It took until the very end, but Eagan got it done.
With four minutes remaining in double overtime of the Class 3A boys soccer state semifinals Wednesday, senior forward Jake Sondag scored the golden goal, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 victory over Minneapolis Washburn at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Eagan, the fourth seed in the state tournament, became the first team to beat undefeated top seed Washburn this year.
Returning to state for the first time since 2015, the win books the Wildcats (19-1-1) their first-ever spot in Friday’s state championship. They will face Maple Grove at 8 a.m. Friday in the 3A state championship.
“It’s been our dream senior season,” Eagan senior midfielder Syon Thapa said. “Every kid, when they think about their high school soccer career, [it’s] getting to the Bank, playing in the championship.”
Ninety minutes of scoreless stalemate — thanks to both teams’ strong goalkeeping performances — nearly broke when, five minutes into overtime, Washburn senior forward Julian Brower-Snelson and freshman forward Lucas Neu hit two shots off the right goal post only seconds apart.
“The last 15 minutes, it felt to me we were kind of wearing them down a little bit,” Washburn head coach Aaron Percy said. “We just couldn’t find one when we had those opportunities.”
Minutes later, the ball would roll in Eagan’s favor, literally. Sondag drove down the right sideline and slotted a pass into All-State junior midfielder Eric Noll. Washburn keeper Henry Johnson saved Noll’s shot, but Sondag crashed into a crowded box and knocked in the rebound, which slowly rolled over the goal line.