Twelve high school girls soccer teams across three classifications played at U.S. Bank Stadium on Wednesday in the semifinal round of the state tournament.

Check out the scoring of each game on Strib Varsity. You can view brackets for the girls and boys soccer state tournaments here.

All of the games were streamed on NSPN.

Wednesday’s semifinal results

Class 3A: 8 a.m. Wayzata 2, Prior Lake 1; 10 a.m. Stillwater 1, Eagan 0

Class 2A: 12:30 p.m. Mahtomedi 2, Mankato East 1; 2:30 p.m. Blake 2, Holy Angels 1

Class 1A: 5 p.m. Providence Academy 3, Esko 1; Watertown-Mayer 3, St. Cloud Cathedral 2 (OT)

Friday’s championship schedule

Class 3A: Wayzata vs. Stillwater, 8 a.m.

Class 2A: Mahtomedi vs. Blake, 12:30 p.m.

Class 1A: Providence Academy vs. Watertown-Mayer, 5 p.m.

Extra reading: All-Minnesota girls soccer team; after Annunciation tragedy, soccer serves as outlet for Holy Angels player

How Watertown-Mayer reached the 1A final

Watertown-Mayer senior goalkeeper Lauren Grimm knew what she needed to do Wednesday night, when her team’s Class 1A girls soccer semifinal against St. Cloud Cathedral came down to a penalty kick shootout.

“If you own the net, if I can try and make them second-guess themselves, then I got it,” Grimm said after Watertown-Mayer won 3-2 in overtime thanks to a 4-3 advantage in the shootout. “[Penalty kicks] are always so much fun to have to do. You don’t have the advantage they do: big net, small girl. So you have just got to be psychological. Honestly, you just got to get in their heads, because they’re just as nervous as you are.”

Grimm dived to stop the ball twice during the shootout, closing down senior defender Emily Schaupp’s first penalty kick and putting a palm on Bayley Schneider’s attempt.

The game was an even matchup, far from the last time the teams met in August, when Watertown-Mayer beat St. Cloud Cathedral 2-0. The Royals, in the state tournament for the first time, opened the scoring six minutes into the first half as sophomore midfielder Ainsley Blair’s deflection hit the back of the net.

After Addison Mondloch and Jordan Bovy scored to put Cathedral ahead, Blair scored again, tying it 2-2 when she launched the ball into the top left corner on a free kick with nine minutes to go. The goal sent the standoff to overtime. Two scoreless 10-minute overtime periods ensued before the game went to the shootout.

Blair was the third to get the ball past Cathedral goalie Aubrey Lesnau in the shootout, and sophomore defender Ashlynn Eggiman’s zinger gave the Royals the victory.

“It was crazy,” Eggiman said. “Everybody’s around you and we’re all just jumping and screaming and crying. It was emotional.”

As the Watertown-Mayer players created a dogpile, the team’s student section — wearing highlighter-yellow construction vests in a response to jabs that Watertown-Mayer is just a “tractor school” — screamed alongside them.

Watertown-Mayer (20-1-0) and goalkeeper Grimm will take on Providence Academy (17-3-1) and Minnesota’s all-time top scorer, Maddyn Greenway, in the championship game Friday.

Final: Watertown-Mayer 3, St. Cloud Cathedral 2 (OT)

Watertown-Mayer secures a spot in the Class 1A championship game against Providence Academy by winning a penalty kick shootout 4-3.

Royals keeper Lauren Grimm stopped senior defender Emily Schaupp’s first penalty kick, then stopped Bayley Schneider’s. Sophomore defender Ashlynn Eggiman made her kick and gave Watertown-Mayer the victory.

— Olivia Hicks

OT: St. Cloud Cathedral 2, Watertown-Mayer 2

After 20 minutes of overtime, the score is still tied. This semifinal game will be decided by a penalty kick shootout.

St. Cloud Cathedral came close to an open-net goal in the second overtime when Royals keeper Lauren Grimm stepped out of the box and the ball rolled just shy of the post.

— Olivia Hicks

OT: St. Cloud Cathedral 2, Watertown-Mayer 2

No goals were scored in the first 10 minutes of overtime, so the teams switch ends for the next 10 minutes. If nobody scores, the game will go to penalty kicks.

Watertown-Mayer’s Ainsley Blair had two long shots on goal, including a free kick.

— Olivia Hicks

End of regulation: St. Cloud Cathedral 2, Watertown-Mayer 2

As the clock ticks down, neither team is able to score. The game will go into sudden-death overtime, and if neither team scores in a 20-minute round, the tie will be broken by penalty kicks. Only then will we know who will play Providence Academy in the Class 1A final.

— Olivia Hicks

2nd half: Watertown-Mayer 2, St. Cloud Cathedral 2

With nine minutes to go, Watertown-Mayer ties the score. Sophomore midfielder Ainsley Blair launches a shot into the top left corner on a free kick.

The crowd erupts. It might not be Halloween yet, but the screaming Watertown-Mayer student section is sporting highlighter-yellow construction uniforms instead of the school’s royal blue and red color scheme.

