As Wayzata girls soccer coach Tony Peszneker told Sun Current reporter John Sherman after his team’s section final victory last week, “The farther you go in the playoffs, the harder and harder it gets.”
Now that we’ve reached the final 24 teams, the stakes can’t be any higher. Peszneker experienced the difficulties of the journey last season, when his favored Trojans were upset in the quarterfinals and fell one victory short of playing inside U.S. Bank Stadium.
Some story lines to follow as the state tournament quarterfinal games take place Tuesday through Thursday, leading to semifinals and finals at U.S. Bank Stadium beginning Oct. 31:
Star-studded field
Four of the six Mr./Ms. Soccer winners announced Sunday lead their respective teams into quarterfinal action this week: St. Paul Academy goalkeeper Cooper Olson (Class 1A boys), Holy Angels attacker Audrey Garton (Class 2A girls), Holy Angels defender Everett Hoeppner (Class 2A boys) and Edina midfielder Izzy Engle (Class 3A girls).
Newbies welcome
Six programs are making their state tournament debut: girls teams from Pine Island/Zumbrota-Mazeppa, Southwest Christian and St. Croix Prep and boys teams from Cristo Rey Jesuit, New Prague and St. Charles. The Park of Cottage Grove boys are as good as new. The Wolfpack have not been in the state title hunt since 1994.
Champs and challengers back for more
Four of the six state tournament championship teams are ordering a double: the Holy Angels (2A) girls and the boys teams from Wayzata (3A), DeLaSalle (2A) and St. Paul Academy (1A). Oh-so-close teams a year ago want their say. Looking at you, Edina (3A) and St. Paul Academy (1A) girls. The Hornets’ star in the section finals was senior forward Disha Roy. She scored in overtime to preserve an undefeated season (19-0). And the boys teams extra driven for a title after taking runner-up last season are Woodbury (3A) and Hill-Murray (2A). The Royals defeated host Stillwater 2-1 on penalty kicks in the section final. Olin Franzwa scored the winning goal. Meanwhile, Hill-Murray is on a mission to avenge its 2022 title game loss, which ended its bid for an undefeated season.
For the boys state tournament brackets click here.
For the girls state tournament brackets click here.