Lakeville North proves it deserves top rank

Lakeville North standout Simone Kolander knew her top-ranked and No. 1-seeded team was not the underdog in the Class 2A soccer state tournament quarterfinal game against Anoka on Wednesday at Hopkins High School.

But the undefeated Panthers felt a need to prove themselves just the same. They won 3-0, advancing to next week's semifinals at the Metrodome. Kolander, the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year, assisted on the first two goals and scored the third.

"People are kind of questioning if we really deserved [the No. 1 ranking], [asking] did we have an easy season that allowed us to be undefeated," Kolander said. "But I think we worked really hard to earn our No. 1 ranking."

Anoka (10-6-4) generated the game's first few quality scoring chances and seemed poised to take an early lead. But the Panthers (18-0-2) responded with three goals in a little more than seven minutes in the first half.

Kolander found Alexa Trakalo and Emily Clarkin for goals less than three minutes apart. Kolander's goal made it 3-0. As the Panthers' main playmaker. Kolander has 22 goals and 29 assists this season.

"We're definitely looking for her," Trakalo said. "I think we're all really good players but she does spark us."

Wednesday's victory cemented the Panthers' first trip to the Metrodome for the semifinals since Lakeville South opened in 2005. Since then, Lakeville South held the balance of power in the community. The Cougars advanced to state in each of their first four seasons, a run highlighted by a championship in 2007.

From an extra defender to a mastery of the offsides trap, Blaine was getting to the Trojans offense. But a halftime regroup allowed them to fight back. Johnson scored the second of her two goals only 35 seconds after halftime and No. 4 seed Wayzata prevailed 2-1.

"We made our adjustments and we made it happen," Johnson said.

Blaine coach Scott Zachmann knew Johnson's second goal would be tough to overcome.

"We were like, 'How do you dig yourself out of a hole like that against Wayzata?'" Zachmann said.

The Bengals almost did. About three minutes later, Ashley Pafko got a ball to squirt through the legs of Trojans goalkeeper Mara Dougherty.

DAVID LA VAQUE

Class A: Blake 4, Bemidji 0Junior forward Grace Boatman provided plenty of offense as the Bears shut out the Lumberjacks in a quarterfinal at St. Cloud State.

Boatman scored twice on rebounds in the first half -- as Blake went into the break with a 2-0 lead. Senior midfielder Meghan Bauer drove home a loose ball in front of the net for a 3-0 second-half advantage at the 17:14 mark, and Bears forward Natalie Sill scored the game's final goal with 11 minutes to play off a cross from Hannah Randolph.

The Bears advanced to the semifinal round for the third year in a row. They placed third in 2010 and were runners-up in 2009.

Rochester Lourdes 2, Esko/Carlton 0Lourdes struck quickly and then followed the lead of its defense to advance to the Class A semifinals.

Lourdes goalkeeper Marissa DiCecco notched her 13th shutout in 20 games.