Anoka Turns Back Both St. Michael-Albertville Teams in Section Finals

The St. Michael-Albertville boys' and girls' soccer teams each had a moment where they looked to be in control of their own destiny.

For the boys, it was early, as a first half goal had the Knights on top 1-0, and the St. Michael-Albertville defense was controlling the middle of the field.

For the girls, it was about 10 minutes into the second half, where Megan Johnson's squad looked like it had the Tornadoes reeling, was controlling the middle of the field and even had some scoring threats to extend the lead.

In the end, it would be the maroon and white that celebrated on its home field, as both the boys and girls Section 8-2A titles went to Anoka.

BOYS

Anoka, which averaged just under three goals for the season, exploded for four goals after falling behind 1-0 behind a solid offensive attack.

St. Michael-Albertville pressured in the late minutes and was able to convert once, but couldn't muster up a complete comeback, as it let the game slip away before halftime–trailing 2-1–and out of the gate in the second half, as the Tornadoes built a 4-1 lead.

Still, it was a Section 8-2A runner-up finish for the Knights, the highest ever for the program and coach Darek Dewey, whose team also captured a conference championship.

"The guys have really come together. We've improved from the start of the seaosn to where we are now," he said prior to Tuesday afternoon. "As a coach, that's what you ask."

The boys finish the season with a mark of 12-5-2.

GIRLS

For the girls, it was a second straight season of heartbreak.

St. Michael-Albertville took a first half lead at about the 30 minute mark when junior Maddie Barr picked up a centering pass around the 18, dribbled once and shot, right-footed, to the right half of the net.

The score was a bit of a surprise, as Anoka had controlled the offensive tempo up to that point, but it was the Knights who held a 1-0 lead going into the intermission.

Coming out of the break, the Knights controlled play. Barr, sophomore Paige Voigt and seventh-grader Mackenzie Langdok each had runs at the net, as Anoka struggled to get the ball deep into St. Michael-Albertville's half of the field.

But at the 20-minute mark, Anoka coach went to experience off his bench, bringing back midfielder Katlin Bednorz and center mid Amber Wanous off the bench.

Both made that move pay off in a span of just seven minutes.

Bednorz took advantage of a breakdown in the center of the field and squirted through for a shot on keeper Micale Jensen, who had been perfect all night. The shot found the right corner, and Anoka had pulled even.

Seven minutes later, after a defensive breakdown on the left side of the field created a Tornado opportunity, Anoka capitalized on a set play off a corner kick, with a perfect ball to the middle finidng the head of Bednorz, and then the back of the net.

Anoka had the lead with 11 minutes left.

STMA managed a couple of runs from there, but no real chances, and the season ended in the same spot as last year, with the Knights runners-up.

"It's hard to end a season on a loss," Johnson said. "Every team but one does it, but that doesn't make it any easier. I'm really proud of these girls. They came so far."

The girls finish the season 11-3-4, with two of those three losses to Anoka, both by 2-1 counts.