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Totino-Grace state tourney bound after edging Breck 2-1

By Luke Hanlon, SportsEngine , 10/19/17, 10:00AM CDT

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Matthew Hagen headed home the eventual game-winning goal.



Totino-Grace forward Eric Krieger fights against Breck midfielder Grayson Phillips for the ball at the Class 1A, Section 5 final at Osseo High School. The Eagles beat the Mustangs 2-0. Photo by Meagan Lynch, SportsEngine

Twilight may have been one of the biggest reasons that Totino-Grace ended up winning the Class 1A, Section 5 tournament – and specifically the championship game.

No, not the book series.

“Whenever we concede a goal we have a motto called ‘Twilight’ which we always try and play as hard as we can after conceding a goal,” Totino-Grace forward Herbert Enderly said.

The Eagles (16-1-1) scored the game-winning goal four minutes after they conceded the equalizer, a headed goal by Will Surucu after a free kick taken by Eric Smits.

The Eagles were playing extremely hard as they continued their domination of possession after the goal and won a corner. Enderly whipped in a cross that was placed perfectly to the head of Matthew Hagen, who converted from a few yards out.

“We practice that every single day,” Enderly said about the corner-kick goal. “I knew where I was going to hit it, and Matthew Hagen knew where he was going to run into.”

Enderly had a massive impact in the game, scoring the opening goal and assisting on the winner. The attack was constantly moving through him, and if it wasn’t for a solid stop from Breck goalkeeper Hudson Haecker, Enderly could’ve had another goal and a couple more assists.

“He is an extremely talented player, and teams mark on him, key on him, and he still produces,” Totino-Grace coach Bill Vance said.

Vance was relived after the win. He described the game as “entertaining,” but “tiring” and emotional.

“It was a blast in hindsight,” he said. “During it, there were times that were very nerve-wracking.”

The nerves settled after the final whistle blew, and now the Eagles are onto the state tournament. It’s over for the Mustangs (11-7-1), who had an impressive second half of the season that saw them win six of their last seven regular season games. They also went on to beat Blake, the No. 1-ranked team in the Class 1A coaches' poll, in the section semifinals.

“It’s been an amazing season,” Breck coach George Stuempfig said. “(Midway through the season) I don’t think anyone dreamt we would be in a nil-nil tie at halftime of the section final.”

Stuempfig said that they were beat by a better team tonight, but he “couldn’t be more proud of our players…they gave it everything they had.”

The Eagles will celebrate the win tonight because getting to state is a “big accomplishment,” Vance said.

After a rest day tomorrow, the Eagles will be back practicing on Saturday, preparing for state.

“We’re not finished yet, as the players have said,” Vance said.


Forward Herbert Endeley scored the first goal of the game to give Totino-Grace a 1-0 lead over Breck in the second half of the Class 1, Section 5 final at Osseo High School. The Eagles beat the Mustangs 2-0. Photo by Meagan Lynch, SportsEngine

First Report

In a drama-filled Class 1A, Section 5 championship, it was the favorite, top-seeded Totino-Grace, that was able to come out on top in a 2-1 victory over Breck Thursday night at Osseo High School. The Eagles (16-1-1) clinched a berth in the Class 1A state tournament that will start next week.

Matthew Hagen notched what stood as the game-winning goal. With the game tied and 16 minutes left on the clock, the Eagles won a corner battle. Herbert Enderly played in a rocket of a ball to Hagen, who finished with a simple header a few yards out.

The game was even early, as both teams had chances to put the first goal away in the first half. The goalkeeping was strong on both sides, as Philip Ronza for Totino-Grace and Hudson Haecker for Breck each made big saves to keep the first half scoreless.

The game opened up in the second half, and that’s when the Eagles, and specifically Enderly, took over.

With just over 27 minutes left, Enderly was played through on the left side and he slotted home the first goal, placing the ball to the bottom right of the goal.

Breck (11-7-1) answered with a goal eight minutes later, as Eric Smits played in a free kick that Will Surucu headed in for the equalizer.


Breck midfielder Lucas Lewin-Mills passes the ball to Breck defender Spencer Yueh in the Class 1A, Section 5 final against Totino-Grace at Osseo High School. The Mustangs lost to the Eagles 2-0. Photo by Meagan Lynch, SportsEngine

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