Triumphs in the Semifinals
The Wayzata Trojans and Mahtomedi Zephyrs emerged victorious from their respective state semifinal matchups, securing spots in their state's championship finals [15]. Wayzata, the defending state champions, will face Stillwater for the 3A crown [5, 15]. Mahtomedi defeated Mankato East to advance to the 2A final [15].In a hard-fought contest, Wayzata overcame an early deficit to defeat Prior Lake 2-1 [5, 8]. Prior Lake initially took the lead, but Wayzata responded with a goal from senior Ella O'Keefe, set up by junior Lauren Craig [8]. Gianna Ross, a sophomore, then sealed the victory with a 20-yard strike [8]. Goalkeeper Sophia Alvarez made a crucial save to deny Teagan Jurek's attempt to regain the lead for Prior Lake [5]. Wayzata's strong second-half performance was fueled by relentless corner kicks and consistent pressure in the 6-yard box [8].
Mahtomedi's victory over Mankato East showcased their resilience and defensive strength [12, 14]. Junior Elise Aflakpi scored the game-winning goal, assisted by senior Kayla Poirier [14]. Freshman Olivia Boberg cleared a late scoring chance off the goal line to preserve the lead [14]. Goalkeeper Harlow Berger made a diving save to prevent Mankato East from tying the game [12].
Stillwater advanced to the final after a strong performance against the Wildcats [9, 10]. Samantha Wood played a key role on the left wing [9]. Goalkeeper Reese Elzen, a future Wisconsin player, denied several attempts by Wildcats midfielder Ana Oenning [9, 10].
College Teams Gear Up for Postseason Play
The William & Mary women's soccer team is set to host Elon in the opening round of the CAA Women's Soccer Championship [6]. The match is scheduled for Thursday evening and will be broadcast on FloCollege [6]. The winner will advance to the semifinals against UNCW [6]. Six players – Lindsay Wilson, Ivey Crain, Kenley Campbell, Ella Ledwith, Molly Widderich, and Leila Greene – have started all 17 matches for William & Mary [4]. Several rookies have combined for 16 points this season [4].
Three players from Hofstra University – Gabriella Marte, Olivia Pearse, and Aimee Hodgson – earned All-CAA honors for their performance this season [7]. Marte, a graduate defender, was named to the All-CAA First Team [7].
The Samford soccer team will host Wofford in the quarterfinals of the SoCon Tournament [19]. Lindenwood men's soccer will host Eastern Illinois in their final regular season home game [20]. Gannon University's men's soccer team was listed in the initial NCAA Division II regional rankings [1].
Little Rock Women's Soccer received Ohio Valley Conference recognition, with Maria Schuller being named OVC Forward of the Year [13]. Schuller transitioned from the front line to the defensive unit this season, contributing four goals and three assists while helping the Trojans secure five shutouts [11].
UNC Asheville Women's Soccer fell to USC Upstate in their season finale [17]. UTRGV Women's Soccer is set to host Lamar in their regular season finale [18]. Grand Canyon University will add men's soccer to its athletic programs in the Mountain West Conference [2].
TL;DR
* Wayzata and Mahtomedi secured spots in their respective state soccer championship finals after winning their semifinal matches [15]. * William & Mary is preparing to host Elon in the opening round of the CAA Women's Soccer Championship [6]. * Maria Schuller of Little Rock Women's Soccer was named OVC Forward of the Year after transitioning to defense [13, 11]. * Gannon University's men's soccer team earned a spot in the NCAA Division II regional rankings [1].