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Zephyrs Frye, Frye, Frye again

By Loren Nelson, Editor, 05/06/11, 8:01AM CDT

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Senior midfielder's three goals push No. 7-ranked Mahtomedi past rival Blaine


Mahtomedi senior Ben Frye, left, scored three goals in the Zephyrs' 10-6 victory over Blaine. Photo by Helen Nelson

The way Ben Frye was running and dodging and cutting and shooting and scoring, the casual observer could only assume he is, was and always has been Mahtomedi’s No. 1 option on offense.

A senior midfielder, Frye was the very definition of precision -- a Swiss watch in face paint and cleats -- as the Zephyrs surged past archrival Blaine 10-6 on Friday, May 6, at the National Sports Center in Blaine in a game brimming with playoff-type tension.

Strange thing, though, about that Frye kid.


Blaine's Michael Culshaw-Maurer, left, scored two goals against Mahtomedi and standout defenseman Patrick Singer. Photo by Helen Nelson

In the Mahtomedi goal-scoring pecking order, Frye doesn’t fit into slots 1, 2, 3, 4 or even 5. Frye entered the game against the Bengals with two goals this season, a total he had matched by the end of the first quarter.

“Ben is a great player,” Mahtomedi coach Brian Strauss said. “He has been on the varsity since he was a freshman. He’s always had the ability to score those goals.

“He’s on a line with two other very talented midfielders, you know, sometimes he doesn’t always get the opportunities to shine.”

Strauss said he switched his man-up alignment before the game against Blaine, and the reshuffling put Frye in a new position. Call it a stroke of genius, call it blind luck, call it whatever, the Zephyrs’ tinkering ignited Frye as spectacularly as a blowtorch touching off a bucket of jet fuel.

Frye scored two of his goals with Mahtomedi enjoying a man advantage. He added his third late in the fourth quarter, a goal that put the Zephyrs ahead 9-6 with 5:32 remaining.

“I finally hit my stride,” Frye said. “I was just kind of feeling it tonight. I’m just hoping that I can carry that on into the rest of the season.”

Frye, who scored six goals all of last season, was one of several Zephyrs to turn in career performances:

  • Mahtomedi junior goaltender Drew Huso made the spectacular look routine while repeatedly frustrating the Bengals in a 14-save performance.
  • Face-off specialist Ryan Brown, a junior, was almost unbeatable on draws and also served as the primary setup man for Frye.
  • Senior defenseman Patrick Singer applied straightjacket defense to Blaine scoring phenom Michael Culshaw-Maurer, who managed two goals despite being forced by Singer to work in what might as well have been airline lavatory.

Mahtomedi goaltender Drew Huso made 14 saves against Blaine. Photo by Helen Nelson

Mahtomedi’s flawless start to the season has been as much the byproduct of grit and gumption as it has been fueled by flash and flair.

Straus said Brown’s pre-practice routine includes a bucket of balls and 100 shots at the goal. Brown can dish, too. He repeatedly fed Frye with perfectly timed pinpoint passes.

“He was being sneaky, getting behind those defensemen,” Brown said. “I was finding him on the back door.”

Added Frye: “We’ve got a lot of chemistry, that’s for sure.”

Zephyrs’ post-practice activities often include . . . more practice. Straus said many of his players stay on the field after the coaches have departed, working on their man-up ball movement and execution.

“We’ve got a group that really wants to win,” Strauss said. “They know the lack of respect that the east side (of the Twin Cities) sometimes gets. And they are out to prove otherwise this year.”

Mahtomedi went 12-3 last season with two of those losses coming against Blaine. The Bengals ousted Mahtomedi from the Section 4 playoffs with a 12-6 semifinal victory.

The Zephyrs' victory on Friday makes them, at least for now, the Kings of the East.

"Every game we try to get hyped up," Frye said. "But this one was just one of those where you didn’t even need anyone to remind you.

"Everyone all day was thinking about this."


Blaine's Mike Cameron (22) tries to go over a wall formed by Mahtomedi's Mike Rose, right, and Patrick Kegley. Photo by Helen Nelson

Statistics, Summary


Ben Frye

1. Ben Frye, Mahtomedi
A senior midfielder, Frye scored the Zephyrs’ first two goals then all but clinched the triumph by finishing a gorgeous passing play to put Mahtomedi ahead 9-6 with 5:32 left. Frye had scored just twice coming into the game and had six goals all of last season.

2. Drew Huso, Mahtomedi
A junior goaltender, Huso made 14 saves and precious few of those could be considered routine. Huso’s athleticism and flawless positioning were a brick-wall combination for the Bengals, who were repeatedly stuffed from close range.

3. Mike Cameron, Blaine
The senior attackman combines speed, strength and superior cutting ability to cause headaches for opposing defenses. Of all the Bengals, he was the one who had the best opportunities to beat Huso, especially in the first half. Cameron finished with two goals.

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Game Recap

Senior midfielder Ben Frye scored three goals and teammates Tanner Jordan and Blake Cedarleaf added two each as the No. 7-ranked Mahtomedi boys remained unbeaten with a 10-6 triumph over Blaine on Friday, May 6, at the National Sports Center in Blaine.

Frye, who entered the game with just two goals, matched that output in the first quarter when he scored twice for the Zephyrs (8-0).

Mahtomedi scored twice in the final 74 seconds of the first half to take a 5-3 lead. Blaine closed to within 6-5 with 11:14 remaining but could get no closer.

Seniors Mike Cameron and Michael Culshaw-Maurer each scored twice for the Bengals (6-2), who beat Mahtomedi 12-6 last season in the Section 4 semifinals.

Junior Drew Huso was superb in making 14 saves for Mahtomedi.  Sophomore Brenden Nadeau made 16 saves for the Bengals.

Nadeau's twin brother Mac, scored a goal for Blaine.

Blaine played without standout defenseman Ben Becker, a senior who has missed the past two weeks with a concussion.


Mahtomedi junior Ryan Brown, right, was a standout on faceoffs and as a set-up man for the Zephyrs. Photo by Helen Nelson

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