North metro soccer teams gear up for sections

The Centennial girls' soccer team earned the No. 1 seed in Class 2A, Section 5 based on a sterling 13-1-2 record, but the Cougars are keeping things in perspective.

No. 2 seed Mounds View was responsible for a notable blemish on the Cougars' records last fall. If not for a loss on the 31st shootout attempt against Mounds View, the Cougars would be the reigning section champion.

Such is life in the section playoffs, which begin throughout Minnesota this week. Centennial, ranked No. 7 in the final coaches' association poll, comes in with better credentials than many teams but remains the same number of losses away from a playoff exit.

"We lost six or seven starters but the girls who are back, I know that feeling in still in their gut," Centennial coach Ginger Flohaug said.

The Cougars' quest for redemption this fall has been almost perfect. But the lone loss, 3-2 against Maple Grove on Sept. 13, has aided the Cougars' cause.

"We felt it was a coachable moment," Flohaug said. "I watched that tape more than once because they were one of only teams to score three goals on us."

Maple Grove, the No. 3 seed in Section 5, fell behind 2-0 against Centennial but roared back for a victory. Flohaug said her players "fell apart" and started trying to win the game as individuals rather than as a team.

"If you take off Jenna's stats, the rest of our team looks like other teams," Flohaug said.

Mounds View, which played Centennial to a scoreless draw on Sept. 10, went 2-1-1 down the stretch in October. Kirsten Rasmussen (eight goals), Anna Porch (six) and Bella Sutton (five) give the Mustangs offensive potency. And Maple Grove features the high-scoring trio of Haley Nelson (13 goals), Kailey Beatt (seven) and Lauren Schwarzrock (six).

On the boys side, Spring Lake Park/St. Anthony Village wrestled the No. 1 seed in the Section 5 field. The Panthers are on an 11-game unbeaten streak.

Senior Mario Aleman leads a young and talented team to a strong season. But the challenge is clear. Last season, the team fell one victory short of the state tournament for the third time in five seasons.

"We've learned how to see tight games through," coach Jake Smothers said. "The [one-goal victories] against Benilde-St. Margaret's and Mounds View helped us with our confidence."

The girls, meanwhile, can celebrate their return from an abysmal 2010 season.

The Bengals went 3-12-2 last season. This year they started 2-0 before losing to then-No. 1 Eden Prairie and Andover. The Bengals could have regressed into the here-we-go-again blues. It did not happen.

"We felt we won the Andover game in terms of how we tried to get the tying goal," first-year coach Scott Zachmann said. "It was still much better soccer than last year, so losing didn't affect the kids as much."

The Bengals went on a five-game unbeaten streak to erase any ties to last season. Young players made big impacts. Freshman Britney Monteon leads the team with eight goals.

Citing a lack of top-end team speed, Zachmann plans to play a more defensive style in the postseason "and squeak out a 1-0 win or get to a shootout."

"I think whoever wants to win the section is going to win the section," Blaine coach Barry Arrowsmith said.

When it comes to determination, Blaine's Mitch Boege has plenty to share. He is second on the team with seven goals after missing all of last season with a knee injury.