St. Cloud Tech senior Molly Burkstrand leads the state in goals scored — with 46 during the regular season — and this year she tied a state record with eight goals in one game. (Provided by Elizabeth Hennen)
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ST. CLOUD – Coach Katie Boardman calls it the “Molly Burkstrand effect” — that intangible magic that’s propelled St. Cloud Tech’s girls soccer team from winning zero games when Burkstrand was an eighth-grade starter in 2020 to having the team’s best record in decades.
Tech, with a record of 12-3-1, wrapped up its regular season Saturday with a win over Albany — and Burkstrand scoring six of the team’s 12 goals. The Tigers will play Detroit Lakes at home on Wednesday in the opening section tournament game.
Of course, much of this team’s magic is explained by Burkstrand’s stellar season. The 17-year-old is leading the state in goals scored — with 46 so far — and in September, she tied the state record for eight goals in a game, a 9-5 victory over Willmar. That long-standing record was set by Eagan’s Susie Lee in 2004 and tied by Cambridge-Isanti’s Molly Rouse in 2006.
For more on Burkstrand and St. Cloud Tech's magical season, click here to read this story on startribune.com.