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Wayzata leaves no doubt

By Star Tribune, 10/30/12, 4:30PM CDT

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Three first-half goals fuel Trojans' 4-1 victory over Blaine


Wayzata's Kiana Nickel (21) celebrated with Summer Johnson after Johnson scored a first-half goal against Blaine. Photo: Bruce Bisping/Star Tribune.com

Scoring often is no problem for Wayzata’s girls’ soccer team. The Trojans tallied a combined 40 goals in their past five games.

Scoring early was the game plan for Tuesday’s Class 2A state tournament semifinal against Blaine. The No. 2 seed Trojans executed, putting three goals on the Metrodome scoreboard in the first half en route to a 4-1 victory.

The victory sends Wayzata to its 12th championship game. The Trojans are 6-5 in the finals, including titles in 2009 and 2011. They play White Bear Lake at 3 p.m. Thursday.

Kylie Schwarz opened the scoring in the 15th minute and was later joined by Summer Johnson and Madeline Eklin, who added goals less than six minutes apart.

“One of our goals was to start strong and score early,” Schwarz said. “When you score early it gives you confidence and gets the other team down.”

But Blaine, which fought back from a 2-0 deficit in the section final at Andover, kept pressing. Karah Jolly’s goal in the 36th minute affected both teams’ psyches.

“We thought we still had a chance because there was a lot of time left,” Blaine’s Ashley Pafko said.

Said Schwarz: “It kind of woke us up and made us think they could come back. We didn’t underestimate them after that.”

DAVID LA VAQUE