— Olivia Hicks

2nd half: St. Cloud Cathedral 2, Watertown-Mayer 1

Despite Watertown-Mayer controlling play, St. Cloud Cathedral scored a goal and took the lead.

Crusaders senior midfielder Addison Mondloch added an assist to her first-half goal as she lunged up the right wing with a cross to junior forward Jordan Bovy’s feet. Bovy tapped the ball past goalie Lauren Grimm.

Watertown-Mayer nearly took the lead earlier in the half when freshman midfielder Alyse Menk hopped off the bench and found a clean path forward, but her shot went wide.

— Olivia Hicks

Halftime: Watertown-Mayer 1, St. Cloud Cathedral 1

This Class 1A semifinal remains a standoff.

Ainsley Blair brought the Royals their best shot with a corner kick right into the box. It was blocked on the goal line by senior defender Natalie Lesnau. Blair’s second attempt hit off the St. Cloud Cathedral back defensive line, and senior midfielder Ellie Lommel’s long ball later in the half slid wide of the goal.

St. Cloud Cathedral junior forward and leading scorer Amelia Newiger found an open window by slipping through the back line and taking on Watertown-Mayer senior keeper Lauren Grimm one-on-one. Grimm reached out and hugged the ball before it could slide by.

— Olivia Hicks

How Providence Academy advanced to the 1A final

In the regular season, No. 4 Esko did something only two other teams — Blake, a squad now booked into Class 2A state title game, and St. Paul Academy — managed to do: hold No. 1 Providence Academy scoreless. The 0-0 draw came with the tall task of keeping Lions forward Maddyn Greenway off the scoreboard. Since that match, she’s become the leading goalscorer in Minnesota girls soccer, not just this season but all time.

Esko managed to do keep Providence Academy from scoring for most of Wednesday’s semifinal, hunkering down behind a strong performance from junior center backs Eillee Straub and Maya Stuermer. But that defensive stand came after the defending state champion Lions had already scored twice in the first six minutes, a furious start, on the way to a a 3-1 victory. Their first score came from Greenway, the second from eighth-grader Elise Jensen redirecting Greenway’s cross into the net.

“[Greenway’s scoring] starts from their midfield,” said Esko senior midfielder and Ms. Soccer finalist Britta Koski. “So [it’s key] in our midfield, being able to mark up on the people who like to play the ball to her, and just trying to keep a tight grip on the midfield to not let those balls get played, and just letting our defense know that they have to step.”

Providence entered the game knowing it would have to solve Esko’s puzzle. After that draw on the road in September, the Lions switched their formation from a 3-5-2 to a 4-3-3. They’ve been playing that formation since, to notable success, putting up an average of 10 goals in their playoff games, minus Wednesday’s match.

“I think for us, in a way, we kind of took [that draw] personal, like that wasn’t our best performance when we played them up there,” Greenway said. “All of us have played [at state] for like four years in a row and have had that experience. We just came in knowing ‘first five minutes.’ ”

In the second half, it took a particularly spectacular goal from Greenway, cutting around a defender and curling in a left-footed strike from distance, to give Providence a cushion after Esko’s Hannah Rautell scored and ensured the Lions wouldn’t run away with this one.

“I personally like the challenge [of playing tough teams],” said Providence senior defender Liz Hughes. “I think we definitely play better when we’re playing better teams. We play up to their level. … I think those games really show us what we are capable of as a team and help us with confidence.”

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

1st half: Watertown-Mayer 1, St. Cloud Cathedral 1

The Crusaders respond quickly, when senior midfielder Bayley Schneider sends a free kick toward the box and fellow midfielder Addison Mondloch heads it into an open goal.

Royals goalie Lauren Grimm stepped out of the box and couldn’t get back to stop the ball.

— Olivia Hicks

1st half: Watertown-Mayer 1, St. Cloud Cathedral 0

Watertown-Mayer opens the scoring six minutes into the first half, sophomore midfielder Ainsley Blair hitting the back of the net off a long shot deflection.

Watertown-Mayer controlled the game by pushing into St. Cloud Cathedral’s box early in the 40-minute half.

— Olivia Hicks

Class 1A: Watertown-Mayer vs. St. Cloud Cathedral

As the sun goes down and the field lights come on here at U.S. Bank Stadium, Watertown-Mayer and St. Cloud Cathedral are about to face off in the final game of the day, the second Class 1A semifinal.

The two teams played each other in August, Watertown-Mayer winning 2-0. The Royals will attempt to repeat that tonight in the hope of reaching the finals in their first trip to state.

St. Cloud Cathedral will look to senior defender and Ms. Soccer finalist Emily Schaupp as it pursues the state title the school has never won despite competing at state six times.

— Olivia Hicks

Final: Providence Academy 3, Esko 1

That’s a wrap in our first Class 1A semifinal, with the defending state champion, Providence Academy, returning to Friday’s title game. After going down 2-0 early, Esko put up a strong fight, briefly cutting the Lions’ lead to one thanks to a goal from Hannah Rautell. But Providence forward Maddyn Greenway quickly scored her second of the night, and her 61st goal of the season, to all but seal the game. She also recorded an assist, setting up eighth-grader Elise Jensen’s early goal.

