The Worthington Trojans boys soccer team completed a perfect 16-0 regular season by shutting out Fairmont, 5-0, on the road Thursday night.
Jonathan Banegas scored goals one, two and three for the Trojans, who also got goals from Mir Gossom and Menkem Mehri. With another shutout, WHS concludes the regular season with only four goals allowed, tying a record set by Wayzata in 1997.
The Trojans are currently the top seed in Section 2AA and will host a first-round match – which at this point would be against Jordan – on Tuesday night at Trojan Field.
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In girls soccer action, Worthington played host to Fairmont Thursday night and ended up on the short end of a 3-0 score.
Trojan head coach Emily Ahlquist said her team played a fantastic match and had some very close opportunities at the Fairmont net. WHS trailed by just 1-0 at the half.
The Trojans will be on the road Tuesday night for a sectional match against an opponent that’s yet to be determined.
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In sectional action in high school girls tennis, WHS traveled to top-seeded Prior Lake and dropped a 5-2 decision, ending team play for the season. Trojan players will still get a chance to compete individually at the state level.
Winning matches on the day for the Trojans were Kessey Aljets and Bailey Newman.
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The Worthington High School boys cross country team finished first of 11 teams in a Thursday meet in Fairmont. The Trojans garnered 46 points in edging second-place Mankato East, which had 73. Among the other teams from the region competing were Jackson County Central, which took fifth, and Fairmont, which was sixth.
Fanuel Wolday was once again the top Worthington High School runner, taking third overall with a time of 16 minutes, 51.2 seconds. Emmett Geres of Belle Plaine won in a time of 15.49.2.
JCC’s Andrew Boyum was fourth in the race with a time of 16:56.5. The Trojans’ Mikele Walu was sixth at 17:05.07. The Huskies’ Evan Paplow was eighth, and Worthington’s Alec Langerud ninth. Among the others competing were the Trojans were Ofbeka Morke, who finished in 11th place, and Filmon Wolday, who came in 17th.
In the girls competition, Mankato East came out on top with 42 points. Host Fairmont took third with 74 points. JCC wound up fifth with 149; Worthington was eighth with 186.
Fairmont’s Laura Thompson won the 5,000-meter race in a time of 18 minutes, 23.8 seconds. Her teammate, Mary Hanson, was right behind her in second at 18:25.6. Olivia Anderson of JCC placed ninth. Among the Trojan runners competing were Nicole Wede (42nd), Jenna Hoffman (45th), Marisa Their (47th), Kenadie Thiner (48th) and Carissa Bickett (49th).
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For a report on the Worthington vs. Red Rock Central volleyball, click on our "Podcasts" page under "Features." In other area high school volleyball action Thursday, it was:
Adrian-Ellsworth 3, Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey 1
Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda 3, Pipestone Area 1
Murray County Central 3, Lakeview 0
Sioux Falls Christian 3, Southwest Minnesota Christian 0
Marshall 3, Windom 0
Fairmont 3, Blue Earth 0
Sheldon 3, Sioux Center 1
Boyden-Hull 3, Okoboji 0
Central Lyon 3, Sibley-Ocheyedan 0
Akron-Westfield 3, Harris-Lake Park 0
Spirit Lake 3, Estherville-Lincoln Central 0
West Lyon 3, George-Little Rock 0
