Benilde-St. Margaret's junior Aleksa Tataryn is no stranger to big moments.

The midfielder scored the game-winning goal, her fifth of the season, in the Red Knights' 3-1 victory on Thursday against Minnetonka in the matchup of defending big and small-school champions at Benilde-St. Margaret's High School.

Tataryn was is coming off a two goal performance against No. 3 (Class 1A) Blake on Aug. 23, a 2-0 Red Knights win.

In the last year's state Class 1A championship game against Blake, she scored the only goal in Benilde-St. Margaret's 1-0 victory, securing the Red Knights' second straight state title.

"I have played with her since I was a freshman and she was an eighth grader on the JV team, and she has always had those clutch goals," said senior Mimi Burns, who scored the first goal for the No. 1-ranked Red Knights (3-0-0). "She has always been able to come through for us, even going back to the state championship game last year."

With the score tied 1-1, No. 1 (Class 2A) Minnetonka (3-1-0) had trouble clearing the ball from the front of its net. A deflected header found Tataryn, who settled it and beat Skippers' freshman goalie Charlotte Brisley inside the right post.

"I knew I wasn't going to have a lot of time, and I am not the best with balls in the air, so I knew I had to one-touch it," Tataryn said. "I did it, and it all worked out."

Benilde-St. Margaret's has played a team ranked in the Minnesota State High School Soccer Coaches Association's Class 1A preseason poll in every game this season. It beat No. 7 (Class 1A) Rochester Lourdes 4-0 in the season opener and followed with a 2-0 win against Blake.

Tataryn has scored in every game. The bigger the game, it seems the better she will perform.

"She shines in every game," Red Knights' coach Scott Helling-Christy said. "She comes up big and is just fast, skilled and great at scoring goals. She has the composure that you want to see in your forwards when they get the chance to score. They take advantage, and she is that kind of player."

"We lean on her a lot, and when she gets an opportunity to score, most of the time she is going to make it," Burns said.

Minnetonka senior Maggie Crist gave the Skippers a 1-0 lead in the first half when she headed in a corner kick from Molly Pitzelle. 

Burns tied it on a goal from 35 yards out that went over the outstretched arms of Brisley.

"I'm not good at keeping the ball low, so I'm perfect from 35 to 40 yards out," Burns said. "I knew that if I took a hard shot from far out I might have a chance, so why not."

Freshman Madison Stoks put Benilde. St. Margaret's up 3-1 in the 109th minute with an easy tap into an open net after a pass from Jordan Maddaus.

The Red Knights play another ranked opponent in their next game on Tuesday when they travel to No. 2 (Class 1A) Orono (3-0-0).

Minnetonka will begin Lake Conference play on Tuesday when it travels to Hopkins (4-0-0).

Aleksa Tataryn scored the game-winning goal with 30 minutes left in the second half to give No. 1-ranked (Class 1A) Benilde-St. Margaret's (3-0-0) a 3-1 win against No. 1 (Class 2A) Minnetonka (3-1-0) on Thursday night at Benilde-St. Margaret's High School.

Senior Mimi Burns and freshman Madison Stoks also scored for the Red Knights, who scored three unanswered goals after Skippers' senior Maggie Crist scored on a header from a corner kick, assisted by Molly Pitzele.

Minnetonka and Benilde-St. Margaret's won state titles in their respective classes last season.

The Skippers will travel to Hopkins (4-0-0) next Tuesday for their first conference game of the season. Benilde-St. Margaret's will also be on the road Tuesday to play Orono (2-0-0).

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