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Two-time defending 1A champion Mahtomedi returns to title game

By JIM PAULSEN, Star Tribune, 10/28/19, 2:15PM CDT

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The Zephyrs scored two goals in 50 seconds late in the first half en route to a 3-0 victory over Blake.


Mahtomedi goalkeeper Megan Lisowy (99), left, makes a save as Blake midfielder Catherine Moe (5) tried to score and Zephyrs defender Lanie Padelford (1) defended during the second half. Photo: LEILA NAVIDI • leila.navidi@startribune.com

A one-goal deficit? Blake could deal with that. But three goals? Another story altogether.

Mahtomedi turned a one-goal lead into a three-goal mountain by scoring consecutive goals in a 50-second span late in the first half. Then it played shutdown defense the rest of the way for a 3-0 victory in the Class 1A semifinals Monday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The victory sustains the Zephyrs’ quest for a third consecutive state championship. They defeated Orono in the championship game in each of the last two seasons.

Mahtomedi scored early when Lauren Heinsch gathered in a breakout pass at midfield, made a long run up the right side, cut toward the goal and slipped in a left-foot shot from 10 yards away at 3:31 of the first half.

“I wasn’t worried then,” Blake coach Kelsey Hans said. “It’s a little more difficult when it goes from 1-0 to 3-0. That takes the spirits down a little.”

Mahtomedi (15-2-2) controlled play for the rest of the first half and it paid off with a corner kick in the 39th minute. The ball bounced around in front of the net until Zephyrs’ senior Anna Wagner, with her back to the Blake goal, alertly used her heel to tap the ball in for a 2-0 lead.

First report

Mahtomedi’s quest for a third consecutive Class 1A state championship took another step toward reality Monday when the Zephyrs cruised to a 3-0 semifinals victory over Blake.

Lauren Heinsch got the scoring started early when she raced up the right side of the field, cut to her left and tucked in a 10-yard left-footer at the 3:31 mark of the first half for a 1-0 Mahtomedi lead.

The Zephyrs put the game out of reach by scoring two goals in a span of 50 seconds late in the first half. Anna Wagner back-heeled in a bouncing ball in front of the Blake goal at 38:50 of the half. Less than a minute later, Wagner fed Audrey Sexson in front of the net, where she wheeled and scored at 39:40 of the half for a 3-0 lead.

Blake finished the season with a 13-8 record. Top-seeded Mahtomedi improved to 15-2-2.

Check back later for more on the game.