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ahtomedi girls punch ticket to state tournament with shootout win over Hill-Murray in Class 1A, Section 4 final. Photo by Gary Mukai, SportsEngine 

Mahtomedi girls take Class 1A, Section 4 crown with shootout win over Hill-Murray

By Dominic Davis, SportsEngine, 10/17/19, 12:00PM CDT

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Lauren Heinsch, Audrey Sexson and Lindsey Handke converted in the penalty kick shootout, securing the victory for the Zephyrs.

Mahtomedi's Lauren Heinsch (#9) scored the Zephyrs first goal in the Class 1A, Section 4 final Thursday night at Mary Queen of Victory Stadium in Maplewood. Mahtomedi won in a thrilling shootout over Hill-Murray. Photo by Gary Mukai, SportsEngine

Mahtomedi's Lauren Heinsch (#9) scored the Zephyrs first goal in the Class 1A, Section 4 final Thursday night at Mary Queen of Victory Stadium in Maplewood. Mahtomedi won in a thrilling shootout over Hill-Murray. Photo by Gary Mukai, SportsEngine

Winning three consecutive section finals — something Mahtomedi headed into Thursday trying to do — is difficult for any program. Hill-Murray, however, did not make the feat easy. 

The Pioneers (13-3-2) held their own until the match had to be decided in a post-overtime penalty kicks period. The Pioneers only found the net once while Lauren Heinsch, Audrey Sexson and Lindsey Handke netted goals for Mahtomedi to win the Class 1A, Section 4 title 3-2.

Mahtomedi coach Dave Wald was proud of his seniors for battling through complacency after winning back-to-back section and state titles in the previous two seasons.

The hunger to play more soccer for much of the roster was motivation to push until the end in overtime and achieve the shootout win.

Hill-Murray's Katherine Schindler (#21) scored in the second half to tie the game 2-2. The top-seeded Pioneers lost to the Zephyrs in a shootout Hill-Murray High School. Photo by Gary Mukai, SportsEngine 

Hill-Murray's Katherine Schindler (#21) scored in the second half to tie the game 2-2. The top-seeded Pioneers lost to the Zephyrs in a shootout Hill-Murray High School. Photo by Gary Mukai, SportsEngine 

First report

After a tied game and a scoreless overtime period, Mahtomedi broke through in penalty kicks to beat Hill-Murray 3-2 in the Class 1A, Section 4 championship on Thursday.

Lauren Heinsch, Audrey Sexson and Lindsey Handke netted goals for Mahtomedi in the penalty kick period, while Ella Runyon was the lone Hill-Murray scorer. 

Hill-Murray (13-3-2) opened the scoring with a shot by Claire Cater in the 12th minute. Mahtomedi quickly responded when Heinsch hit the net 16 seconds later to send the game into halftime level at 1-1. 

Zephyrs goalie Megan Lisowy made two saves on three Pioneers shots in the first half. Pioneers keeper Sydney Stone, meanwhile, stopped five shots from getting past her in the opening half. Stone finished the match with 11 saves, including four in overtime.

Mahtomedi (13-2-2) took the lead with seven minutes remaining in the second half when Anna Wagner sent a shot over Stone to gain the 2-1 advantage. The Pioneers responded again after Katherine Schindler scored a header from Cater, sending the match to overtime.

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