Senior midfielder Samuel Ruiz Plaza's goal on a free kick from 20 yards out in sudden-death overtime lifted top-seeded East Ridge to a 1-0 victory over Duluth East on Wednesday in the Class 2A boys' soccer quarterfinals at Chisago Lakes High School.

"It was a magical moment," Ruiz Plaza said. "It was in my range and I saw the opening in the wall. I [had hit] two crossbars in this game and had a few other chances, so I felt it was finally time for one to go in. I struck it well and looked up and it was money."

The Raptors spent most of the second half on the attack and a game-winning goal felt like an inevitability, but they were repeatedly turned away by Greyhounds goalkeeper Hugh VanScoy.

"[VanScoy] was on fire. He was stopping everything," Ruiz Plaza said. "We just kept fighting through, kept moving the ball and finally something good happened."

East Ridge nearly had two goals in regulation that would have prevented overtime, but both were disallowed.

The unranked Greyhounds (12-4-4) played with East Ridge (20-0) in the first half, but in the second half the Raptors opened up the game.

"We finally started moving the ball around and finding and creating space," Ruiz Plaza said. "We were just playing quick and simple and finally in the second half, we started to get a ton of chances."

Duluth East scrapped to stay in the game behind VanScoy's goalkeeping, but were unable to produce many scoring opportunities.

Senior Darby Henderson found space behind the Raptors' defense late in the second half, but was unable to control the ball at his feet.

"We've never slipped up," Ruiz Plaza said. "I think if we handle the pressure and play like we did today, good things can happen."

MIKE ZANATTA

Wayzata 3, Rochester John Marshall 0: Senior Arthur Parens scored two goals in the first four minutes of the second half to lead the Trojans (14-3-3) over the Rockets (13-4-2) in the other boys' quarterfinal at Chisago Lakes.

"It's all about timing," Parens said. "The [other] guys do most of the work. I'm just there to put in the finish."

After a scoreless first half, the No. 4-seeded Trojans came out of the locker room looking to attack.

"Jump all over them and put it in quick," said senior defender David Almaer of the halftime message. "And that's what we did."

Senior centerback Benjamin Anderson took the ball down the sideline and put a cross into the box to an unmarked Parens for the first goal.

Minutes later, Parens was at it again. The midfielder found the ball at his feet near the corner of the box and dribbled past two defenders before finding the back of the net.

The No. 5-seeded Rockets spent much of the game in their own end while the Trojans dominated possession.

Senior forward Clay Elmore added a late goal to seal the victory for the Trojans.

MIKE ZANATTA

Class 1A quarterfinals

St. Cloud Apollo 1, Rochester Lourdes 0: Abdiaziz Hilowie's first-half goal lifted the Eagles (19-0-2) to the victory at Osseo High School. Hilowie scored from 10 yards out — on an assist from Aidan Sim- Campos — in the 18th minute.

Goalkeeper Cooper Gray had one save in the Eagles' shutout over Lourdes (15-6-0).

Mankato West 4, Monticello 0: Senior Matthew Ouren scored three times in the first 20 minutes to spark the Scarlets (19-1) past the Magic in the second game at Osseo. Ouren scored in the seventh, 13th and 19th minutes.

Jacob Makela, who assisted on Ouren's third goal, added a second-half goal for the Scarlets.