All three defending champions have reached their class’ title game, Providence Academy joining Mahtomedi (2A) and Wayzata (3A).

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

2nd half: Providence Academy 3, Esko 1

Esko hooks a nice shot toward the Providence Academy near post, but Lions keeper Audrey Steeves dives to her right and holds on to the ball to protect her team’s cushion. It’s not Providence’s 14-0 rout in the quarterfinals, but the Lions are seeing this one out with their state championship experience. Maddyn Greenway is back in the game for Providence after a few minutes on the sideline, having gotten tangled up on the field and seen by the trainers. Five minutes left in this one.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

2nd half: Providence Academy 3, Esko 1

Providence is a quarter of an hour away from returning to the state championship game in its first year under new head coach Ellen Moran, a 2013 Lakeville North grad who played college soccer at St. Mary’s. Esko hasn’t been able to close that lead again but has managed to stifle most of the Lions attack in this half, besides Maddyn Greenway’s highlight-worthy left-foot hook. Greenway went down momentarily holding her right leg after getting tangled up with the ball, but she was able to stand up and walk off the field with the trainers.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

2nd half: Providence Academy 3, Esko 1

And just like that, Providence regains its two-goal lead, answering just three minutes later with another Maddyn Greenway goal. A header from sophomore forward Mariana Chase in the midfield pops over the Esko back line, and Greenway settles the ball before taking a touch around a defender and curling a left-footed shot into the right-side netting of the Esko goal. Greenway’s 61st goal of the year puts her one off the single-season goalscoring record set by St. Cloud Tech senior Molly Burkstrand just last season.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

2nd half: Providence Academy 2, Esko 1

Barely three minutes into the second half, Esko cuts Providence’s lead to one. Freshman Hannah Rautell, running into the box, opens up her body for a left-footed, one-touch shot off Abigail Naud’s cross from the right wing. That’s Rautell’s seventh goal of the year.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

Halftime: Providence Academy 2, Esko 0

Aside from one minute early in this Class 1A semifinal, in which Providence scored both of its goals, this one’s settled in and become a fairly even match. Esko found a few chances, but nothing that got it on the scoreboard.

But Providence’s offense is always dangerous, and it looked as if forward Maddyn Greenway might get her second goal of the night with eight minutes left to play in the first half. She took a touch around Esko keeper Hannah Roemer, stepping high, but junior defender Eilee Straub tracked behind her keeper and stopped Greenway’s shot from crossing the goal line. That gave Roemer time to recover before she cleared the ball from the 18-yard box.

With the lead, Providence is 40 minutes from returning to the Class 1A state championship game, hoping to follow up last year’s win by leaving U.S. Bank with its second state title.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

1st half: Providence Academy 2, Esko 0

With a dozen minutes to play in the first half, Esko has been able to generate a few long-range shots on goal, Hannah Rautell and Sophia Naud forcing Providence keeper Audrey Steeves into a few dives. Since the Providence Academy goals, little else has gotten by Esko junior center backs Eillee Straub and Maya Stuermer, though another Maddyn Greenway cross had keeper Hannah Roemer leaping out to collect the ball before a Providence attacker could.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

How Blake advanced to the 2A final

How did Blake star forward Livi Abboud-Young push her team through to Friday’s state championship game with a 2-1 win over Holy Angels? ? Pickle juice.

The junior exited the field with cramps in the second half after the Stars responded to her tip-in goal with their own power shot launched by Emma Danberry and assisted by Ellen Neuharth. With just a few minutes left on the clock, Abboud-Young re-entered the lineup. She didn’t need to be told what was at stake.

“I don’t know that there had to be a message,” Blake head coach Jocelyn Keller said. “Livi came off with cramps, drank some pickle juice and it’s an unspoken, ‘Let’s get it done.’ ”

Abboud-Young boosted her goals total to 34 when she slipped the ball past Holy Angels goalie Stella Granquist just ahead of the game going to overtime. Her teammates huddled around her in celebration, and screams came from the crowd.

“I actually don’t even remember it,” Abboud-Young said. “I just kind of took it out of the air, and then I was like ‘I’ve got to shoot it. There’s two minutes left.’ ”

The Bears shifted to a defensive strategy as the clock ticked down, dropping their forwards back to hold off Holy Angels senior forward and 2025 Ms. Soccer Neuharth. Abboud-Young and Neuharth were pitted against each other Wednesday afternoon, but they’re both committed to the Gophers for next season.

Blake, undefeated at 16-0-4 and in its first trip to state since 2019, will take on Mahtomedi on Friday for the championship.

— Olivia Hicks

1st half: Providence Academy 2, Esko 0

We’re nearly halfway through the first half, and Esko has managed to slow the surging Providence attack. Esko has recent state tournament experience, in its fourth consecutive year at state, and its players have been able to wrangle some control of this game and hold the Lions scoreless since their goal burst. The Section 7 champions are competing for their first spot in a state title game.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

1st half: Providence Academy 2, Esko 0

The public address announcer at U.S. Bank Stadium hadn’t even had time to announce that Maddyn Greenway had put the Lions on the board in the fifth minute — running onto a long ball from freshman sister Beckett Greenway and touching a shot in with the outside of her right foot — when Providence scored again, this time Maddyn’s cross finding eighth-grader Elise Jensen in the 6-yard box. Jensen bodied the ball across the goal line. The pair of goals came less than a minute apart, and suddenly these teams’ September scoreless draw looks all the more stunning.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

Class 1A: Providence Academy vs. Esko

The Class 1A semifinals round out the evening at U.S. Bank Stadium. First up, we’ve got No. 1 Providence Academy (yet another defending champ with the top seed, our third of the day) against No. 4 Esko. These teams drew 0-0 in September.

