Busy Thursday nets state and section wins
by Jason Olson
Thisweek Newspapers
Thursday was another busy sports day with two soccer teams playing in the state tournament, two cross country teams winning section titles and second-round section action in volleyball.
Soccer
Eastview’s girls soccer team winning its state quarterfinals game over defending state champion Lakeville South, 2-1
The Lightning pressed forward early and scored twice inside the opening 17 minutes to move on to next week’s semifinals at the Metrodome. It’s the furthest the Lightning have played in two previous trips to the state tournament.
Lakeville South is the defending state champions, but lost 2-1 in overtime in the Lake Conference opener to Eastview in late August.
The Lightning face another Lake Conference foe in Eden Prairie at Metrodome on Tuesday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
Eastview beat the Eagles 2-1 on Oct. 14.
Lakeville North’s boys team lost to Osseo 3-1 in the state quarterfinals at Iron. It was the first state appearance for the Panthers.
Cross Country
One year after Burnsville’s Rob Finnerty blew away the field in every meet he ran, the Blaze boys team returned to the section meet, winning its fifth-ever section title on Thursday at Valleywood Golf Course in Apple Valley.
Blaze senior newcomer, Abdi Hassan won the section title in 16 minutes, 2.04 seconds. giving Burnsville back-to-back section individual champions.
Burnsville had five runners finish inside the top 29 spots to score 87 points, five fewer than St. Thomas Academy.
Rosemount’s Chris Massey finished runner-up in 16:03.4.
Jason Olson is at sports.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.
