Prairie Seed Academy celebrates its overtime win as Rochester Lourdes' Brian Williamson (foreground) holds his head in disappointment. Star Tribune photo by Richard Sennott.
If he played it right, Adama Keita had a golden opportunity early in overtime of Monday’s Class 1A semifinal soccer game.
He signaled to Prairie Seeds Academy teammate Ismaila Jome and Jome dutifully sent the ball high toward Keita. With a Rochester Lourdes defender giving chase and goalkeeper Will Elder coming out to challenge, Keita chipped the ball toward the goal and watched it roll in to the net.
With the 2-1 overtime victory, the defending Class 1A champion Lycans (19-0-2) advance to Thursday’s championship game against Benilde-St. Margaret’s.
Prairie Seeds grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute as Jome lifted a ball high into the goal from close range. The slight lead stood at halftime and felt like a moral victory to Lourdes coach Tom Kane.
“We knew going in they had more firepower,” Kane said. “So in the first half we tried to play a tad more defensive than we normally do. We held them to the one goal and then in the second half we went back to our normal style. I just figured we could probably get a goal on them.”
Kane’s faith was rewarded in the 62nd minute as Gabe Salerno finished a slick passing sequence to tie the game 1-1. After the goal, Keita joined Lycans coach Youssef Darbaki in reminding the team to stay poised.
“I just told everyone to calm down,” Keita said. “I knew that we were going to do this.”
In the 84th minute, Keita made good on his word.
DAVID LA VAQUE