Esko (14-2-1) has been strong defensively all season, conceding just seven goals and giving up more than a single goal in only one game. Esko is led by Ms. Soccer finalist Britta Koski, a senior midfielder.

Providence Academy (16-3-1) has been on an offensive tear, averaging just over 10 goals per game (yes, you read that right) in the playoffs. That’s been in part thanks to Class 1A Ms. Soccer Maddyn Greenway, who broke Minnesota’s all-time girls soccer scoring record this season before she heads to play college basketball at Kentucky.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

Final: Blake 2, Holy Angels 1

As the clock ticked down, Livi Abboud-Young cut in and whipped in a second goal for Blake after forward Emily Winkler bounced a shot toward the left wing.

The shot followed Blake freshman midfielder Ellen Rippe dribbling the ball through traffic toward the net and nearly getting off a shot before being tripped up by the Holy Angels defensive line. No penalty was called.

— Olivia Hicks

Halftime: Blake 0, Holy Angels 0

It’s a standstill here at U.S. Bank Stadium at halftime as the two student sections, one in all blue and the other in all white, grab a quick bite to eat at the concession stands.

Livi Abboud-Young gave Blake its best opportunity yet again with another slide up the left wing. She collided with freshman defender Saskia Piltingsrud; there was no call and Holy Angels regained possession.

Claire Meyer’s shot on goal nearly gave the Stars a 1-0 lead when Blake keeper Reese Aafedt dropped the ball. The back line prevented any follow-up shots.

— Olivia Hicks

How Mahtomedi advanced to the 2A final

The injury bug bit Mahtomedi early in the season — technically, before it even started.

Senior keeper and captain Jacque Worden, a North Dakota soccer commit, was out for the season with an injury picked up in the Zephyrs’ state championship flag football season last spring. Bemidji State commit Allie Rippentrop, another senior captain and the leading goal scorer on last year’s state championship squad, was sidelined. She didn’t return until today, when the Zephyrs took a 2-1 Class 2A semifinal win over Mankato East.

Even Mahtomedi head coach Dave Wald tore his hamstring, while jumping into game play at a September practice. He coached the team’s semifinal win on crutches.

But Zephyrs players, especially the young ones, have stepped up for their older, injured teammates. Mahtomedi graduated 11 seniors from last year’s team.

“Coming from an eighth-grader, I just think that it’s important to do it for the upperclassmen, and I want it really badly for them, especially when they’re injured,” said Lucy Peer, who tied the score in the second half after Mahtomedi faced a 1-0 halftime hole. “Everybody needs to just work really hard.”

Junior Elise Aflakpi netted the game-winner, assisted by senior Kayla Poirier, who also assisted on Peer’s goal. Freshman Olivia Boberg cleared a Cougars chance off the goal line that would have tied the game late.

“It hasn’t always been pretty, but these guys get it done,” Wald said. “The last few years, we’ve had a lot of people in front of [these players]. … There’s a lot of pressure.”

In the second half, said Wald, “we didn’t change anything other than we wanted them to control the ball more, relax, pass, settle down.”

Future St. Thomas keeper and current Zephyrs captain Harlow Berger has locked it down in net without Worden, with whom she split time last year, receiving all-state honors and a Ms. Soccer finalist nod. Her ability to punt and kick nearly three-fourths of the field doesn’t hurt.

“She’s a game-changer. Losing Jackie was really difficult, it took away a dimension, but it allowed Harlow to really step up and be a leader,” Wald said. “We’ve changed how we play in back, to play the ball back [to Harlow]. … It’s such a game-changer when you’re under pressure.”

1st half: Blake 0, Holy Angels 0

Halfway through the first 40 minutes, the scoreboard remains 0-0.

Holy Angels had its best chance via junior defender Claire Meyer, who sprinted up the left wing to receive the ball from junior forward Emma Danberry. Meyer’s shot on goal went directly into Blake keeper Reese Aafedt’s gloves.

The Stars came out pushing as soon as the clock started, offering Blake a series of free kicks. The Bears’ best shot came when Livi Abboud-Young attempted a crossover from the left wing. Holy Angels’ back line cut off any chance.

— Olivia Hicks

Class 2A: No. 2 Blake vs. No. 3 Holy Angels

It’s Gophers commit against Gophers commit here at U.S. Bank Stadium in the Class 2A girls soccer state semifinals. Blake junior forward Livi Abboud-Young and Holy Angels senior forward and Ms. Soccer winner Ellen Neuharth will face off for a shot at the state title Friday.

Abboud-Young has 32 goas this season, Neuharth 25.

