The Edina Boys’ Varsity Soccer team won the MSHSL State AAA championship against Maple Grove 1–0 at the U.S. Bank Stadium Friday afternoon. This tournament run is the team’s first state appearance in three years and fifth state title.
“Truthfully, it was probably some of the best performance we’ve had as a team and for me, myself,” senior goalkeeper Griffin Zosel said. “So I’m so happy that I had such a good game and that the boys all showed up, and we found a way to bury one in the back of the net and kept a clean sheet, so that marks all the boxes for me.”
The single goal was scored by senior Haden Smith in the second half with 29 minutes left in regulation after intercepting a pass from Maple Grove.
“It was a scrappy goal,” senior captain and center midfielder Stellan Twill said, “but those goals win games.”
It came after a grueling first half with the Hornets (18–2–1) and the Crimsons (15–2–2) moving back and forth for control of the ball.
Both teams scarcely found opportunities to land the ball in the net and relied heavily on the defensive line.
Despite the fact, senior captain and forward Andreas Engle continued to push through to the net.
The two teams continued to battle for control of the ball; however, the effortless headers from Edina ensured that the majority of their battles ended with the ball on the other team’s half.
Senior defender Malachi Sweeney said he was proud of every header he won, and “it always feels awesome.”
The center midfielders on both sides played small quick balls in the middle, looking to switch the ball out of pressure. The outside defenders for Edina continued to make runs, to try and create scoring opportunities.
Twill said the team struggled with getting the ball in the first half; however, once they switched their formation they began to settle down and connect more passes.
“I went on a 25 yard sprint to win the ball, and I ended up taking it off of him and springing a mini counter attack,” Engle said about his favorite moment.
Zosel said he had a moment of reflection when he caught a ball before it entered the net near the end of the game, landing on his side on the way down.
“I looked up, the clock is at 1:40, and I realize then and there, ‘I think this is it. I think we won it,’” he said.
Much love was shown for senior Carsten Koehler from the student section. Koehler, who moved back from England recently, petitioned the MSHSL to play during the season and was only approved in mid-October. Twill said Koehler created “promising opportunities to attack.”
The championship is Edina’s 211, a state best. Engle, Koehler, Sweeney, Twill, and Zosel made the All-Tournament Team.
“It’s mixed emotions obviously because I’m not gonna play with these guys ever again,” Engle said. “At the same time, knowing that we left on top of the world right now, you couldn’t ask for a better way to do it.”
