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BSM picks up steam late to pull away from Totino-Grace

By Thad Carroll, SportsEngine, 10/20/16, 7:45AM CDT

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The Red Knights scored four goals in the second half to defeat the Eagles 5-1.




Benilde-St. Margaret defeated Totino-Grace 5-1 to win the Class 1A Section 5 championship on Thursday at St. Louis Park High School Stadium. Photo by Cheryl Myers, SportsEngine



Benilde-St. Margaret’s (15-4-1) has lost more games this season than any other in the last five years, falling to strong Class 2A teams in Edina, Chanhassen, Hill-Murray and St. Paul Academy.

However, head coach Scott Helling-Christy believes the tough schedule and early adversity prepared the Red Knights to pass their tough test Thursday night against Totino-Grace in the Class 1A Section 5 final at St. Louis Park High School.

“Our non-conference games are very competitive and that’s all planned so are girls are battled-tested,” said Helling-Christy. “As long as we play well, if we lose against a good team you really can’t hang your head about that.”

Because of that preparation, Benilde-St. Margaret’s was unphased when Totino-Grace knotted the match at one inside the first minute of the second-half.

“Their goal really riled us up and got us excited. We wanted to beat them and with us coming in as the second seed and them as the first we really wanted to prove we could beat them," said Red Knights’ sophomore midfielder Amanda Cassidy, who scored the lone goal of the first half.

Totino-Grace (15-4) tied the game on a header to the far post by Lexi Serreyn off of a corner kick from Arianna Del Moral.

“We’ve gone down a lot this season and come back to win many times, so it’s kind of in our blood,” said Totino-Grace coach Matt Thibodeau.

Totino-Grace couldn’t handle a riled up Benilde-St. Margaret’s team, though, surrendering four goals in the final 26 minutes of the game. Vivian Shinall shifted the momentum back to the Red Knights and opened the floodgates, knocking home a goal after a terrific centering pass from Cassidy.

The Red Knights had a victory scrum with their sectional trophy at the end of the night, but they want a chance to do that further down the road.

“That was awesome, but it’s even better at state, so we want to do that again,” said Cassidy.

Their fight continues next week, and depending on their seed, they could be on their home field.


Lexi Serreyn's (11) header was the only goal scored by the Eagles. Photo by Cheryl Myers, SportsEngine

First Report

What looked to be a tough battle early in the second half ended in a rout as defending state champions, Benilde-St Margaret’s, cruised past Totino-Grace 5-1 in Thursday night’s Class 1A Section 5 final.

The Red Knights opened the scoring 33 minutes into the game with a sneaky touch goal in the left corner from sophomore Amanda Cassidy. Benilde-St. Margaret’s took that one goal lead into the half.

After knotting the game at one with a goal from Lexi Serreyn in the first minute of the second half, it looked like the Eagles had life, but they were unable to build on that initial offensive burst and Benilde-St. Margaret’s made them pay.

The Red Knights tallied four goals in the last 26 minutes of the game, including two goals from Vivian Shinall and a second by Cassidy, to clinch the Section 5 title and secure their spot in the state tournament. 

Cassidy led the Knights with the two goals while assisting on another.  Senior Maren Noble also had a goal and an assist and goalie laire Grazzini added three saves.

Madison Brunn totaled four saves for Totino-Grace.  


Sophomore Amanda Cassidy (7) scored two goals and added an assist on Vivian Shinall's game winning goal for the Red Knights. Photo by Cheryl Myers, SportsEngine.

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