Holy Angels took home the trophy in 2022 but finished second last year and in 2023. Blake is undefeated this season and secured its spot in today’s semifinal game with a 5-1 quarterfinal win over Sartell. It is the team’s 11th state trip but the first since 2019.

— Olivia Hicks

Final: Mahtomedi 2, Mankato East 1

For the second time today (in just three matches), we saw a defending state champion forced to come back in the second half of its state semifinal to beat a lower seed searching for an upset.

Earlier, it was Wayzata beating Prior Lake. This afternoon, in Class 2A, it’s No. 1 seed Mahtomedi sinking No. 4 Mankato East with second-half goals from eighth-grader Lucy Peer and junior Elise Aflakpi, both assisted by senior Kayla Poirier.

With eight minutes to go, keeper Eva Starkey made a nice save — stretching low to her left — to keep Mankato East’s hopes alive, but the Zephyrs were able to control the flow of the game and shut down late scoring opportunities for a relatively young Cougars team.

Mahtomedi, looking to extend its Minnesota girls soccer record to a dozen state titles, will face the winner of the next Class 2A semifinal between No. 2 Blake and No. 3 Holy Angels.

The Zephyrs beat Holy Angels 2-0 in last year’s state championship game.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

2nd half: Mahtomedi 2, Mankato East 1

Mahtomedi got a chance to show off its top-caliber defense as Mankato East, hungry for the tying goal, forced Zephyrs keeper Harlow Berger into a diving post save. The Cougars’ front line picked up the rebound, forcing Berger to step to and snuff out the chance on the foot of a Mankato East attacker. Again, the ball trickled out but was cleared off the goal line by Zephyrs defenders covering behind Berger. Under 20 minutes to go.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

2nd half: Mahtomedi 2, Mankato East 1

And just like that, the defending champs have taken the front foot, scoring less than three minutes apart. Mahtomedi senior midfielder Kayla Poirier whipped in her second assist of the day, this time to the head of junior Elise Aflakpi. Aflakpi headed the ball to the ground, picking up a big bounce over the outstretched arms of Cougars keeper Eva Starkey.

With 29 minutes to go, this is a different game, with Mankato East now suddenly chasing.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

2nd half: Mahtomedi 1, Mankato East 1

Mankato East was searching for a two-goal cushion when Mahtomedi sprung a counterattack. The ball was sent out to the right wing and to the feet of the Zephyrs’ leading goal scorer, senior midfielder Kayla Poirier. Cougars keeper Eva Starkey was able to palm away Poirier’s initial cross to throw off the initial Mahtomedi attackers crashing into the goal, but eighth-grade midfielder Lucy Peer was there to clean up the rebound for just her second goal of the year, not even 10 minutes into the second half.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

Halftime: Mankato East 1, Mahtomedi 0

Cougars freshman Mia Graff’s shot-cross (in the soccer business, we call that a “shross”) remains the difference at the half. Graff’s 11th goal of the season was the first that Mahtomedi conceded in section or state playoffs this year. Mahtomedi managed to slow some of Mankato East’s offensive pressure, as the Zephyrs earned a few corners of their own down in the Cougars’ end. However, they haven’t been able to create anything especially dangerous that keeper Eva Starkey couldn’t deal with.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

1st half: Mankato East 1, Mahtomedi 0

Mahtomedi has managed to get a few good looks at goal, forcing Mankato East keeper Eva Starkey to come off her line. Starkey, with an impressive 0.65 goals-against average this season, has kept the scoresheet clean so far.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

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How Stillwater advanced to the 3A final

Despite traveling from 23 miles away, the Stillwater crowd, clad in black and red, chanted “This is our house!” inside U.S. Bank Stadium on Wednesday morning. The Ponies made their supporters proud by staking a claim on Vikings turf with a 1-0 win over Eagan in the Class 3A girls soccer state semifinals.

Senior and 2025 Ms. Soccer finalist Rylee Lawrence scored her 17th goal of the season with a tidy left-foot slide into the back of the net.

For the team’s 17 seniors, securing a spot in Friday’s state final against Wayzata meant more than the chance to take home the title for the first time since 2021. The group of soon-to-be graduates were freshmen when their shot at a spot in the finals was shut down.

“I think that was a big drive for us,” Stillwater starting keeper Reese Elzen said. “It’s just such a big deal because we’re all so close and a lot of us have been on the team since we were freshman. We’ve just all grown together.

“So getting to do this together is really important. We’re going to remember it forever, and getting to win in the Bank with these girls that we spent four years with is awesome. They’ve built some great team chemistry.”

Elzen, sporting the crimson colors of her future team at Wisconsin, stopped any advances by Wildcats midfielder and standout player Ana Oenning. The senior’s best shot on goal came right before the final buzzer, when she sent a lofty pass perfectly in front of the net, splitting the Stillwater back line, and to the feet of Tess Triplett. Elzen launched off the goal line to pounce on the ball.

“If she has the ball on her feet with little touches, you’ve got to hold your ground,” Elzen said. “But when they take a big touch, that might be the only chance you get to come out and grab the ball.”

The Wildcats aim to repeat 2024 and take home a third-place trophy. Meanwhile, the Ponies will attempt to run with Wayzata on Friday.

