Boys Soccer: Magicians blank Mavericks to open season

Tayson Solper and Nolan Schmidt scored a pair of goals and Dylan Oswalt added three assists as the Minot High boys soccer team began the regular season with a convincing 4-0 victory at Dickinson on Friday, Aug. 15.

The Magicians built a three-goal lead by halftime and added a fourth for good measure in the fourth, as Minot’s three junior captains were responsible for all of the team’s scoring.

Solper got the Magicians (1-0-0 overall, 1-0-0 West Region) on the board in the 14th minute and Schmidt doubled the advantage just a minute later, with Oswalt assisting on both goals. Minot tacked on a third before the break with Solper netting his second tally of the contest, this one unassisted.

Schmidt capped off the scoring in the 60th minute, burying a shot off a third assist from Oswalt.

The Magicians outshot the Mavericks (0-1-0, 0-1-0) 17-3. Senior goalkeeper Ian Stewart made three saves, while Dickinson’s Paxton Paulson finished with 13 saves.

Minot plays its home opener against Bismarck Century on Tuesday, Aug. 19, at Duane Carlson Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

Minot North also opened its season over the weekend, participating in the East-West crossover. The Sentinels dropped a pair of close contests in Grand Forks, falling to Grand Forks Red River, 6-4, on Friday, Aug. 15, and to Grand Forks Central, 3-2, on Saturday, Aug. 16. Moses Conteh netted a hat trick in the loss to the Roughriders.

Minot North hosts Williston on Tuesday, Aug. 19, at 7:30 p.m.

Minotauros: Middendorf commits to Wisconsin-River Falls

The string of NCAA commitment announcements continues for the Minot Minotauros, as forward Gavin Middendorf becomes the latest skater to join a college hockey program.

Middendorf will play Division III hockey for the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Middendorf joined the Tauros from the Chippewa Steel, with whom he played his first 65 games with, scoring 18 goals and 26 assists. In 35 games with the Minotauros last season after being acquired via trade at the end of the 2024 calendar year, Middendorf tallied 36 points on 26 goals and 10 assists.

The Forest Lake, Minn., native will be playing college hockey in the Wisconsin Intercollege Athletic Conference, and will become a conference rival to a fellow Tauro in Jordan Gibbs, who recently announced his commitment to play for the Wisconsin-Superior.

Wisconsin-River Falls are coming off a 17-12-1 season, one of its best since joining the conference in 2013-14.