State Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer Tournament

Three teams return to defend 2014 titles

Three teams return to defend their titles at the 2015 State Soccer Tournament. They are the Anoka boys and Eagan girls in Class AA and the Orono girls in Class A. Of the 32 qualified teams, only 13 teams played in the 2014 state tournament. The Class A boys’ co-op between Faribault and Bethlehem Academy of Faribault is the only program that is making its first tournament appearance.

Three schools qualified both a boys’ and girls’ team: Orono and Sartell-St. Stephen in Class A and Eagan in Class AA.

St. Thomas Academy of Mendota Heights is the No. 1 seed for Class A boys. Minnetonka is the No. 1 seed for Class AA boys. Benilde-St. Margaret’s of St. Louis Park is the No. 1 seed for Class A girls. Lakeville North is the No. 1 seed for Class AA girls.

Class A Boys Highlights

No. 1 Seed (Section 3) St. Thomas Academy, Mendota Heights (16-3-1) vs. (Section 1) Rochester Lourdes (16-2-2) — 5:30 p.m., Oct. 28, at Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School, St. Louis Park: The Cadets of St. Thomas Academy, who were No. 4 in the final coaches’ poll, return for their fourth appearance. They made their last appearance in 2005. The Cadets did not play any other Class A qualifiers during the regular season. The unranked Eagles of Rochester Lourdes are making their sixth consecutive and 14th overall appearance. Rochester Lourdes won titles in 1998, 1999 and 2012, but lost in the 2014 quarterfinals. This season, the Eagles fell to Breck School 2-1.

No. 4 Seed (Section 5) Breck School, Golden Valley (12-4-4) vs. No. 5 Seed (Section 8) Sartell-St. Stephen (14-2-4) — 7:30 p.m., Oct. 28, at Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School, St. Louis Park: The No. 5-ranked Breck School Mustangs are making their fifth appearance, but first since 2008. They won one previous championship in 2005. During regular-season play, Breck School defeated Rochester Lourdes 2-1 and lost to Orono 2-1 in overtime. The Sartell-St. Stephen Sabres are making their third appearance, but first since 2013. They were not ranked in this year’s final coaches’ poll and did not face any other Class A qualifiers this season.

No. 2 Seed (Section 6) Orono (19-1-0) vs. (Section 4) St. Paul Como Park (8-6-5) — 7:30 p.m., Oct. 28, at Chisago Lakes High School, Lindstrom: Orono, the No. 2 team in the final coaches’ poll, is making its seventh appearance. The Spartans made their last appearance in 2010. This season, Orono defeated Breck School 2-1 in overtime. The St. Paul Como Park Cougars return for their fourth consecutive and overall appearance. They fell in the quarterfinals last year and were not ranked in this year’s final coaches’ poll. The Cougars are looking for their second state title; they won their first in 2013. St. Paul Como Park did not face any other Class A qualifiers this year.

No. 3 Seed (Section 7) Hermantown (18-0-1) vs. (Section 2) Faribault (14-5-0) — 5:30 p.m., Oct. 28, at Chisago Lakes High School, Lindstrom: The No. 3-ranked Hermantown Hawks return to the tournament after a one-year absence. This is their third appearance overall. Faribault, which includes students from Bethlehem Academy of Faribault, is making its debut appearance. The Falcons were not ranked in this year’s final coaches’ poll. Neither team faced any other qualifiers this season.

Class AA Boys Highlights

No. 1 Seed (Section 2) Minnetonka (16-3-0) vs. (Section 6) Minneapolis Washburn (11-4-3) — 5:30 p.m., Oct. 27, at Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School, St. Louis Park: The sixth-ranked Skippers of Minnetonka return for their second consecutive appearance and their fourth overall. They fell in the quarterfinals of the 2014 tournament. The Skippers defeated both Eagan (5-1) and Park Center (4-1) during regular-season play. Minneapolis Washburn is making its seventh appearance, but first since 1989. They were not ranked in the final coaches’ poll and did not face any other Class AA qualifiers this year.