“We came into the tournament thinking we can win,” Stillwater head coach Mike Huber said. “We’re not the underdog in this, and, again, I hope these girls know that when they go play Wayzata that even though they’ll be the underdog technically, that they’re really not.”

— Olivia Hicks

1st half: Mankato East 1, Mahtomedi 0

If you can believe it, this time last year, these two teams met in this same game, and Mahtomedi beat the Cougars 7-0 in a game far more lopsided than most state semifinals we see. Watching this game, you’d never be able to tell.

This time, Mankato East got on the board first. Freshman Mia Graff, tucked in the right corner of Mahtomedi’s defensive third, launched a cross into the 6-yard box for flocking Cougars teammates. Or, rather, a shot. The ball sailed over keeper Harlow Berger and glanced off the back post to put this young Mankato East team up.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

Class 2A: Mankato East vs. Mahtomedi

Of all the fun matchups we get to see during this year’s state tournament, the high-flying offense of No. 4-seeded Mankato East trying to break down the defense of No. 1 Mahtomedi might be one of the most exciting. We’ll get that here at U.S. Bank Stadium as we move on from our Class 3A semifinals to our 2A matchups.

Mahtomedi (15-2-2), the defending Class 2A state champion, has shut out its opponent in 12 of its last 14 games, including in its four postseason games. They’ve got All-Minnesota keeper and St. Thomas commit Harlow Berger on their side, in net behind a strong defense.

Meanwhile, Mankato East (also 15-2-2) averages nearly five goals per game, thanks to a standout All-Minnesota season from sophomore Laina Peterson (32 goals, 17 assists) and double-digit scoring seasons from Taylor Schilling, Grace Campbell and Mia Graff.

Mahtomedi is an 11-time state champion, the most in Minnesota girls soccer, while the Cougars have made state the past three seasons but are still looking for their first championship.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

Final: Stillwater 1, Eagan 0

Stillwater held its 1-0 lead over Eagan in the second half of the Class 3A semifinal with starting keeper Reese Elzen shutting down any chances for the Wildcats. Ms. Soccer finalist and senior Rylee Lawrence scored Stillwater’s sole goal.

The Ponies’ best chances to extend their lead came when Jenna Kurth found the ball twice with one shot on goal, but it was stopped by Eagan goalie Abigail McGowan.

Eagan senior midfielder Ana Oenning, who created the best opportunities for the Wildcats, ran the ball up the field before crossing it over to Samantha Wood on the left wing.

Oenning had another look later on, sending a pass right in front of the net and splitting the defensive line to find Tess Triplett. Stillwater’s Reese Elzen pushed up off her goal line to snatch the ball before it could go in.

The Ponies will face Wayzata on Friday as they look to win their first state title since 2021.

— Olivia Hicks

2nd half: Stillwater 1, Eagan 0

As two student sections on opposite ends of the Vikings field chant, the scoreboard remains frozen with Stillwater ahead. The Wildcats can’t seem to connect passes and create open space. Senior Ana Oenning’s shot over the goal post and Stella Triplett’s one-two pass toward the net marked the team’s best chance yet this half.

Stillwater’s attempts to stretch its lead fell flat after freshman midfielder Evelyn Huffer’s tidy shot was saved by Eagan’s keeper.

— Olivia Hicks

Halftime: Stillwater 1, Eagan 0

It’s halftime here at U.S. Bank Stadium, where Eagan is attempting to find an answer to Stillwater’s first-half goal.

Despite Lillian Eggum only being a freshman, the midfielder was cool and calm in the first half, controlling the semifinal against the Wildcats. Her long balls routinely set up star senior midfielder Rylee Lawrence for shots on goal. Lawrence scored Stillwater’s only goal.

Eagan, meanwhile, found its best shot thanks to Tess Triplett, whose ballhandling allowed the team to press into the Ponies’ back line.

— Olivia Hicks

1st half: Stillwater 1, Eagan 0

With 12 minutes left on the clock, Ms. Soccer finalist Rylee Lawrence opened the scoring for Stillwater.

The senior scored her 17th goal of the season with a clean left-foot kick into the back of the net.

Earlier in the half, Lawrence’s best chance came when freshman midfielder Lillian Eggum carried the ball up the field and fed it to No. 6. Lawrence’s cut back and subsequent shot was stopped by Eagan’s Abigail McGowan.

— Olivia Hicks

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How Wayzata advanced to the 3A final

There’s plenty of state championship experience to go around for No. 1-seeded Wayzata, even for a team that regularly started five of 11 sophomores on their tournament roster this season.

Much of that championship experience is found in the Trojans’ net with senior goalkeeper Sophia Alvarez. Head coach Tony Peszneker, in his 36th year coaching the nine-time state champs, said Alvarez is one of the top keepers in the state, and she showed it in a 2-1 comeback win over No. 5 seed Prior Lake in the Class 3A semifinals.

Alvarez started in goal when the Trojans finished runner-up in 2023, then again when they won the 3A title in 2024. This year, she was sidelined for nine games with an ankle sprain, and sophomore keeper Fiona Kinahan stepped in to shepherd Wayzata along its undefeated (16-0-2) season and quest to a reach a third-consecutive state title game.

