by Dennis Dalman
news@thenewsleaders.com
It was a stunning double triumph when the Sartell boys’ and the girls’ soccer teams won Section 8A games late last week that launched them into Class A state competition.
The girls’ team defeated Alexandria, then went on to trounce St. Cloud Cathedral 2-0 at St. Cloud State University’s Husky Stadium. The two goals were scored by Abby Spanier and Sophie VanSurksum. Team captains are VanSurksum, Kelsey Frank and Katie Stuttgen. It’s the first time the girls’ soccer team earned state play since 2007.
Also at Husky Stadium last week, the boys’ team beat Bemidji, then defeated St. Cloud Apollo 3-2. Cullen Chisholm scored the winning goal in overtime as well as a previous goal. The other goal was by Kyle Erickson. Team captains are Erickson, Zachary Jacobson and Shawn Sullivan. The Sartell boys’ team competed at the state level once before, in 2011.
An interesting fact is that a brother and sister – Zach and Abby Spanier – will both be competing at state.
Head coach Matt Hager said hard work, lots of practice and seamless teamwork led to the Sabre boys success throughout this season.
After their wins, both teams celebrated during the Soccer Banquet at the Xcel Center in St. Paul.
“I was crying I was so happy for the girls,” said Head Coach Cassie Raehsler. “It was amazing. They are such hard workers and have some of the best team chemistry on teams I’ve ever coached. They played with a lot of heart. And the parents were so supportive through the whole process and through the whole season.”
This is Raehsler’s first season as Sabre girls’ soccer coach. She was hired in July after long-time coach Joe Perske retired from that position. A Sartell native, Raehsler had played soccer all through her Sartell school years.
Raehsler said she has her own style of coaching, which is different from that of former coach Perske, but the girls adapted quickly.
“The girls trusted in the coaching staff and believed strongly in what we were trying to do,” she said. “They had a great attitude from the get-go.”
As of press time Wednesday, the Sartell Sabre girls’ soccer team was slated to play Blake Academy at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Husky Stadium, and the boys were scheduled to play Rochester Lourdes at 7:30 p.m. at St. Louis Park High School.
The winners of the quarter-final games will face off Oct. 28-31 inside the Metrodome. The Class A girls will compete in the semi-finals at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 28, and the Class A boys will follow at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
On Tuesday, Oct. 29, the Class A boys will play their third-place game at 8 a.m., followed by the Class A girls’ third-place game at 10 a.m.
Finally, on Thursday, Oct. 31, the Class A boys’ championship game will start at 12:30 p.m., followed by the girls’ championship at 3 p.m.
The championship matches will be webcast live and free on www.Prep45.com.
After the statewide soccer banquet in St. Paul, the Sartell Sabre girls’ and boys’ soccer teams got together for a photo to celebrate a unique achievement. Both teams won the regionals and are now in state competition. From left to right (front row, starting with girl kneeling with white sweater and print dress) are Lauren Williams, Sophie VanSurksum, Katie Stuttgen, Kyle Erickson, Abby Spanier, Mac Nies, Alayna Paulson-Trombley, Kenzie Schad and Caitlin Halupczok; (front row starting at far left, standing) Clare Minnerath, Bria Ferns, Molly Mahowald and Allie Hemmesch; (second row) Amanda Flemming, Megan Cook, Maia Trombley, Greta Evavold, Kelsey Frank, Grace Kuhl, Olivia Garner, Elli Johnson and Tessa Hager; (three boys standing in the very middle in front of the back row) Kellen Cameron, Austin Sura and Tim Levandoski; and (back row) Jacob Lund, Trevor Erickson, Caleb Forberg, Brandon Schuchard, Kempton Schneider, Carter Kasianov, Zach Spanier, Colin Johnson, Ben Veitch, Matthew Michaud, Turner Kuhn, Cullen Chisholm, Logan Pederson, Harris Mian, Shawn Sullivan, Zach Jacobson, Alec Adelman and Carlos Rico Lozano. Not pictured: Jacob Koltes and Darrin Lunde.
