RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Spearfish Spartans are Black Hills Conference champions.
Spearfish Boys Soccer captured the conference title Tuesday with a 2-0 victory over the St. Thomas More Cavaliers at Dakota Fields at the Black Hills Rapids Soccer Club.
After a scoreless first half, the Spartans broke through twice in the second, getting goals from Elijah Ruml and Justin Duprey to secure the victory and improve to 9-2-2 on the season.
Scoreless First Half Sets Up Championship Finish
With a conference championship on the line, neither side was able to find the back of the net during the opening 40 minutes.
Spearfish and St. Thomas More went into halftime locked in a scoreless battle, leaving everything to be decided in the second half.
That’s when the Spartans went to work.
Ruml Breaks Through for Spearfish
Elijah Ruml delivered the breakthrough Spearfish had been searching for, scoring in the second half to give the Spartans a 1-0 advantage.
The goal put Spearfish in front, but with plenty of time remaining and a conference championship at stake, the Spartans still had work to do.
Justin Duprey eventually provided the insurance.
Duprey found the back of the net for Spearfish’s second goal of the half, extending the advantage to 2-0 and putting the Spartans in control down the stretch.
From there, the Spearfish defense did the rest.
The Spartans kept the Cavaliers off the scoreboard through the final whistle, completing the shutout and securing a 2-0 victory.
More importantly, Spearfish walked away from Dakota Fields as Black Hills Conference champions.
Spartans Continue Impressive 2026 Season
The victory moves Spearfish to 9-2-2 on the season and adds another milestone to what has already been an impressive turnaround for the program.
After finishing 3-10-1 a season ago, the Spartans have flipped the script in 2026. Spearfish has now won nine matches and claimed a Black Hills Conference championship with the postseason approaching.
The Spartans won’t have much time to celebrate.
Spearfish returns to Rapid City on Thursday, Oct. 1, for a matchup with Rapid City Stevens at Sioux Park. The game will give the Spartans an opportunity to carry their championship momentum into the final stretch of the regular season and will play for a home playoff opportunity.