Mankato West spoils Trojans' boys soccer state hopes with 2-1 OT win

The season came to a heartbreaking end Tuesday night for the Worthington Trojans' boys soccer team.

Third-seeded Mankato West scored a golden goal with 5:26 left in the second overtime period, capturing the Section 2AA title and a berth in the state tournament with a 2-1 triumph over the top-seeded Trojans in New Prague. WHS, which also lost 2-1 to New Ulm in the sectional finals last fall, finishes its year with a record of 15-4-1.

Things started well enough for the Trojans on Tuesday, as they came out aggressively and were able to create numerous scoring opportunities early. They wound up getting a goal with exactly 19 minutes gone by when Kain Thepmontry's free kick was misplayed by the Scarlets' goalkeeper, with it ultimately bouncing over his head and into the net.

From there, Mankato West toughened and was able to hold WHS at bay defensively the rest of the half. Then, in the second half, it was the Scarlets who controlled the tempo, and though the Trojans did have a couple of good opportunities to score, Mankato West kept the deficit at 1-0 until Noah Wersal broke through with 4:41 remaining to even the score.

Worthington goalkeeper Adrian Flores had a stunning point-blank save in the first 10-minute overtime to preserve the tie. The Scarlets, though, kept up the pressure and won it on Gorka Diaz Alonso's goal nearly halfway through the second OT. Mankato West is now 6-1 all-time against Worthington in sectional tourney play.

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It was a tough end to the regular season for the Worthington Trojan football team on Tuesday, as 10th-ranked Tri-City United overwhelmed host WHS 47-0 on Senior Night.

While the Titans improved to 7-1 with their victory, the Trojans lost their fourth straight and concluded their regular season at 2-6. Next for Worthington is a sectional playoff game; they'll take place across southwest Minnesota next Tuesday.

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In 9-Man football, Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda's four-game winning streak came to an end as the Coyotes lost a hard-fought battle at No. 4-ranked Wabasso 36-28. Wabasso is 8-0 on the fall; HL-O/F is 6-2.

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Adrian-Ellsworth was also away from home Tuesday night, as it played in Hector against Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart. It was the Dragons winning their sixth straight contest, as they cruised past the Mustangs 52-14. A-E is 6-2 on the year.

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Top-ranked Jackson County Central bounced back from last week's loss and won its regular-season finale against winless Windom Area, 55-13. The Huskies now have a record of 7-1. Luverne, which beat JCC last week, was upset on the road at Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial 27-6 for its first loss of the year.

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In other area high school football Tuesday, it was:

New Ulm Cathedral 32, Edgerton 30

Hills-Beaver Creek 46, Cedar Mountain 0

Red Rock Central 28, Westbrook-Walnut Grove 14

Renville County West 40, Mountain Lake Area 14

Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 26, BOLD 8

Martin County West 28, Cleveland 25

Murray County Central 48, Canby 20

Pipestone Area 35, LeSueur-Henderson 7