The Worthington Trojans boys soccer team played defending state champion DeLaSalle evenly for most of the game, but the Islanders got a goal a little more than halfway through the second half and then held on to defeat WHS 1-0 in a state Class AA quarterfinal matchup in Eden Prairie.
The Trojans, who advanced to the state tournament for the third consecutive year, once again fell one victory short of a trip to the semifinals at U.S. Bank Stadium. Worthington had a solid effort throughout the game – another one for the team in a steady rain – and if it weren’t for a handful of very near misses, it very could have moved on to that next round.
In the first half, the Trojans’ Carlos Castillo had a couple of opportunities for goals within about two minutes of each other. Both times, Castillo was able to launch good shots, but each one hit the goalpost to the left of the DeLaSalle goalkeeper. Meanwhile, WHS keeper Kaleb Knothe turned back some Islander shots, and the teams remained scoreless at the half.
DeLaSalle broke through with a little more than 17 minutes remaining as outstanding passing wound up getting the ball on the foot of Juan Muellner Lindor, who was able to get himself wide open just a few feet away from Knothe. The ball was poked into the net, and the Islanders would have the only goal they would need.
Maqui Sandoval came close to tying it up late in the second half when he headed a kick that went off the fingertips of the opposing goalkeeper and then barely crossed over the top of the goal. WHS tried to mount a late attack like it when it tied their sectional championship match against Mankato East with just 1:06 left in regulation, but it couldn’t get the equalizer.
The Trojans conclude their season with a 17-3 record. DeLaSalle, meanwhile, next plays top-seeded Orono at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday in the semis.
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The Section 2AA cross country meet took place Thursday in Mankato, and it was Mankato East finishing with 28 points to take first over second-place Marshall. The Tigers had 61 points and were followed by Belle Plaine, Mankato West and Worthington.
Individually, Fanuel Wolday of the Trojans finished a close second with a time of 16:05.9. Isaiah Anderson of Mankato East was first in 15:58.8. Marshall’s top finisher was Sam Deutz, who was fourth as the Tigers had six runners among the top 19 to cross the line.
The next highest finisher for the Trojans after Wolday was Austin Kinser, who was 27th. Asrat Bonnett was 30th and Isaac Kinser 39th.
In the girls competition, Marshall was first in the team standings with 38 points. It was Allyson Sample leading the way for the Tigers with a second-place overall finish. Katelyn Liebfeied and Oakley Schneekloth were fifth and sixth, respectively, for the Tigers, who had three other runners among the top 16.
Worthington, which placed 11th as a team, saw Madison Sieve come in 49th. Kenadie Thiner was next for the Trojans in 57th and Annabelle Hardwood was 60th.
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Section 3A playoff volleyball action is scheduled for tonight with Tracy-Milroy-Balaton at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton; Southwest Minnesota Christian at Adrian-Ellsworth; Murray County Central at Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda and Edgerton at Westbook-Walnut Grove.
