The talent and success of the six seniors on the Mounds View girls' soccer team has been well-documented, including in a feature in the Minneapolis-Star Tribune.
But on Tuesday night, it was the play of the Mustangs sophomore class that made the difference.
Defender Elle Conlin scored her first career varsity goal while the solid defensive play of midfielder Shania Fleming helped that goal stand up as the game-winner in Mounds View’s 1-0 win over East Ridge.
The win gives the Mustangs (8-0-1, 3-0-0), ranked No. 2 in the most recent Class 2A coaches’ poll, sole possession of first place in the Suburban East Conference. The Raptors (4-3-3, 2-1-1) are third in the league.
“I think everyone knew we were the conference favorite going in,” Mounds View coach Terri Patraw said after the game. “But I’d say East Ridge was right with us.”
Conlin, however, supplied the Mustangs with the of separation they needed. She tapped home a bouncing corner kick in the 25th minute to give Mounds View the lead.
Seeing Conlin score a goal from her defender position was fun for the entire team, Patraw said.
“Elle’s a defender, so to get the goal, it’s always fun,” she added.
Patraw said Conlin adds a level of experience in the back row despite her sophomore status.
“(Elle) started for us as a freshman last season,” Patraw said. “(So she’s) an experienced player.”
Conlin, who has been a varsity track and field athlete for Mounds View since the seventh grade, admitted her goal may have drawn slightly more attention than one scored by another teammate.
“I don’t score a lot, so it was kind of a big deal,” Conlin said with a grin.
Fleming justified her classmate’s reaction, saying that the lack of chances for Conlin to score warranted congratulations from her teammates.
“She’s defense and she doesn’t really score,” Fleming said.
First varsity goal aside, Conlin’s concern after the game was how the win sets the stage for a successful conference slate.
“It was a good start to our conference season, because we end up playing (East Ridge) again,” Conlin said. “And they’re going to be one of our toughest competitors.”
