It looked as if Grant Tostenrud's night was over in the 88th minute of the Class 2A, Section 4 championship game Wednesday night at North St. Paul High School.

The East Ridge defender had just received a yellow card for tackling Polars sophomore attacker Kenlove Solon.

But Tostenrud stayed in the game and became the hero, netting the game-winning goal in the 89th minute as the No. 3-seeded Raptors defeated No. 1-seeded North St. Paul 2-1 in overtime and secured East Ridge a spot in the state tournament.

Tostenrud's rise made up for his fall.

As the ball floated in the air off a deflected shot, Polars senior goalie Malchy Zamacona looked to have a good read on the ball. 

Instead, miscommunication between him and a defender caused both to collide and gave Tostenrud the opportunity to control the loose ball before firing it in the back of the net from about 15 yards out.

Tostenrud said he just reacted with the ball on his feet.

"I didn't really have time to think...I didn't have time to think about it, I just put it in," the sophomore said.

Tostenrud said he didn't lose confidence in his ability to score after being called for the foul and having his name entered in the referee's book.

"I still had believe anything can happen, but it's still sinking in though," Tostenrud said.

Tostenrud is one of five sophomores on the Raptors (13-2-3), but only one of two who started for East Ridge on Wednesday night.

During the regular season, Tostenrud had up one goal and one assist.

His goal in the section final marked his first postseason score. Stats aside, coach Anthony Bidwell said Tostenrud is one of East Ridge's key contributors. 

"He's going to be a phenomenal player," Bidwell said. "He's one of our better players, but this is really a team effort. It's been that way the whole season because we really don't have a go-to goal scorer."  

Senior midfielder Keelan Spencer recorded the Raptors' first goal. After Zamacona blocked East Ridge's initial shot, Spencer possessed the rebound on the lower left side of the goalie box. He fell to ground while in the middle of shooting, but the ball crossed the goal line.

North St. Paul (16-3-2) took an early lead as Polars sophomore forward Ata Claremond knocked in a goal in the 8th minute.

Bidwell believes North St. Paul's attack is among the state's elite.

"Credit to North, they're one heck of a soccer team," Bidwell said. "They've got a dangerous attack. It's probably the four most dangerous players in the state in terms of the attack."

Polars coach Casey Holm declined to comment after the game. 

The victory sends the Raptors to the state tournament for the second consecutive year.

Last season, they were the No.1 seed and beat Duluth East 1-0 in the quarterfinals. East Ridge lost in the semifinals to Wayzata 2-0, but finished in third place after defeating Maple Grove 4-1.

Spencer said the Raptors are a force to be reckoned with. 

"I want to be humble as possible, but we're going to be a threat," he said. "We've got to take it one game at a time and do our best." 

East Ridge clinched a spot in the Class 2A state tournament with a game-winning goal in the 89th minute from sophomore defender Grant Tostenrud as the No. 3-seeded Raptors defeated No. 1-seeded North St. Paul 2-1 in overtime of the Section 4 final Wednesday night at North St. Paul High School.   

Sophomore forward Ata Claremond netted the Polars' first score in the 8th minute. Claremond maneuvered through several East Ridge defenders and created some separation before firing a shot that beat Raptors junior goalie Sam Richardson.

East Ridge senior midfielder Keelan Spencer tied the match with his goal in the 57th minute. North St. Paul senior goalie Malchy Zamacona stopped East Ridge's initial shot, but Spencer received the ball on the lower left side of the goalie box. As he was manipulating his body to get off a shot, he fell to the ground but got the ball past Zamacona.

The Raptors (13-2-3), ranked No. 3 in the final Class 2A coaches' poll of the season, compete in the state quarterfinals next week, while the No. 1-2A Polars (16-3-2) end their season.   

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