No. 4 Seed (Section 7) Anoka (14-3-2) vs. No. 5 Seed (Section 3) Eagan (13-3-3) — 7:30 p.m., Oct. 27, at Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School, St. Louis Park: The defending champions from Anoka return to make their second consecutive and 14th overall appearance. They were not ranked in this year’s final coaches’ poll. If the Tornadoes win, it would be their third championship; they won their first in 2007. During regular-season play, Anoka defeated St. Cloud Tech 2-0 and fell to Park Center 2-1. The unranked Wildcats of Eagan return to tournament action and are making their seventh appearance. Their last appearance was in 2003. During the regular season, Eagan lost to Minnetonka 5-1 and played East Ridge to a 1-1 tie.

No. 2 Seed (Section 4) East Ridge, Woodbury (13-2-3) vs. (Section 1) Rochester Mayo (15-1-3) — 5:30 p.m., Oct. 28, at Farmington High School: The Raptors of East Ridge were the No. 7 team in the final coaches’ poll and are making their second consecutive and overall appearance. They are looking to improve on last year’s third-place showing.  This season, East Ridge tied Eagan 1-1. The unranked Spartans of Rochester Mayo are making their seventh tournament appearance, but first since 2011. Rochester Mayo did not face any other Class AA qualifiers during the regular season.

No. 3 Seed (Section 5) Park Center, Brooklyn Park (13-4-2) vs. (Section 8) St. Cloud Tech (16-1-2) — 7:30 p.m., Oct. 28, at Farmington High School: The Pirates of Park Center are making their second tournament appearance, but first since 2004. They were ranked No. 8 in this year’s final coaches’ poll. During the regular season, Park Center lost to Minnetonka 4-1 and defeated Anoka 2-1. St. Cloud Tech, which includes students from Randolph Home School in Bowlus, returns to tournament action after a six-year hiatus. The unranked Tigers made their only other appearance in 2008. In late August, St. Cloud Tech fell to Anoka 2-0.

Class A Girls Highlights

[Benilde-St. Margaret’s and Orono were the only qualifiers that met during the regular season. Benilde-St. Margaret’s won that game 1-0.]

No. 1 Seed (Section 5) Benilde-St. Margaret’s, St. Louis Park (17-1-1) vs. (Section 8) Sartell-St. Stephen (14-4-2) — 5:30 p.m., Oct. 29, at St. Cloud State University: The top-ranked Red Knights of Benilde-St. Margaret’s are making their 10th appearance, but first since 2013. The Red Knights are in the hunt for their third title; they won previously in 2012 and 2013. The unranked Sabres of Sartell-St. Stephen return for their third consecutive and fifth overall appearance. They fell in the quarterfinals of the 2014 tournament.

No. 4 Seed (Section 3) Academy of Holy Angels, Richfield (15-2-2) vs. No. 5 Seed (Section 7) Princeton (18-2-0) — 7:30 p.m., Oct. 29, at St. Cloud State University: The Academy of Holy Angels Stars are making their sixth appearance, but first since 2008. They came in at No. 4 on this year’s final coaches’ poll and are looking for their second title. They won their only other championship in 2003. The Princeton Tigers return for their second consecutive and overall appearance. They lost in the quarterfinals last year and were not ranked in this year’s final coaches’ poll.

No. 2 Seed (Section 6) Orono (17-2-0) vs. (Section 1) Dover-Eyota (15-3-0) — 5:30 p.m., Oct. 27, at Farmington High School: This is the second consecutive year that these two teams have met in the quarterfinals. Orono won 3-1 last year. The defending champions from Orono, who were No. 2 in the final coaches’ poll, are making their second consecutive appearance and their eighth overall. In addition to last year, the Spartans also won a title in 2009. The unranked Eagles of Dover-Eyota are making their second consecutive and overall appearance.

