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Prairie Seeds star cleared to play, scores

By DAVID LA VAQUE and BRIAN STENSAAS, Star Tribune staff writers, 11/02/11, 10:30AM CDT

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At issue for the1A champion is the age of sophomore Carlos Boquin, who sat out the first two rounds at state.

Carlos Boquin, a standout sophomore forward on the Prairie Seeds Academy boys' soccer team, not only was cleared to play in Thursday's Class 1A tournament final against Benilde-St. Margaret's, but he scored his team's first goal.

Boquin was not on the field as the 10 a.m. game began at the Metrodome, but came to the PSA bench escorted by a school staff member 90 seconds after kickoff. He was given a standard uniform-and-cleat check by a game offical and immediately began to stretch.

Boquin checked into the game in the 12th minute, with BSM leading 1-0, replacing Mounir Darbaki. Later in the first half he scored on a shot from 30 yards out to tie the game.

Boquin had been deemed ineligible to play in the first two rounds of the state tournament pending an investigation into Boquin's age. Players older than age 20 are ineligible.

Wednesday morning, Lycans coach Youssef Darbaki said Boquin's original birth certificate was sent it to the MSHSL. Later on Wednesday, Darbaki said lawyers on both sides remained in discussions about Boquin's eligibility.

Darbaki had said he was confident that Boquin would be eligible to play Thursday.

 

Shadowing the star

Burnsville sophomore scoring machine Alyssa Blahnik (33 goals this season) found plenty of space to maneuver in a 5-2 victory over Centennial in the semifinals. She likely won't find it as roomy in Thursday's championship match at the Metrodome against Wayzata.

In the Trojans' semifinal shootout victory over No. 1-ranked Lakeville North, junior defender Erika Grinde shadowed Panthers standout Simone Kolander (23 goals, 27 assists). Another junior defender, Katie Schulz, was ready to help whenever needed.

"I had to keep my space because of her speed," Grinde said. "I wanted to be able to frustrate her, and I was able to do that."

Expect more of the same for Blahnik: The sixth-ranked Trojans have allowed only 12 goals this season.

No looking back

Seconds ticked away on the game clock during Eden Prairie's Class 2A boys' semifinal against Maple Grove. While Eagles had the better chances, especially early, it remained a 0-0 tie.

Eden Prairie coach Vince Thomas could sense frustration among his players, so he used a golfer's mentality.

"When Tiger Woods was good, if he missed a putt or made a bad hit it was completely gone from his memory. On to the next shot," Thomas said. "You cannot dwell on what could have happened, you have to dwell on what's going to happen."

Eden Prairie scored twice in the final four minutes and advanced to its first championship game since 2002.

Striking with a vengeance

Eastview's Class 2A championship appearance comes in its first state tournament ever. The Lightning was not ranked to begin the season, but by Sept. 18 had the No. 1 spot.

Was it a mission to prove the pollsters wrong?

"I guess you could say so," senior Mathew Gweh said. "When the season started, our goal was to come to state and win state."

The status of goalie Sam Ruelas, who split time with Treston Kederer in the regular season, will be a game-time decision. Ruelas suffered a head injury in Eastview's semifinal win over Minneapolis Southwest.