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Defending champs overwhelm Blaze

By Loren Nelson, Editor, 04/14/11, 11:40AM CDT

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Will Hoesley scores five goals for Benilde-St. Margaret's in rout of Burnsville


Benilde-St. Margaret's junior Will Hoesley scores one of his five goals against Burnsville. Photo by Helen Nelson

Garbage time was prime time for Will Hoesley last season.

“I was the guy that was going in once we were up by 15,” said Hoesley, a Benilde-St. Margaret’s attackman who mostly watched from the sideline as the Red Knights’ remarkable frontline duo of seniors Bailey Dodds and Ryan Butts terrorized opposing teams to the tune of a combined 126 goals en route to a boys’ MSHSL state championship.


Taylor Topousis of Benilde-St. Margaret's, right, works past Burnsville's Neal Pester. Photo by Helen Nelson

On Thursday, April 14, a new, Dodds and Butts-less era began for Benilde-St. Margaret’s in its season opener against Burnsville.

For Hoesley, a junior, that meant no more sifting through banana peels and coffee grounds for the occasional goal.

“It’s a lot more fun scoring them in the first quarter and second quarter than in the fourth,” said Hoesley, who scored nine seconds into the opening quarter and had five goals by halftime.

Benilde-St. Margaret’s, a consensus top-three team in the state along with Eden Prairie and Blake, led 12-2 at halftime and by as much as 15-2 in the second half. The Red Knights called in their reserves in the second half, relegating Hoesley to the sideline.

No more garbage time.

“With those guys (Dodds and Butts) on the field, it was tough for Will to get a lot of playing time, but they taught him well,” Red Knights coach Colin Mulcahy said about Hoesley, who scored 14 goals last season. “When he gets his moment he performs. He’s a great finisher.”

Hoesley flashed a deft touch around the goal, where he repeatedly exploited openings in the Burnsville defense. He scored several times from extreme close range, needing only a quick flick of the wrists to beat Burnsville freshman goaltender Scott Svare.


Benilde-St. Margaret's junior Jack Naughtin scored twice against Burnsville. Photo by Helen Nelson

“He has the maturity of a senior,” Burnsville coach Jesse Schelitzche said about Svare, ”but even so, never having played a varsity game before and going against a team some say is the best team in the state is going to be a little tough some times.”

Burnsville was missing four starters – one to injury and three to athletic code violations. Five freshmen played for the Blaze.

The Red Knights, meanwhile, are an experience-laden team hungry to repeat as state champions.

“We came in ready to play,” Hoesley said. “We knew we needed to make a statement. Show everyone that we are back and ready to go.

“It was so much fun last year, we want to come back and do it again.”

Loren Nelson

Loren Nelson

MN Lax Hub Managing Editor

Phone: 612-379-1030 (ext. 126)


Burnsville's Neal Pester, left, and Taylor Topousis of Benilde-St. Margaret's butt heads. Photo by Helen Nelson

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Will Hoesley

Junior attackman Will Hoesley scored five goals, including one nine seconds into the game, as defending state boys MSHSL state champion Benilde-St. Margaret’s opened its season on Thursday, April 14, with a 15-5 rout of Burnsville on the new turf field at Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School.

Hoesley, who scored 14 goals last season while playing behind star seniors Bailey Dodds and Ryan Butts, had three goals in the opening four minutes and scored all five of his goals in the first half.

The Red Knights emptied their bench in the second half, when they led by as much as 15-2 after leading 12-2 at halftime.

Jack Naughtin, Simon Gondeck and Taylor Topousis each scored twice for the Red Knights.

Brian Atkinson scored two goals for Burnsville, which played without several of its starters because of injuries and athletic code violations.

Three Stars

1. Will Hoesley, Benilde-St. Margaret’s
The Red Knights junior attackman was a one-man wrecking crew in the early going, as he scored nine seconds into the game, had a hat trick by the 4-minute mark and five goals at halftime. He showcased a powerful, accurate shot and some quick hands around the net.

2. Taylor Topousis, Benilde-St. Margaret’s
A senior midfielder, Topousis scored twice in the final minute of the opening half and also set up two goals with some laser passes.

3. Zach Silvestri, Benilde-St. Margaret’s
Let’s show some love for the Red Knights’ defensemen. Silvestri, often matched up against shifty Burnsville scoring ace Jace Childs, used his combination of power and quickness to help limit the Blaze to a handful of decent chances in the first half.

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