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Blaine back in state soccer title hunt

By David La Vaque, Star Tribune, 09/30/14, 5:57PM CDT

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The Bengals, with leading scorer Britney Monteon healthy, are title contenders.


Blaine midfielder Abbey Wohlers during practice at Blaine High School Thursday afternoon. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Blaine High School girl's soccer team is the No. 1 seed going into the playoffs this year

 

Two victories this week would make the Blaine girls’ soccer team one of the most successful in program history.

These Bengals already are some of the most resilient.

A 5-7-5 record last year and first-round section playoff loss prevented Blaine from enjoying a third consecutive Class 2A state tournament appearance. Injury and inconsistent play derailed the Bengals’ offensive punch.

But the return of leading scorer Britney Monteon, the addition of four talented freshmen and contributions from other solid players has Blaine back in the state tournament picture. The Bengals likely will receive the No. 1 seed for the approaching Section 7 playoffs.

They are eager to prove last season was a fluke.

“After last year everyone was disappointed,” sophomore goalkeeper Emily Brown said. “We have the mentality that we won’t let this happen again.”

So far, so good.

Blaine’s 10-2-2 record is two victories shy of what coach Scott Zachmann believes would be the most regular season victories in school history. The Bengals played Maple Grove on Tuesday after this edition went to press. They finish the regular season Thursday against Spring Lake Park/St. Anthony Village.

Important lessons were learned throughout the first 14 games. Ava Zoschke said an early-season 5-1 victory against St. Francis, the team that ended Blaine’s season in the playoffs, helped close the book on past disappointment. Zoschke, one of four freshmen in the starting lineup, provides an energy and enthusiasm that meshes well with the hunger of returning players.

Monteon, who leads the team with 19 goals after missing all of last season because of a knee injury, said positives were taken from the team’s 2-1 overtime loss to Stillwater.

“We worked hard the entire time and that showed the effort everyone is willing to put in,” Monteon said.

Returning players felt the attitude and effort were strong last season. But the Bengals struggled to fill the scoring void after Monteon was injured. One player missed an open net with about two minutes remaining in the 1-0 playoff loss to St. Francis.

Monteon’s 19 goals count for almost half of her team’s total (39) this season.

“You can really depend on her,” Zoschke said. “She gives other players good opportunities to score, too.”

Other players stepping up include seniors Abbey Wohlers (one goal, 10 assists) and Savanna Schneider (five goals, six assists). Blaine is 2-1 in games in which Monteon has not scored. One of those games, a 1-0 loss to rival Centennial, got players back to basics.

“If you work hard you get the benefit of winning, and we didn’t work as hard as we could in that game,” senior captain Katie Marthaler said.

Marthaler said the team responded five days later with “probably the best game we’ve played” in a 3-0 victory against Park Center.

As a central defender, Marthaler works closely with Brown, one of the state’s stingiest goalkeepers.

“Having Emily Brown behind you is the best feeling you can get,” Marthaler said. “She’s like a senior out there; she is incredible.”

The anchor of Blaine’s defense, Brown has given up just nine goals in 12 games. Her anticipation and leaping ability helps her snuff opponents’ scoring chances. Her confident, yet relaxed, approach provides an example for teammates.

A year removed from a crushing loss, players are poised to write a different ending.

“We’re going to the state tournament this year,” Marthaler said.

 

David La Vaque • 612-673-7574