After spotting Duluth Denfeld a goal in the game’s opening seconds, Blake spent most of the rest of it in the Hunters’ end on the way to a 3-1 victory in the Class 1A boys’ soccer quarterfinal Wednesday at Chisago Lakes High School.

The Bears turned that control into the lead when the Bears’ Ethan Roe, after taking a pass from his brother, Soren, went in alone and tucked a shot under Duluth Denfeld’s goalkeeper James Faynik to break a 1-1 tie in the 32nd minute of the first half.

“I knew that was going to be a huge opportunity,” Ethan Roe said. “We had been dominating in the zone but hadn’t put one in yet. If you leave someone in a game, it can become a dogfight. I just tried to lock in on the breakaway and put it where I wanted to.”

The Bears tied the score in the 11th minute of the first half on a header by Colin McConkey off a free kick by Lane Lipschultz.

Sean LeBlanc sealed the victory with 22:38 left in the game by sending a shot through the goalkeeper and a defender. His shot glanced off at least one body and spun just inside the post.

The Hunters’ Jon Faynik, the goalkeeper’s brother, scored 18 seconds into the game on a clean shot from the middle of the field after a Bears defender slipped.

One thing that Blake did not expect was the aggressive play of the Hunters’ goalkeeper. James Faynik often left his goal area to play the ball. He even tried a shot from across midfield late in the game and nearly scored.

“We didn’t know much about him,” Bears coach Tamba Johnson said. “He played very well. We knew he was good. We didn’t know he was that aggressive.”

Blake's Ethan Roe tucked a shot under Duluth Denfeld’s goalkeeper James Faynik to break a 1-1 in the 32nd minute of the first half en route to the Bears' 3-1 victory in the Class 1A quarterfinals.

After giving up a goal in the opening minute of the game, the Bears spent most of the game in the Hunters' end in the game Tuesday at Chisago Lakes High School.

The Hunters scored first on a clean shot by Jon Faynik after a Bears defender slipped.

The Bears tied the game in the 11th minute of the first half off a header by Colin McConkey.

Sean LaBlanc sealed the victory with 22:38 left in the game by sending a shot through the goalkeeper and a defender. His shot glanced off at least one body and spun just inside the post.

One thing that Blake did not expect was the aggressiveness of the Hunters’ goalkeeper, who frequently left the goal area. He even attempted a shot from across midfield late in the game and nearly scored.

Check back later for more on the game.