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Edina's ego-free Sophia Boman is Star Tribune girls' soccer Metro Player of the Year

By DAVID LA VAQUE, Star Tribune , 10/21/19, 3:45PM CDT

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Challenged by her coach to dish less, the senior responded by tripling her season-best in goals.

“We returned 10 of 11 starters and Sophia did a great job of keeping all of our big personalities happy,” Edina coach Katie Aafedt said. “She was always positive and intense.”  Photo by Leila Navidi * leila.navidi@startribune.com


A big goal Edina girls’ soccer coach Katie Aafedt set before senior Sophia Boman this season was, well, more goals.

Don’t feel obligated to always dish the ball to a teammate, Aafedt challenged the ego-free Boman. Take over the game.

Boman, already one of the state’s top midfielders, did as instructed. The end results were 18 goals for Boman, triple her previous season best, and 73 goals for the Hornets, 23 better than last season.

For Boman, the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year, a little encouragement made a big difference.

“I felt like if coach was fine with me taking it myself that I should be more OK with it,” said Boman, who has verbally committed to the Gophers. “Because I never wanted to be regarded as a ball hog. That’s what I was most afraid of. So when she said that, I felt more free to take it on the dribble farther.”

Teammates co-signed Boman’s new approach.

“They’d be like, ‘You know you can beat anybody out there. Just take it yourself,’ ” Boman said.

The youngest of three soccer playing sisters, Boman got her start at oldest sister Lara’s practices in California. Their father, Steve, coached the elementary school kids and brought toddling Sophia along.

“He’d swing me around and have me kick the ball even though I really couldn’t walk,” Boman said.

The family moved to Duluth and settled in Edina when Boman was in kindergarten. She made the state tournament with middle sister Maria in 2017.

Minnetonka knocked Sophia’s team from the section playoffs last season and this season.

The undesired ending didn’t sour the journey. A higher-octane offense trigged a 12-1 start to the season and put Edina atop the coaches’ rankings in various weeks. Boman, one of four captains, guided her team on and off the field.

“We returned 10 of 11 starters and Sophia did a great job of keeping all of our big personalities happy,” Aafedt said. “She was always positive and intense.”


Sophia Boman got and shared some encouragement at halftime of a recent game. Photo: LEILA NAVIDI • leila.navidi@startribune.com


Past girls' Metro Players of the Year

2018: Megan Plaschko, Eagan

2017: Meredith Haakenson, Maple Grove

2016: Morgan Turner, Wayzata

2015: Hannah Cade, Lakeville North

2014: April Bockin, Eden Prairie

2013: Elizabeth Endy, Minnetonka

2012: Jenna Roering, Centennial

2011: Simone Kolander, Lakeville North

2010: Taylor Uhl, Eden Prairie

2009: Kassie Kallman, Woodbury

2008: Allie Phillips, Mounds View

2007: Krista Lundgren, Lakeville South

2006: Julie Rezac, Eden Prairie

2005: Dana Tripp, White Bear Lake

2004: Elena Fruci, Mahtomedi

2003: Kelsey Hans, Lakeville

2002: Katherine Krambeer, Osseo

2001: Caroline Smith, Edina

2000: Rachel Gilfillan, Woodbury

1999: Amanda McMahon, Stillwater

1998: Megan Almonzo, Armstrong

1997: Jena Kluegel, Mahtomedi

1996: Jena Kluegel, Mahtomedi

1995: Sarah Blaska, Anoka

1994: Mara Miller, Stillwater

1993: Jennifer McElmury, White Bear Lake

1992: Jennifer Walek, North St. Paul

1991: Gretchen Brandt, Mounds View

1990: Shannan Scibilia, Park of Cottage Grove

1989: Janet Newinski, Burnsville

1988: Lisa Mickelson, North St. Paul

1987: Nicole Johnson, Rosemount;

         Kari Maijala, Bloomington Jefferson

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