ST. CLOUD – The Benilde-St. Margaret's girls' soccer team wanted revenge after losing to arguably its biggest rival, Orono, in last year's Class 1A, Section 6 final.
The top-seeded Red Knights got it Thursday, defeating the second-seeded Spartans 4-2 at Husky Stadium for their third Class 1A title in four years.
Benilde-St. Margaret's (20-1-1), much to its own surprise, broke away with goals by Aleksa Tataryn, Amanda Cassidy and Madison Stoks during a four-minute stretch in the second half.
"We didn't expect it to happen that quickly," coach Scott Helling-Christy said.
The victory was especially sweet for the team's 10 seniors, including captains Emily Schmitz, Tataryn and Sophie Roux and defender Taylor Gelling. Those four have been playing together since their freshman year and are like sisters, Helling-Christy said.
Tataryn, Roux, and Gelling play on the same club team as Orono's Carly Goehring, who scored both of her team's goals on Thursday. All four have committed to play college soccer.
"It's like the best feeling in the world," Roux said of the title.
Gelling was unable to play Thursday because of a kidney injury she sustained during Wednesday's semifinal. Julia Stellijes played her position and made the all-tournament team.
For Orono's 11 seniors, Thursday ended a career that included winning the 2014 state title. Coach Erin Murray was able to play all 11 in the last five minutes of the game.
"We didn't give up," Murray said. "That's all we really wanted."
