With just two teams in attendance, MSHS defeated Houghton 7-0 in the one-game tourney Saturday morning to continue its dominance of U.P. soccer.

The win concluded an undefeated season for the Redmen at 9-0-1 as they outscored their opponents 63-4.

“We build our team around our defense and our primary goal is to not get scored on,” Marquette first-year head coach Dan Salmon said. “With that in place and working, the offense came to life and put a lot of goals in this year. It made for a great winning combination and it shows. With the uncertain season as it unfolded and games being canceled, we were just happy to make it to the end and still be playing games.”

Kingsford and Iron Mountain were unable to participate due to coronavirus quarantine restrictions, leaving just MSHS and the Gremlins.

Marquette's Connor Johnson, front left, has his shot blocked by Houghton goalie Tanner Guidas, far right, as Gremlins defender Erik Flaspohler slides in to help during the Upper Peninsula Championships Tournament in high school boys soccer on Saturday. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

And the morning kickoff meant the ground was covered in frost while snow fell off and on.

But Marquette still controlled play, scoring three times in the first half, four times in the second and allowing just three shots to get to senior goalkeeper Liam Jeevar, who earned the shutout.

Sophomore Max Dawson recorded the three-goal hat trick while adding an assist, while senior Connor Johnson had two goals and an assist.

Johnson opened the scoring off an assist from junior Nick Lindberg, then Dawson got his first goal assisted by sophomore Nick Asmus before Lindberg scored off an assist from Johnson to make it 3-0 at the break.

In the second half, Dawson scored with an assist going to Asmus, followed by sophomore Ezra Pickard knocking one home unassisted from a corner kick to make it 5-0.

Marquette's Axel Vermaat, center, fights for control of the ball against Houghton defender Billy Waite, right, in the first half of their game in the Upper Peninsula Championships Tournament in high school boys soccer on Saturday. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

Johnson got another goal with an assist from Dawson, who knocked home the final goal as junior Zane Phillips got that assist.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.