boys action Tuesday, No. 1 Duluth East defeated No. 8 Cambridge-Isanti 6-1 advancing to the semifinal Thursday at home against No. 4 Centennial at 6:30 p.m. In 7AAA girls, No. 4 Duluth East beat No. 5 Anoka 2-0 advancing to Thursday’s semifinal at No. 1 Centennial at 7 p.m.