The AHA girls soccer team went down to the Bank and cashed in some long overdue checks. This girls soccer team, coached by Mr. Dave Marshak, has been scoring goals and taking home trophies all season. Before going to state, this team worked hard to clinch the number two seed, winning all eight games in the Tri-Metro Conference and earning a record of 14-2 going into sections. Last year, the AHA girls soccer team went undefeated before going into sections and ended up winning, before losing to Mahtomedi in the semifinals of the Class AA tournament. This year, this new team of players were determined to not allow that to happen again. 

This year the team went into sections with a positive attitude about the upcoming postseason. They beat Richfield 3-1 in the section 3AA quarterfinals They continued the streak with a win against Simley in the semi-finals with a final score of 3-0. This game highlighted forward #9 Audrey Garton ‘24, who scored two of the three goals that game, with midfielder #12 Ellen Neuharth ‘26 scoring the third goal and having an assist on another. The team went on to the championship game, playing Two Rivers and winning 3-0, clinching the championship and securing the number two seed in the AA State Tournament. The team still had a fight to get to the top.

For the first match of the AA State tournament in the quarterfinals, AHA played Zimmerman and crushed them 5-0. The team headed to the “Bank” to play the number five seed Mankato East in the semi-finals. It was a tough, well-played match, but nearing the end of the first period forward Kate Van Sloun ‘23, assisted by midfielder Makayla Chow ‘24, scored a goal on Mankato East’s goalie, putting the Stars up 1-0. AHA fought hard, defended well, attacked, and goalie Chloe Sandness ‘23, took special care to make sure none of the shots went past her. Sandness, committed to the University of Manitoba Bisons, only let in five goals in the regular season. The game was settled, and AHA took the victory 1-0, moving on to play the number one seed Mahtomedi, the 4-time defending champs and the same people who knocked them out of the state tourney last season. The game started off quickly with Sandness scoring a goal in the first six minutes of the game. AHA held onto that lead and just when it was looking to be a wrap on the game, Mahtomedi forward Kaitlyn Moltzan ‘24 scored, tying the game and sending the game to overtime. Both of the teams fought ferociously, and after two overtime periods, no one scored. The game went to penalty kicks.

All of the players on the field knew what was on the line: the championship, the trophy, and the glory, but AHA had one thing that Mahtomedi did not – they had nothing to lose. After six rounds of penalty kicks, the score was tied 5-5. Briarleigh Dahl ‘26 kicked one past Mahtomedi’s goalie, and Sandness saved Mahtomedi’s response, winning the kicks 6-5 and securing the AHA girls as state champions.