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Caden Deardurff

PREGAME PEP TALK. The BVS captains, Ezra Straub (‘25), Arlo Zirps (‘25), and Liam Sullivan (‘25) give their usual pregame speech in the huddle before the first whistle. Coming off of three straight playoff wins, the Spartans were on a roll but ready to step up for the greater challenge of the state tournament.

In a dramatic, back-and-forth thriller that came down to a penalty shootout, the Spartans were able to pull of a 1-1(4-2) win against St. Croix Preparatory Academy. A very early goal for St. Croix Prep put the Spartans down 1-0, and BVS was unable to capitalize on any chances before halftime. The Spartans came into the second half with a pep in their step, and after repeatedly threatening the opposition with chance after chance, senior Rowan McLean (‘25) placed a powerful shot into the top right corner from distance to tie the game. Regulation finished in a tie, and after a scoreless overtime, the game went to penalties. Goalkeeper Miles Vogenthaler saved the first shot from St. Croix with a diving effort, and set the tone for the rest of the shootout. Rowan McLean (‘25), Kiki Sullivan (‘27), Erik Bjorgvinsson (‘27), and Ezra Straub (‘25) were the penalty takers were the Spartans, and all scored their shots. One final save from Vogenthaler gave the Spartans the win, and sends them to US Bank Stadium where they will face Pine Island/Zumbrota-Mazeppa in the state semifinal.