by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
The Central Minnesota Youth Soccer Association Girls Under-12 team defeated Hastings Futbol Club United to win the Minnesota State Youth Hockey Association state championship Oct. 15 and 16 in Rochester.
Two Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School students – Mya McKnight and Olivia Bauer – are members of the 13-girl team.
It was among 41 teams that played the Fall League through the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association. Eight of those teams qualified for the state championship.
Single-elimination play on Saturday resulted in a 7-0 win over Richfield Soccer Association and a 0-0 tie with River Falls, earning CMYSA a spot in the semifinals. A 2-0 semifinal victory Sunday over Dakota Rev led to the championship game, a 3-0 win over Hastings Futbol Club United.
The Girls Under-12 team increased its cumulative fall team record to 11-0-1. What’s remarkable is they had only two goals scored against them the entire season.
The team, coached by Stuart Perry and Kevin Quinn, is made up of 13 girls who will attend Sauk Rapids-Rice, Tech, Apollo, Cathedral, Sartell and St. John’s Prep high schools in the future.
Established in 1980, Central Minnesota Youth Soccer Association is a volunteer-driven soccer program that provides for the growth and development of players, coaches and referees. The association promotes fun while helping develop players’ skills, sportsmanship, teamwork and self-confidence. The recreational and competitive teams are comprised of youth ages 5 to 18.
The CMYSA championship Under-12 Girls Soccer Team is comprised of (front row, left to right) Mikayla Gorder, Athlos Academy; Olivia Bauer, Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School; Madden Quinn, Clearview Elementary; Bella Lee and Jaden Perry, both of St. John’s Prep; and Emily Koepp, North Junior High; (back row, left to right) Coach Kevin Quinn; Annabel Walk, South Junior High; Hope Schueller, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School; Claire Quinn, South Junior High; Mya McKnight, Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School; Reese Kloetzer, Sartell Middle School; Kenzie Oksa, South Junior High; Nora Miller, St. John’s Prep; and Head Coach Stuart Perry.
