Sartell Falls Short In Exciting State Soccer Tournament Semifinal

The Sabres boys soccer team came in to their state tournament semifinal matchup full of confidence, and rightfully so as they were riding a ten game unbeaten streak.

That streak came to an end Monday with a narrow 2-1 loss to unbeaten Como Park (St. Paul) at the Metrodome.

The Cougars got on the board early with a Seik Seik goal in the 37th minute of the first half. Seik got behind a defender and tucked a soft shot past Sabres goalkeeper Colin Johnson to make the score 1-0.

Sophomore Cullen Chisholm had the Sabres best chance of the first half in the 23rd minute, a shot from eight yards out that went off the goalpost and under the back of Cougars goalie Doug McCune-Zierath but not quite over the goal line.

Como Park maintained the single goal lead as the teams went to the locker room. At the half, the Cougars outshot the Sabres 3-2 and had seven corner kicks to Sartell's two. Penalties were even at four apiece.

The Cougars came out of the half firing, and once again Seik found the back of the net for a 2-0 Como Park lead at the 43rd minute.

Sartell-St. Stephen mounted some offensive pressure and broke through on a Kempton Schneider goal in the 62nd minute, his 15th of the season to make the score 2-1.

However, the Cougars kept the Sabres off the board for the remainder of the contest and held on for the 2-1 win. Shots on goal favored Sartell-St. Stephen 8-7.

Como Park will take on Benilde-St. Margaret for the state championship Thursday afternoon at the Metrodome.