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Section 3A Playoffs

First round-

Chisago Lakes 8

Charter Stars 0

The 5th-seeded Chisago Lakes Wildcats scored six goals in the first half to put the game out of reach as they easily defeated the 12th-seed Coop 911 Charter Stars 8-0 at Moody Field to open the Section 3A soccer playoffs last Thursday.

Several Wildcats got in on the scoring. Brady Huber scored two goals, including one on a penalty shot, and also notched an assist. Team scoring leader Chris Golv had a goal and two assists. In addition, Adam Sill, Blaine Maher, Ross Jones, Andy Olness and Karl Jung added goals as head coach Mark Leigh substituted freely throughout the game. Jung’s goal was his first of the season. Steve Taylor, Jung and Olness also had assists for the Wildcats.

Meanwhile, goalkeepers Seth Spading, who was making his first appearance for the Wildcat varsity this season, and Joe Knafla combined for the shutout.

The Wildcats came out of the victory injury-free and looking forward to the journey to Mendota Heights for their section quarterfinal game against St. Thomas Academy.

Section 3A Playoffs

Second round-

Chisago Lakes 3

St. Thomas Academy 1

Last Saturday, sophomore Chris Golv’s first-half hat trick led the Wildcats to a 3-1 win over the 4th-seeded St. Thomas Academy Cadets and a berth in the Section 3A semifinals against last year’s section champions, the Mahtomedi Zephyrs. The top-seeded Zephyrs beat the number eight seed South St. Paul Packers in a surprisingly close 2-0 game to advance to the semifinals.

Golv opened the scoring just over eight minutes into the first half on one of his patented breakaway goals. After a good punt into the wind by goalie Joe Knafla, Andy Olness controlled the ball near midfield and launched a lead pass toward the center of the Cadet zone. Golv caught up to the ball, outran the defense and rolled it past the Cadet goalie for an early 1-0 lead.

The Cadets tied it up not long after Golv’s goal. Cadet striker Jack Baer hammered a crossing pass from Nick Roeller past goaltender Joe Knafla to make the score 1-1. Momentum shifted to the clearly rejuvenated Cadets as they controlled play and appeared to score again just a couple of minutes after their first goal. The referee, however, disallowed the goal as the linesman flagged the goal-scorer for being offsides on the play. Goalie Joe Knafla, who had several excellent saves in the game, then came up with a huge save after a Cadet corner kick to keep the scored tied at one goal apiece.

Momentum shifted again, for good this time, as Golv put the Wildcats ahead to stay just two minutes later. Blaine Maher threaded a pass through the defense to a streaking Golv, who again outraced the defense put a low shot the Cadet goalie to make the score 2-1.

The Wildcats completed the scoring just before halftime. Maher was streaking down the left side with the ball just past midfield when he was shoved in the back by a Cadet midfielder. As Maher somehow managed to stay on his feet, the referee signaled to “play on” because the Wildcats maintained the ball and the advantage. Maher carried the ball to the end line just to the left of the goal. He sent a quick pass back to a wide-open Golv standing 10 feet in front the net. Golv popped a one-timer over the head of the leaping Cadet goalie to make the score 3-1.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, the Wildcats controlled play and generated the majority of the scoring chances. They did not convert any of the chances, but they were able to keep St. Thomas from scoring.

The crowd situation was, to say the least, unusual. The 30-strong contingent of Wildcat fans outnumbered the St. Thomas Academy home crowd, and while Wildcat fans bundled up to brave the windy, 40 degree game conditions, all but two of the 20 or so Cadet fans were in their shirtsleeves in the 70 degree luxury box (yes, luxury box) adjacent to the press box. The game seemed like a Wildcat home game as the Wildcat fans cheered loudly but no one could hear the indoor cheers of the St. Thomas fans.

The Wildcat’s victory avenged a 2-1 home loss to the Cadets just 11 days earlier.

Leigh and the players were jubilant after the game.

“In my pregame talk, I told the kids it’s just a game—go out and do the best you can,” remarked Leigh. “Joey [Knafla, the Wildcat goalie] made a crucial save in the first half to keep the score 1-1, and we converted two more scoring chances against a very good team.”

St. Thomas Academy coach Julius Tangwe was complimentary as he spoke with Leigh after the game.

“If your boys continue to play the way they played this game,” he said, “there’s no reason they can’t go to the state tournament.”

The Wildcats are just two wins away.

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