Orono likes to throw a zone defense at unsuspecting teams. Not a bad strategy, given that high schoolers typically are force-fed a diet of man-to-man.

“We played a zone that we think worked really well,” Spartans coach Josh Scott said after Monday night’s Section 2 semifinal against seed Edina. “The only thing that was killing us was. …”

This is where we introduce Edina’s Ted Goltzman, aka “The Zonebuster.”

Goltzman, a senior midfielder, quickly sniffed out a soft spot in Orono’s zone. He scored three goals in the first quarter, all from the same patch of turf. Granted, that sweet spot was 15 yards out in front of the goal, but it was a Spartans’ weakness nonetheless.

“It was a deep shot, but I don’t know,” Goltzman said after the No. 2-seeded Hornets’ 11-5 victory over the No. 3 Spartans (9-5). “I guess you have to take what you have to take.”

Goltzman finished with four goals and an assist, giving him 37 goals and 11 assists in 15 games this season. He’s been held without a goal just once, back on May 5 in a 14-7 loss to Eden Prairie.

“He’s been a goal scorer for us all year,” Edina coach Travis Wells said. “He’s got a big outside shot. He found space from 15 and stepped in a few times, which is a nice way to break a zone.”

Goltzman has been doing this for years. He scored 22 goals in 18 gams as a sophomore, helping the Hornets (7-8) finish fourth at the state tourament. Still, this spring he was not one of the seven finalists for the Mr. Lacrosse award, given annually to the state’s outstanding senior player. He did not make the state coaches’ association’s first, second or third all-state teams.

Not that he cares about all those snubs. Goltzman said he had a blast on Monday. When Orono defenders started to double team him, he simply threw the ball over the defense to open teammates around the net. A.J. Nelson, Hunter Halling, Chris Johnson, John Marple and Jack Wolfe joined in on the scoring as the Hornets blistered the Spartans 5-1 in the third quarter.

“Mostly our guys just started finding the net, finally,” Goltzman said about the third-quarter outburst. “Before that we kept hitting a lot of posts.”

Edina sophomore goalie Patrick Jackson’s estimated the Hornets hit at least 12 posts. That might seem a little high, but Jackson can be forgiven for his enthusiasm. He’s getting his first taste as a starter in the highly charged atmosphere that is the postseason. 

Practicing daily against Goltzman, and facing that rocket shot, has helped speed Jackson’s maturation into a dependable, and at times spectacular, goaltender. 

“It’s nice to have a good shot like Ted’s in practice, because then all the other shots seem slower,” Jackson said.

-- Loren Nelson


Edina sophomore goaltender Patrick Jackson, right, looks to pass while being pressured by Orono's Parker Gross. Photo by Loren Nelson

First Report

Ted Goltzman’s four goals propelled No. 2-seeded Edina to an 11-5 victory over No. 3 Orono on Monday night in a Section 2 semifinal at the Edina Community Center.

Edina (7-8) faces top-seeded Eden Prairie in the Section 2 finals on Wednesday at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School in Plymouth.

Goltzman, a senior midfielder, notched the natural hat trick in the first quarter, scoring all three of Edina’s goals from long-range territory. Sophomore John Marple assisted Goltzman’s third goal with 20 seconds left, giving the Hornets a 3-2 lead after the first quarter.

Edina controlled possession for much of the second quarter, ringing post after post against Orono freshman goaltender Corbin Sampson. After killing a penalty late in the first half, Sampson made a low save and gave an outlet pass to Jake Rosendahl. The Spartans (9-5) charged downfield giving the ball to Jake Roach who scored with 4.3 ticks left on the clock, tying the score at 3 at halftime.

The Hornets dominated the second half of play, outscoring Orono 8-2.

A.J. Nelson intercepted a muffed pass by Sampson and bounced a point-blank shot between Sampson’s legs. Nelson added two more assists in the third quarter, helping the Hornets pull away.

Goltzman scored his fourth goal with two minutes left, tying a bow on the Hornets’ win.

--Trevor Squire

Spotlight Game Coverage