Minnesota West advances to Region 13 men's soccer final

The Minnesota West men's soccer team advanced to the Region 13 championship match with a 4-0 Thursday night triumph over Alexandria Tech at Trojan Field.

The match was scoreless of the majority of the first half before Carlos Castillo got the Bluejays on the board on a header with 11:37 remaining before the break. It stayed at 1-0 until Castillo fed Dario Neves for a goal with 28:36 to go in the second half.

Neves added another goal — once again assisted by Castillo — with about 20 minutes to go for a 3-0 advantage. Neves then assisted on a Castillo goal with 6:45 left to round out the scoring.

Jose Sandoval had the shutout at goalkeeper for the Bluejays, who now have a record of 5-6-1 on the year. They'll play for a slot in the national tournament when they host either Anoka-Ramsey or Riverland at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

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The Worthington Trojans' boys cross country team placed eighth and the WHS girls squad was ninth Thursday at the Section 2AA cross country meet in Benson Park.

Trojans senior Austin Kinser was the team's top placer in the boys race, as he crossed the finish line in 19^th with a time of 17:28.9. Junior Asrat Bonnett was nest for Worthington, as he was 29^th with a time of 17:56.9. Among the other WHS competitors were: Jose Chavez Vega, 47th with a personal-record time; Evan Meyer, who also PR'd, 59th; and Braddock Marquardt, 60th.

For the Trojan girls, senior Madison Sieve was the team's highest placer, as she was 36th. Junior Emily Dahlquist was 57th, and Michelle Chicas Melendez was 62^nd with a personal-record time. Worthington's Anna Gordon, Carina Lopez, Myranda Widboom and Anabelle Hardwood placed 63^rd through 66th; Lopez had a PR.

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The Sibley-Ocheyedan girls cross country team, meanwhile, is heading to next week's Iowa state meet in Fort Dodge after taking second place at Thursday's qualifying meet in Emmetsburg.

Sophomore Aleah Marco placed eighth for the Generals with a time of 21.25.0. Teammate Mya Pohlen, a junior, was ninth with a personal-record time of 21:47.2, and sophomore Amadelaid Benitez was 10th. Other placers for S-O included Riley Childs, 18th, and Lucy Heitritter, 19th; both of them PR'd.

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High school football playoffs continue Saturday across southwest Minnesota.

Area 9-man games include Adrian-Ellsworth at Edgerton and Alden-Conger at Hills-Beaver Creek, both at 3 p.m. In Class 1A, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton is at Murray County Central at 3 p.m. In Class 2A, Jackson County Central hosts Windom Area, also at 3 p.m.

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High school postseason volleyball will be in action tonight. Adrian-Ellsworth hosting Hills-Beaver Creek and Murray County Central at Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda are among the Class A matchups. Redwood Valley at Luverne and St. James Area at Jackson County Central are area Class AA matches.

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In Iowa high school volleyball Thursday:

Western Christian 3, Spirit Lake 0

Unity Christian 3, O-A/BC-IG 0

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In Iowa high school volleyball Wednesday:

Boyden-Hull 3, Gehlen Catholic 1

Remsen-St Mary’s 3, George-Litte Rock 2

Hinton 3, Sibley-Ocheyedan 0

West Lyon 3, Rock Valley 2

Central Lyon 3, MMC-RU 0