The Blaze's Natalie Muench headed the ball to teammate Britta Riggs, right, after reaching it before Centennial's Ferrol Rome. Star Tribune photo by Jeff Wheeler.
Centennial's Rachel Ranallo defended as Burnsville's Tiana Khamvongsa (7) took a first half shot Monday at the Metrodome. Star Tribune photo by Jeff Wheeler.
Burnsville sophomore Alyssa Blahnik is a prolific scorer. She also can be a pinpoint passer.
Blahnik scored three first-half goals and added two assists as the fifth-ranked Blaze put on an offensive show in a 5-2 victory over No. 7 Centennial in the semifinals of the Class 2A girls’ soccer state tournament on Monday at the Metrodome.
“Alyssa can pretty much do anything with the ball,” said Blaze sophomore Abby Soderholm, who had one goal and set up Blahnik’s first two tallies. “She hunts for the ball all the time, and finds it. She has great field awareness.”
Burnsville (17-4-0) took a 2-0 lead just over midway through the first half when Blahnik scored twice in a 51-second span. She added her 33rd goal of the season late in the first half.
“We all work together as team,” the 5-foot-1½-inch Blahnik said.
Her third goal was sandwiched by perfect scoring passes to junior Tiana Khamvongsa and Soderholm. Khamvongsa scored in the 32nd minute while Soderholm scored in the 41st minute.
“We started out really strong,” Khamvongsa said. “We were amazing.”
Burnsville, which is making its first state tournament appearance since 1996, will be seeking its third state crown. It won back-to-back state championships in 1992 and ’93.
Megan Lenz and Jenna Roering scored for the Cougars (17-2-2), who played without their top defender. senior Danika Gieske. She tore her ACL in Centennial’s quarterfinal victory over Eastview.
RON HAGGSTROM
