By Mike Wagner

 

The idea that Eagan Boys’ Soccer would have an uphill climb to stay amongst the elite teams in AA Soccer this year were quelled by the teams performance at Eden Prairie High School Thursday, August 30. The senior classes from both teams have a long history against each other going back over the last ten years with both consistently performing at or near the top of the state in soccer, and it appears this fall high school season will be no different. Eden Prairie came into the game as the #1 ranked team in the state with Eagan not far behind at #6. Neither team had given up a goal in their previous games, so it was not a surprise when they ended regulation knotted at 0-0.

 

The Wildcats came out firing on all cylinders dominating play for the first ten minutes of the game. Unfortunately, the first few scoring opportunities sailed wide of the goal or were knocked down by the Eagles defenders. As EP started to get their feet under them they were able to find their way into the Eagan end. The Eagles first couple of shots were on net with Keith Krawza making an “outrageous,” according to Coach Merrick, save on the second shot. The remainder of the first half settled into a back-and-forth game with both teams having moments of being in control as well as scrambling to defend. Three of the Cats taken by Sergio Munoz and Ed Olson were knocked away by EP defenders. The other three shots by Ryan Mott, Jake Punch, and Kyle Stefani missed their intended mark. EP forced Krawza to make four saves and missed the net another three times as the half ended 0-0.

 

Eagan, again, came out on fire to start the second half getting the first opportunity, but as Wyatt Wagner took his shot toward the goal an Eagle defender was able to once again step in front of the shot. In the 44^th minute Jake Punch went up for a header and an EP player came flying in headfirst.  The head-to-head contact knocked Punch hard, face first to the turf. Coach Merrick leaped immediately onto the field to check on Jake’s condition and it was clear he wouldn’t be able to continue playing. The seriousness of the injury and loss of one of their co-captains rattled the Eagan players’ confidence. They spent much of the rest of the half on their heels, chasing and defending in the midfield as Eden Prairie was able to get three shots on net as well as send five more wide of the goal. The Wildcats backline of Ed Olson, Kyle Mayne, Ryan Larson, and Carter Johns also knocked down four other attempts to preserve the regulation shutout. With just over a minute left EP sent a ball across the mouth of the goal from the left side that found an Eagle player standing alone at the back post, but as he buried the ball the assistant referee lifted his flag for an obvious offside call. An uneventful last minute meant Eagan would be playing overtime for the first time this early season.

 

As the first OT played out it looked like both teams, although desirous of a goal, were most concerned with not giving up anything. But, in the 84^th minute, EP was given a throw-in deep in Eagan territory. The long throw went through the penalty area untouched, and this time the Eagle player waiting on the back post was not in an offside position and he was able to direct the ball into the net with his torso to give EP a 1-0 advantage. Eagan pushed hard in the last minute to recover and got their opportunity when the ball was played down low on the right side to Wagner. As he fought off the Eagle defender he was able to rifle a shot that the EP keeper barely got his hand on as he dove to the post to deflect it away wide of the net. The first OT ended with EP up 1-0 as the teams switched ends.

 

In the first minute of the second overtime EP took the kickoff deep into the Cats left corner. The Eagles forward attacked the endline moving toward the net. As an Eagan defender stepped out to take him, he sent a cut pass back toward the penalty mark. The Eagan defender moved his arm ever so slightly away from his body in an attempt to deflect the ball away, which left the referee to decide if it was a purposeful handball. He chose to award EP a penalty kick. Krawza dove in the right direction, but he couldn’t get his hand on the ball as the Eagles cemented the victory going up 2-0.

 

It was a tough loss for Eagan after playing fairly well, but it is early in the season and now they know they have earned the right to be recognized as one of the elite teams in the state. The Cats resolve will be to improve their game each time out as the season progresses in hopes of earning a rematch with EP down the road as the season winds down. It is early, but this could be a foreshadow of a state tournament match-up in November, if Eagan can find their way through what will be a very tough section. The coaching staff and athletic trainer will be extremely cautious with Punch’s recovery timeline as he will likely miss the first conference action Tuesday, September 4^th at defending conference champion Eastview’s home field at 5:00. Eagan will be back home Thursday, September 6^th at 7:00 against Lakeville North. The Eagan Dance Line will perform and ETV will be in the house to tape the game for television that evening. Everyone is invited to come out and cheer on your Eagan Wildcats Boys’ Soccer Team.