What’s more amazing? The fact that the Eden Prairie High School boys soccer team won the Minnesota Cup Soccer Tournament, yet scored only one goal; or, that Eden Prairie pitched shutouts against Stillwater and St. Paul Central while employing a whole new defense (defenders and keeper).

Head Coach Vince Thomas calls it a tossup, adding that early season success is just that, early season success.

“Win or lose,” he said, “we still have things we need to work on.”

Names?

“We’re just getting to know each other,” laughs Thomas.

To be fair, Thomas typically waits until the very last minute to name his team. As a result, they’re not the fastest of starters.

Still, he’s been impressed, especially with how his team played against St. Paul Central.

“We outshot them 27-3,” he said. “Theoretically, that should mean we scored more goals.”

In theory, it does. In reality, Eden Prairie outscored Central 1-0, highlighting the importance of finishing.

“That [finishing] is going to determine our success,” said Thomas.

Go deep

Thomas’ game plan is to use depth to wear the other team down.

“Saturday, we played 18 kids,” he said, “and not just for a couple minutes, but for 10- and 20-minute stretches.

“That accomplishes a couple things,” he adds. “One, it gives the kids a feeling of self worth/self importance. Two, it’s hard on the other team.”

Lost in the numbers is the fact this is a talented group, new faces included.

Keeper Matt Sweeney, for example, didn’t play a varsity minute last year, yet looked more than capable against the likes of Stillwater and St. Paul Central.

Defenders Danny Kemp, Ben Drew, Matt Frandsen and David Blair also impressed, in spite of being new to the job.

Offensively, Thomas plans to ride Shane Thuleen, a player he describes as a “pure scorer.” Alex Hidy and Alex Wittig appear to be cut from the same cloth, “quick and fast.”

Who’s on first?

In Tuesday’s Star Tribune, Eden Prairie was the No. 1 ranked team in the Metro. Apple Valley and Bloomington were also ranked in the top 10, as was section-foe Edina.

Add Eagan and Eastview to the mix and the regular season looks to be challenge.

“It’s not going to be easy,” adds Thomas.

Now add the fact that winning the Minnesota Cup seems to be the kiss of death for a team’s state championship aspirations and the word challenge is looking a bit understated.

“That used to be the joke,” said Thomas, about the Minnesota Cup/State championship correlation, “but that was before Wayzata won both a couple years ago.”

So there is a chance?

“We’re definitely in the mix,” he said.

All Eden Prairie needs is couple of lucky bounces, preferably sometime in October.