Orono's 'Soccer Girls' reach dream final vs. Benilde-St. Margaret's

St. Cloud - Orono's 2-0 victory over Mahtomedi in the Class 1A state semifinals on Wednesday at Husky Stadium was significant from a playoffs standpoint, sure.

But from the Spartans' point of view, the victory sets up perhaps the most anticipated game in their program's history.

They'll get to play perhaps their biggest rival, Benilde-St. Margaret's, which ousted them from the section playoffs in 2013, in the championship game Thursday.

They'll do it with the "Soccer Girls," the schoolwide nickname for their fabulous senior class, leading the way one last time.

And they'll get to defend their Class 1A championship on the biggest stage of the season.

"There's definitely a rivalry going on there," said senior forward Lily McKown of Orono (19-2).

"These are the kinds of games you look forward to, the most intense games. You just want to go out and give it everything you have."

She scored the game's first goal at 4 minutes, 45 seconds of the second half, converting a through-ball from Carly Goehring.

"That's something we talk about in big games like this," Murray said. "It's about going out and setting the tone for us, lighting the fire."

Senior Claire Bash added an insurance goal eight minutes later on an assist from Danielle Jorgenson.

"[The title game] is going to be so big for us," said Jorgenson, one of 11 seniors who make up the Soccer Girls.

"We've been together since second grade. We bond together over everything. We bond over 'Grey's Anatomy.'