Woodbury stays unbeaten

Woodbury's Eric Miller admitted that the prospects of playing in Friday's Class 2A state boys' soccer quarterfinal caused him a few days worth of butterflies.

Undefeated all season, the No. 2 seed Royals entered the state playoffs like every other team -- one loss from elimination. Score one for staying power.

Miller assisted on two goals, including Pat Moore's eventual game-winner in the 53rd minute as Woodbury beat Champlin Park 2-1 at Park of Cottage Grove. The Royals beat the Rebels 6-1 to start the season, but that result did not mean much.

"They were missing their two best players in the first game," Miller said. "We knew they were a good team."

Woodbury (16-0-3) proved to be the better team. Mats Brendesaeter scored on Miller's feed in the 33rd minute to put the Royals ahead 1-0.

The Royals' advantage lasted into the second half until Ayub Baker tied the score in the 47th minute. A cross from the Welton Mah eluded outstretched Woodbury goalkeeper Peter Runquist and wound up on Baker's foot for the lone goal for the Rebels (11-8).

On the winning goal six minutes later, Miller tracked a corner kick and outjumped two Rebels players to head the ball toward Moore.

"I just got enough of it and Pat made a nice shot," Miller said.

Wayzata 1, Bloomington Jefferson 0 (OT): Wayzata forward Michael Kirsch said coaches instructed the Trojans to play ugly in the blustery, wet conditions Friday night.

But Kirsch managed to score a nice goal just the same, a tally 1 minute and 39 seconds into overtime that allowed Wayzata (11-6-4) to upset No. 3 Bloomington Jefferson (12-5-4) in the other 2A quarterfinal at Park of Cottage Grove.

"The ball came in off the corner kick behind me," Kirsch said. "I turned and had plenty of time, and I just picked a corner. We were all cold and did not want to go to a shootout."

The wind played a big role Friday. The canopy above the Bloomington Jefferson bench blew over about seven minutes into the game. Players had to decide when to put more or less leg into a shot. And any ball that ventured too far skyward became an adventure.

Through the first half, Bloomington Jefferson held the advantage in corner kicks but never converted. The Trojans, playing with the wind at their backs in the second half, created more chances and finished the game with an 11-4 shot advantage.

The Trojans were on a 7-0 run entering Friday's game and "believed we had a chance to win," Kirsch said.

DAVID LA VAQUE

Hermantown 5, Mankato West 1: Hermantown coach Dave Thompson wishes ill will on no one. But he sure is glad Charlie Comnick broke his leg during football season three years ago and opted to go out for soccer the following fall.

Comnick, now a senior forward, scored four goals Friday at Roseville High School in the Class 1A state quarterfinals, leading the third-seeded Hawks past Mankato West.

Comnick now has 21 goals on the season and is peaking at the right time: during Hermantown's first-ever state tournament appearance.

"He's a man out there," Thompson said. "I am grateful for all these guys who play so well together."

On Friday, Comnick and senior midfielder Willis Kantonen sure had something clicking for the Hawks (21-1), who now advance to the Metrodome for Monday's semifinal against Simley.

Comnick scored a pair of goals 1 minute, 22 seconds apart -- the first off a beautiful sliding pass from Kantonen and the second after he blitzed down the sideline by a pair of Mankato West defenders -- and Kantonen put one in with less than 30 seconds remaining in the first half for a 3-0 lead after 40 minutes.

Comnick notched his third goal of the game seven minutes into the second half and a fourth in the game's 66th minute. Kantonen added two more assists.

Not bad for a team that had no scouting report on the Scarlets (18-3). The Hawks were simply instructed to treat Friday's game as if it was an intra-squad scrimmage against a tough defense; Hermantown has only allowed seven goals all season.

Turns out, that plan worked quite well.

"It just feels so good to get the win," Comnick said. "We had a good time out here. We're glad to be going to the Dome; it's warmer."

Simley 2, Austin 1: Simley, in the first half, and Austin, in the second, traded dictation of the pace of play, momentum bursts and successful penalty kicks.

After that back-and-forth affair, it all came down to a last-minute desperation shot -- literally.

Just when officials in the Roseville High School press box were discussing overtime procedures, Spartans forward Oja Ena had the ball drop in his direction from 18 yards out. In one motion, Ena turned to his left and booted the ball toward the Packers net. The shot went in with 58.8 seconds remaining, capping a wild regulation victory for the second-seeded Spartans (18-1-4).

Simley's Ben Royce and Austin's Jacob Brehmer connected on their respective penalty shot tries.

Austin finishes the season 14-6.

BRIAN STENSAAS