Liban Ayanle (6) of Minneapolis Southwest celebrates the team's fifth goal of the game against Anoka.
Four goals in the second half propelled No. 4 seed Minneapolis Southwest to a 5-1 victory against Anoka in Thursday’s Class 2A state boys’ soccer tournament quarterfinal at Park of Cottage Grove.
State runners-up last season, the Lakers cemented a return trip to the Metrodome for next week’s semifinal round.
Trailing 1-0 at halftime, Anoka tied the game as Mitch Dorale headed in a thrown in ball from Travis Mashuga. It was all Southwest from there.
Southwest (15-3-1) went ahead 2-1 just 46 seconds later as Shane Marshall buried a penalty kick. An Anoka (12-4-4) own-goal extended the Lakers’ lead to 3-1. Liban Ayanle of Southwest was awarded the goal before assisting on Mohamud Abdi's goal to make it 4-i. Ayanle also struck for the Lakers' fifth goal.
DAVID LA VAQUE