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'Shaky' Holy Angels settles down to get past Worthington

By HEATHER RULE, Special to the Star Tribune, 10/22/18, 5:15PM CDT

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A first-half goal by junior attacker Porter Ball was the key and the Stars added another for a 2-0 victory.


Holy Angels celebrate a first-half goal by junior forward Porter Ball (9), who opened the scoring in the Stars' 2-0 win over the Trojans in the Class 1A state tournament quarterfinals on Wednesday. Photo by Cheryl Myers, SportsEngine

Holy Angels had what coach James See called a “shaky 10 minutes” to start the game. But See was impressed with the response: a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute on a diving header by junior attacker Porter Ball.

“It’s kind of fun to score a highlight goal in October, because often October’s about managing games and mucking out results,” See said. “It was an awesome response.”

First report

Holy Angels didn’t generate a lot of success early on with the short passes up field. So it was one of the long passing plays against Worthington that helped get the Stars on the scoreboard.

Junior attacker Porter Ball scored with a diving header just in front of the net in the 18th minute. Senior Peter Foley got the assist with his pass from the corner after getting the ball from midfield. That was all they needed for a 2-0 victory in the Class 1A quarterfinal of the boys’ soccer state tournament Wednesday at Farmington High School.

Junior defender Conor O’Rourke also scored on a header for the Stars, making it 2-0 in the 54th minute with a perfectly timed jump off a corner kick from Ball.

The No. 2-seed Stars (19-0-1) remain unbeaten this season during their first state tournament appearance since finishing as state runner-up in 2001. The victory was their 10th shutout of the season. Sophomore Peter Forseth was in net. The Stars have allowed just 9 goals all year.

Worthington (17-3-0) suffered a state quarterfinal loss for the second consecutive year. Its best scoring chance of the game came about three minutes in when senior Victor Alvarez sent a kick from about 20 yards out just wide of the goal.

Check back later for more on the game.