No. 3 Seed (Section 4) Mahtomedi (14-4-0) vs. (Section 2) St. Peter (16-2-2) — 7:30 p.m., Oct. 27, at Farmington High School: The Zephyrs of Mahtomedi return after a one-year absence. They were ranked No. 3 in the final coaches’ poll and are making their 12th appearance. If the Zephyrs win, it would be their seventh championship. They won previously in 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008. The Saints of St. Peter, who were not ranked in the final coaches’ poll, return after a two-year absence. They are making their fourth appearance overall.

Class AA Girls Highlights

No. 1 Seed (Section 1) Lakeville North (16-1-0) vs. (Section 7) Blaine (8-6-5) — 5:30 p.m., Oct. 29 at Chisago Lakes High School, Lindstrom: The coaches association’s top-ranked Panthers of Lakeville North return to make their fifth consecutive and sixth overall appearance. They Panthers are looking to improve on last year’s fourth-place showing. During the regular season, Lakeville North defeated Wayzata 2-0 and lost to Eagan 2-1. The unranked Blaine Bengals return to tournament action after a two-year hiatus. They are making their sixth appearance overall. During regular-season play, Blaine and Centennial played to a 0-0 overtime tie.

No. 4 Seed (Section 6) Wayzata (14-4-1) vs. No. 5 Seed (Section 2) Eden Prairie (13-3-3) — 7:30 p.m., Oct. 29 at Chisago Lakes High School, Lindstrom: These two teams met twice during the regular season. Wayzata won the first game 1-0 and Eden Prairie claimed the second 2-1 in overtime. Wayzata is making its 25th appearance, but first since 2012. The Trojans, who were the No. 7 team in the final coaches’ poll, are in the hunt for their eighth title. They won previously in 1991, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2009, 2011, and 2012. In addition to facing Eden Prairie, Wayzata also fell to Lakeville North 2-0. The Eden Prairie Eagles, who were ranked No. 5 in the final coaches’ poll, are making their fourth consecutive and 10th overall tournament appearance. They claimed runner-up honors in 2014 and won two previous championships in 2005 and 2010. Fellow qualifier Mounds View defeated Eden Prairie 2-0 in early October.

No. 2 Seed (Section 4) Mounds View (18-0-1) vs. (Section 5) Centennial, Circle Pines (13-3-2) — 5:30 p.m., Oct. 28, at St. Cloud State University: No. 2-ranked Mounds View returns to the tournament after a one-year absence. The Mustangs are making their 12th appearance and they defeated two fellow qualifiers during the regular season. They beat Rogers 6-1 in early September and Eden Prairie 2-0 in early October. The unranked Cougars of Centennial are making their second consecutive and fifth overall appearance. They earned third-place honors in 2014. Centennial played Blaine to a 0-0 overtime tie during the regular season.

No. 3 Seed (Section 3) Eagan (16-2-1) vs. (Section 8) Rogers (15-3-1) — 7:30 p.m., Oct. 28, at St. Cloud State University: The defending champions from Eagan are making their second consecutive and seventh overall appearance. They were ranked No. 3 in this year’s final coaches’ poll. During regular-season play, Eagan defeated Lakeville North 2-1. Rogers is making its third appearance, but first since 2010. They Royals, who were not ranked in this year’s final poll, won one previous championship in 2010. This year, they fell to Mounds View 6-1.

The Schedule

After this week’s quarterfinal rounds Tuesday through Thursday, all semifinal games will be played at Husky Stadium on the campus of St. Cloud State University.

Class AA girls’ semifinals will be played at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Monday, November 2, followed by the Class AA boys’ semifinals at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. The Class A girls will take to the field at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 4, and the boys will follow at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

The tournament concludes on Thursday, November 5, with all championship games being played at Husky Stadium. The Class A girls will play at 9:30 a.m. and the Class A boys will compete at noon. The Class AA girls will play at 2:30 p.m. and the boys will follow at 5 p.m.

All third-place games will be held at Mahtomedi High School. That schedule begins with the Class A girls at 9 a.m. and the Class A boys at 11 a.m. The Class AA girls will start at 1 p.m. followed by the boys at 3 p.m.

Courtesy: MSHSL