The Orono girls' soccer team went into its Class 1A quarterfinal game Wednesday against Dover-Eyota allowing an average of under half a goal per game. After a 3-1 victory at Park of Cottage Grove, it was easy to see why.

Orono's defense set up an early goal from Carley Hewitt. The defense controlled much of the first half and the sustained pressure nearly lead to a second score with six minutes to go, but the Spartans couldn't put the ball away at point blank range.

Dover-Eyota's time on the attack was limited in the first half, but it made a late trip across midfield count. The Eagles' Haley Finstuen made a couple of nice open-field moves and scored on a rush to tie the score 1-1 with 4:09 left in the half.

The tie was short-lived, however, because the Spartans went back on the attack. With just seconds left in the half, Orono was awarded a penalty kick. Senior Sophie Babo's initial attempt was blocked, but she knocked in her own rebound to put the Spartans back on top.

In the second half, Orono (16-2-1) continued to dominate play. The midfielders kept Dover-Eyota (15-2-1) bottled up, and the Spartans put two long shots off the crossbar.

"The defense was hitting their spots all game," Babo said. "They were really communicating, and that allowed us to attack."

Because of the defense, Babo and the offense were able to attack the entire second half. The sustained pressure finally paid off when Babo scored her second goal late in the half.

"Catherine Fraser gave me a perfect ball," Babo said. "It would have been a shame if I would have wasted such a good pass."

BRIAN JERZAK

Park Center 1, Albert Lea 0: The story of the Park Center's victory over the Albert Lea was the play of losing goalkeeper Kathryn Flaherty. She came up with a number of saves, including at least five of the spectacular variety to keep her team in the game.

Pirates senior Jill Rosby finally got a ball past Flaherty late in the first half. It was the first state tournament goal ever for Park Center (16-3) since its first appearance at state. There was a mass of bodies in front of the goal. Rosby's shot somehow trickled through all the bodies and just got inside the left post.

"It wasn't a very clean goal," Rosby said. "It was bouncing, and I barely got a foot on it. The goalie must not have seen it, because it barely trickled in."

Park Center's speed kept the Tigers (12-3-2) scrambling all night. The constant pressure continued in the second half. Down a goal, Albert Lea committed more players to the attack, but the Pirates continued to carry the play. Park Center's defense rarely allowed a shot on net.

BRIAN JERZAK

Class 2A

Lakeville North 3, St. Michael-Albertville 1: Temi Carda and Madeline Finne scored eight minutes apart late in the second half to lift the Panthers to the victory at St. Cloud State.

Carda's goal in the 69th minute gave the Panthers, making their fourth consecutive state tournament appearance, a 2-1 lead. Finne scored in the 77th minute.

Lillie Lyon, who assisted on Carda's goal, scored six minutes into the game to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

St. Michael-Albertville's Emily Swanson scored in the 66th minute to tie the score at 1-1.

Eden Prairie 1, Anoka 0: April Bockin's first-half goal enabled the Eagles, making their third consecutive appearance, to defeat the Tornadoes.

Bockin scored on rebound in the 19th minute for the Eagles (16-2-1).