But since her return Sept. 17, Alvarez has conceded just three goals, and only one in the postseason.

“It feels really, really good to be able to be back,” Alvarez said. “Missing half the season, sometimes people ask me if I feel like I ruined my senior year. But this team, I think, it just like made it so much fun for me, and it’s a good way to end [it].”

Alvarez helped organize a Wayzata back line that shut out Prior Lake in the second half of Wednesday’s semifinal. That set the Trojans up to take control of the game, earning corner kick after corner kick that junior forward Lauren Craig placed consistently into the 6-yard box, teeing up Wayzata’s first goal for senior Ella O’Keefe.

One of the Trojans array of talented sophomores, Gianna Ross, would loft the game-winner in with just over 10 minutes to play, a 20-yard strike buried into the far upper corner of the Prior Lake goal. She scored something similar during the section tournament, said senior forward Addie Millo. By now, none of Wayzata’s young talent is particularly surprising to their older teammates.

“I actually told [Ross] before this game,” Millo said. “I told her, ‘Gigi, you’re going to score another banger.’ ”

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

1st half: Stillwater 0, Eagan 0

Halfway through the first half, the semifinal game pitting the Ponies against the Wildcats is scoreless.

Stillwater’s best two chances came from Lillian Eggum, a freshman midfielder, and senior forward Alayna Muths. Both attempted to get a shot past Eagan keeper Abigail McGowan to no avail.

Eagan junior midfielder Tess Triplett is controlling the state semifinal game by creating space for senior Ana Oenning to send long balls into Stillwater’s back line.

— Olivia Hicks

Class 2A: Eagan vs. Stillwater

I’m here at U.S. Bank Stadium ahead of the Class 3A girls soccer semifinals, where Stillwater will take on Eagan. While the Ponies aim to win a fourth state title — their first since 2021 — the Wildcats hope to take home a larger trophy compared to 2024’s third place.

Eagan advanced to the semifinals after squeezing out a 1-0 win over Mounds View in the quarterfinals.

Stillwater returns to state with only one loss in the regular season against the Edina Hornets. Led by 2025 Ms. Soccer finalist and senior forward Rylee Lawrence, the Ponies shut down Duluth East with three goals to secure a spot in today’s game. They will attempt to do the same against Eagan and inch closer to another state title.

Students, parents and supporters are already filing into the Vikings seats. Stick around for live updates as the Ponies take on the Wildcats at 10 a.m.

— Olivia Hicks

Final: Wayzata 2, Prior Lake 1

No. 1 seed Wayzata completed a comeback worthy of a defending state champion, with second-half goals by Ella O’Keefe and Gianna Ross, then a last-minute stand by the defense. The Trojans move on to their third consecutive Class 3A state title game.

No. 5 Prior Lake, which got its first-half goal from Teagan Jurek, wraps up an impressive season that saw the Lakers return to the state tournament for the first time since 2022.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

2nd half: Wayzata 2, Prior Lake 1

Wayzata certainly dialed up the pressure in the final quarter-hour of this game, and now the Trojans have something spectacular to show for it.

With just over 10 minutes left, Prior Lake tried to clear a ball served into the box by a Wayzata free kick. Sophomore defender Giana Ross was waiting and ready, lifting a right-footed shot from 20 yards out over a crowded box and into the upper right corner of the Lakers’ goal.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

2nd half: Wayzata 1, Prior Lake 1

Twelve minutes to go, and this one’s yet to be decided. We know someone’s going to score the game-winner — whether here in regulation, in overtime or in penalties. We’ve had several overtime games in this year’s state tournaments, but no penalty shootout yet.

Junior forward Ali Torres has been all over the ball helping create for Prior Lake, but Wayzata keeper Sophia Alvarez got a hand to Teagan Jurek’s best chance since her first-half goal. Lakers senior defenders Lilly Oelrich and Kendall Young have been solid as Wayzata has opened up the game some while looking to complete the comeback.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

2nd half: Wayzata 1, Prior Lake 1

Did we really think the defending state champions would go down without a fight? The Trojans earned seven corner kicks, and with a player as talented as junior Lauren Craig to take them, it was inevitable one of these set pieces would create something.

With 25 minutes to play, sophomore defender Morgan Bryant used her body to bring down one of Craig’s kicks in the 6-yard box. Senior forward Ella O’Keefe jumped on the loose ball and curled in a shot to tie the game with her 10th goal of the fall.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

2nd half: Prior Lake 1, Wayzata 0

Things got interesting here for a few minutes early in the second half — interesting to an observer, but nerve-racking for Prior Lake.

Wayzata’s most dangerous chance so far came just over two minutes into the half, with a flurry of attackers pouncing on a ball slipped into the 6-yard box after a Trojans corner. Prior Lake sophomore goalkeeper Elisia Kucinski smothered the ball and drew a foul as Wayzata’s forwards tried to poke the ball free, but she also was slow to get up from a collision and had to leave the game to be evaluated. Prior Lake doesn’t have another keeper listed on its roster, so junior defender Toni Fisher, wearing a bright pink pinnie, had to put on a pair of gloves and step in net.

