2A girls' soccer: Wayzata 2, Woodbury 1

Wayzata junior forward Taylor Wodnick said her soccer team battled nerves during the first half of Thursday's Class 2A state championship game.

And why not? Though unbeaten this season, the Trojans were up against defending champion Woodbury, which outscored opponents 85-5 in 22 previous games.

But it was the Trojans who left the Metrodome with the title after beating Woodbury at its own game 2-1. Wodnick's header goal in the 69th minute stood as the game-winner.

"We weren't strong offensively today, and a lot of that had to do with their defense," Royals co-head coach Bill Ebertz said. "They played more hungry than us."

The first half was scoreless. Woodbury (21-1-1) made more plays but received no breaks. The fifth of the Royals' six first-half corner kicks was headed off the crossbar. Woodbury outshot Wayzata 8-2.

Wayzata (18-0-5) tightened up defensively after halftime and began generating more offense. Unlike Woodbury, the Trojans were rewarded for their efforts when Erin Krause scored in the 48th minute.

Woodbury goalkeeper Brittany Cygan and one of her teammates fought for, then lost, control of the ball -- and it dropped at Krause's feet.

Elation gave way to concern 10 minutes later as the Royals were awarded a penalty kick. Caitlin Graboski scored to tie the game. Ebertz, however, saw no lasting effect. Asked if the goal awakened his team, he said, "It should have."

Instead, Wayzata reclaimed its control of the game. Wodnick said the Trojans, which fell behind to Robbinsdale Armstrong in the Section 6 championship game before coming back to win 2-1, played with a renewed energy.

"That game helped us today," she said.