Abby Schulte's goal off a penalty kick sealed Maple Grove's 2-0 victory over Minnetonka in the Class 2A quarterfinals Tuesday night at North St. Paul High School. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine
Facing a stiff wind in the first half, fifth-seeded Maple Grove aimed to keep the halftime score 0-0 against fourth-seeded Minnetonka.
The Crimson did that. Then they scored twice with the wind at their backs in the second half to defeat the Skippers 2-0.
Maple Grove's Jordan Pauly (18) clears the ball from Minnetonka's Chloe Loberg (4). Pauly tallied a goal off a header in the 51st minute to give the Crimson a 1-0 lead. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine
No. 5-seeded Maple Grove scored two second-half goals to defeat fourth-seeded Minnetonka 2-0 in their Class 2A quarterfinal at North St. Paul High School.
Jordan Pauly scored on a header with 29:50 left in the regulation on a crossing pass from Emma Fournier. Abby Schulte scored on a penalty kick with 21:42 left, which was set up when a Minnetonka player undercut a Maple Grove player on a header attempt in the goalie box.
The Skippers (15-2-1), the defending state champions, were making their third state appearance in the last four years and their eighth overall. Maple Grove (15-2-1) was making its third consecutive state appearance.
Next Maple Grove will face top-seeded Champlin Park on Monday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Check back later for more on the game.