Kucinski was cleared and returned to the sideline after a few minutes, but Prior Lake had to earn a goal kick or throw-in to get the substitution. In the meantime, Fisher had to punch a ball away, earning a big cheer from the Lakers fans. They gave her another swelling ovation as Kucinski checked back in.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

Halftime: Prior Lake 1, Wayzata 0

Don’t be too surprised by that scoreline. This Lakers team, looking to make the program’s first trip to the state title game, is one of the deepest squads head coach Phil Walczak has seen in his coaching soccer in Minnesota, he told me after their state quarterfinal win.

Prior Lake just needed all the pieces to come together and click, and those pieces have been clicking so far. The Lakers are quick to swarm on Wayzata’s forwards and effective in finding the feet of its own attackers. Prior Lake faced at least a half-dozen state-tournament-caliber teams in its regular season, so it’s ready for these tough matchups, which will certainly only become tougher as Wayzata pushes for the equalizer.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

1st half: Prior Lake 1, Wayzata 0

Prior Lake struck first with seven minutes remaining until halftime.

Senior forward Breana Phillips forced a Wayzata turnover on the right wing and quickly fed a pass into the Lakers’ quarterfinal hero, Minnesota State Mankato commit Teagan Jurek. Jurek’s one-touch shot from just outside the 6-yard box found the back of the net. Alvarez was called into a big save just two minutes later, with the Lakers eager for another as they’ve taken the front foot here.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

1st half: Wayzata 0, Prior Lake 0

Still scoreless here with 10 minutes to go in the first half; both defenses are preventing many point-blank shots on goal. Wayzata senior Addie Millo darted down the right wing to serve a dangerous pass in front of the Prior Lake goal, but no one was there to tap it in.

Many (including me) have made note that Wayzata is in its fifth consecutive year at state, though it would be remiss not to mention the Trojans did graduate three of their four leading scorers last year, in Tenley Senden (Minnesota), Sarah Hyde (Creighton) and Sophie Hawkinson (North Dakota State basketball).

In a deep program like Wayzata’s, it’s always the next player up, and we’ll see who will try to come up big and will the Trojans into their third consecutive state title game. In their quarterfinal, it was sophomore defender Morgan Bryant scoring the winner, only her second goal of the year. Last year, it was junior Alex Vellieux scoring a hat trick in the quarterfinal against Eagan.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

1st half: Wayzata 0, Prior Lake 0

Twenty minutes into the first half, we’re still scoreless — looking more like Wayzata’s overtime quarterfinal, rather than Prior Lake’s, in which the Lakers went up early behind a goal from senior Lauren Schindler.

Wayzata has spent more time in the Lakers’ half, earning four corners that junior Lauren Craig has been able to serve into dangerous positions. But the Lakers have had a few notable chances on the counterattack, their closest a shot tapped wide by Ellie Ohlmann as goalkeeper Sophie Alvarez stepped off her goal line to pressure the Drake commit. Senior Teagan Jurek sent a another solid shot sailing over the crossbar just as the halfway mark of the first half ticked by.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

1st half: Prior Lake 0, Wayzata 0

We’re underway here at the Bank, kicking off our first of six girls semifinals. Wayzata appears to be without All-Minnesota sophomore outside back Carolyn Voss, who made last year’s all-tournament team as the Trojans won the state title. Voss had the rare honor of being among 20 teenage players called into the U.S. Youth National Team’s under-16 camp, which runs this week and includes matches overseas against England.

But this Wayzata squad certainly doesn’t lack talent or state tournament experience. (There’s a reason they’ve reached No. 9 in the national United Soccer Coaches Association poll, after all.) The Trojans have qualified for state the past four years and finished runner-up in 2023, in addition to their title last year. Reliable senior goalkeeper Sophia Alvarez missed nine regular-season games due to injury but is back in net at the right time for the Trojans. She’s come up big in the playoffs so far.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

Class 3A: Prior Lake vs. Wayzata

Welcome back to another early day of state soccer semifinals here at U.S. Bank Stadium. After the boys battled yesterday, it’s a dozen girls teams taking to the turf across three size classifications today, competing for a spot in Friday’s state championship matches.

First up are our two Class 3A big-school semifinals. Starting us off is defending champion and No. 1-seeded Wayzata against upset-hungry and No. 5 seed Prior Lake. The Trojans will look to fend off the Lakers, who are making their first trip to state in over two decades under first-year head coach Phil Walczak.

This Class 3A tournament is especially competitive, with Wayzata winning 1-0 in overtime against St. Michael-Albertville in its quarterfinal, and Prior Lake needing a late goal to beat Lakeville North 2-1. Both teams are deep (thanks to being two of the largest schools in the state) and are battle-tested (thanks to tough regular-season schedules). Interestingly, the teams haven’t faced one another yet this season.

Keep an eye on Wayzata’s junior forward Lauren Craig, who leads the Trojans in both goals (25) and assists (22) in their quest for a ninth state title. Senior forward Ellie Ohlmann, a Drake commit, also tops the Prior Lake roster in both categories, with 15 goals and 13 assists this fall.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer