Change is something Eagan goalkeeper Dalton VonKaenel embraces, adjusting the color of his hair to compliment whatever holiday season it may be.

Following a stellar shootout performance in the Schwan’s Cup for the Lakeville Legacy, VonKaenel chose to leave his hair colored red, white and blue for the upcoming high school season.

Sporting blue headgear and a pink uniform to go with his pink mohawk, the Wildcats senior resembled a racer from Tron - a look that he’s stuck with all season, not just in anticipation of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“This year my jersey was pink, so I just thought I’d keep it pink to match,” he said. “It just kinda worked in this year.”

Though his image may have changed, his play remains the same.

VonKaenel held No. 6-seeded St. Paul Central scoreless through overtime of the Class 2A, Section 3 championship game Wednesday night, forcing a shootout in which top-seeded Eagan won 4-2 to advance to its first state tournament in 12 years.

After watching VonKaenel make 10 saves in the game, one would think he was playing to keep his team in the game. But VonKaenel was focused on getting his team back into the game.

“I just try to think, 'We’re playing one (goal) down, so I gotta keep our team in it so we can get a goal to tie it,'” he said. “If I think we’re tied or ahead, I get nervous and shaky on the (goal) line.”

VonKaenel stopped the Minutemen's first two penalty kicks in the shootout, giving his team a two-goal edge.

“It was justified that somebody like Dalton comes up big on the shootouts where he makes saves and puts us in a commanding position,” Eagan coach Alan Merrick said.

The two saves not only alleviated the pressure on the Wildcats' kickers but also on VonKaenel, as Eagan finally had its first lead of the game.

“Out of all the kids on the field, he was the most confident and in a shootout, that’s what wins it,” St. Paul Central coach Jorey Erickson said.

Participating in the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association's Goalkeeper Challenge the past two years, VonKaenel has trained with Erickson and developed into one of the state’s top goalkeepers largely due to his work ethic.

“He’s a great kid he works really hard,” Erickson said. “He had a plan in that shootout and he had things he was looking for.”

The Minutemen produced several more scoring opportunities throughout the game, but Merrick felt his team handled the offensive pressure well to force overtime and the shootout.

“That’s what you expect this time of the season, and the chances are whisper thin,” he said.

VonKaenel has no memory of Eagan’s state tournament appearance in 2003 but is looking to turn some heads in their first trip to state under Merrick's guidance.

“I’m hoping we can make some new memories this year,” VonKaenel said.

Eagan senior goalkeeper Dalton VonKaenel didn’t allow a single goal through the Class 2A, Section 3 playoffs, including in the championship game Wednesday night at Park High School.

He forced an aggressive St. Paul Central team to a shootout that the No. 1-seeded Wildcats won 4-2 to advance to the state tournament.

The No. 6-seeded Minutemen (11-2-3) fired shot after shot, but VonKaenel denied them through 100 minutes of play and finished with 10 saves.

Central’s Berhane Tesfamichael took the first attempt in the shootout, but VonKaenel dove right and deflected the ball with his hands. 

Senior captain Jorge Silva Olvera scored on the first penalty kick for Eagan, ranked No. 10 in the final Class 2A coaches' poll of the season.

VonKaenel stuffed Quinn Tempas with a leg save on the Minutemen's second penalty kick. Senior Sean McCoy scored to give the Wildcats a two goal cushion.

Both teams traded goals in the third round and Central’s Elijah Grow-Hanson scored opposite side on VonKaenel, setting the score at 3-2 to begin the fourth round.

Senior Josue Boutouli ended the shootout, scoring top shelf past Central goalie Julien Oxenham to send Eagan to its first state tournament since 2003.

Oxenham recorded six saves in the game.

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