Gallery • 12 Photos

Ethan Dincer

The Spartans celebrate a goal.

Rain was pouring down and the wind was blowing a second homecoming night a year later, but the crowds and players were still buzzing. Coming into the last game of the season for the team, girls varsity soccer, ranked number three before the game, were coming up against number one ranked Northfield. As the die hard group of students lined up at the bottom of the hill to charge the field, the national anthem and lineups were finished, the first whistle of the game was blown to kickoff the intense match up.

The Spartans took control of the game quickly, both applying substantial pressure on the offensive end as well as holding on a tight line on the opposite end of the field. The entire first twenty minutes, SPA dominated possession. Switching the ball from side to side as well as going on many creative runs, the first goal came quickly.

Senior Hayley Hoffman took control of the ball on the left side of the field and took it to the Northfield penalty area. With a quick cut to her right foot, she rifled a shot over the opposing goalkeeper’s head into the back of the net.

“Ole” chants came plentifully from the fan section.

Soon after freshman Olivia Lagos dug herself into the Northfield box and took an attempt to slide the ball into the goal. Though the keeper got a hand on the fast moving ball, sophomore Ayla Straub was there instinctively to poke the ball into the net. Thus, the Spartan lead was doubled.

With just a few minutes left in the first half, the Spartans went in again for another.

From a nice slotting pass, Hoffman got the ball at her feet and danced between two defenders, leaving them in the dust. Finished off with a blast into the very top of the Northfield goal, the Spartans were up three to zero before the half.

Though the second half was better contested by Northfield, the Spartan’s defense, led by seniors Kelly Fiedler and Belle Smith, locked down the game and allowed nothing to pass through them.

The game finished three to zero, which shot the Spartans into the number one seed for both sections and in overall state rankings.

The Girl’s Varsity Soccer team will play either Highland Park or South St. Paul on Saturday, October 14th for their first game in sections.