STMA U14 Girls Soccer Team Qualifies For State

The St. Michael-Albertville United U14C3 girls soccer team beat Isanti 1-0 on Tuesday, July 16. The girls will compete at state, according to one of their coaches.

Isanti is the second-ranked club in the North District.

The girls' coach, Glenn Knight, was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. The remaining parent coaches are Rob Haas, Glenn Knight and Travis Seurer.

The team ended the regular season with a 5-4-3 record, and placed fifth in the standings.

With a 4-0 win in the first game and a 2-1 win in the second, the girls and coaches felt confident they "had the skills and drive needed to finish strong against Isanti, a team that beat (them) 3-1 in regular season," Haas said in a Facebook message. "Despite 90-plus temperatures and high humidity the team took the field and played one of their finest games of the season."

The game was 0-0 going into the second half.

"Several minutes into the second half Sophia W. was tripped in the Isanti goal box providing the opening we needed to score," Haas wrote. "Kaia G. took the penalty kick and delivered our first and only score of the game. Our defense kept Isanti from scoring in each of their strong rallies in the second half, providing our final 1-0 victory.

"The players, coaches and parents are very proud of the progress the team has made this year as individuals and as a team."

The girls lost to Rogers in the first round at state. They will play Eden Prairie at 7 p.m. in Shakopee, according to the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association.

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