Girls' soccer: Anoka 2, Coon Rapids 1

Anoka goalkeeper Sonya Smith did not like her soccer team's chances to beat Coon Rapids in a shootout to decide the Class 2A, Section 7 title, especially after the Tornadoes' first two shots were stopped.

"I thought, 'It's over,'" Smith said.

But the Cardinals missed twice as well, including a potential game-winner that sailed over the goal. Rejuvenated, Anoka went on to win the shootout 5-4 on a goal from Jessica Bowe and a save by Smith.

One year after losing the section championship game at Coon Rapids, Anoka got revenge with a 2-1 shootout victory on the Cardinals' home field Thursday. Anoka's most recent state tournament appearance came in 1997.

Thursday marked the 19th meeting of the teams since 1998 and only the fourth Tornadoes victory in that span.

Both teams play in the Northwest Suburban Conference; Coon Rapids won the regular season meeting 2-1, but Anoka's players came into Thursday's game feeling confident.

"The last 10 games, we've been on fire," Bowe said. Anoka was 9-0-1 during that span. "We've made the plays we need to make."

Anoka forward Taylor Bare put her team on the board in the 30th minute of the first half, heading in a goal on a corner kick from Hailey Kramer.

Midfielder Allison Giddings set up the goal on a heads-up play. She shot the ball off a Coon Rapids defender out of bounds, giving Kramer a third corner-kick attempt moments after the first two failed to produce a goal.

Coon Rapids forward Shelby Funfar got loose in the offensive zone with about three minutes to play, weaving between defenders and sending the ball toward the goal for Jenna Anderson, who scored to tie the game 1-1.