11/9/2009 4:32:00 PM Spartans dominate to win first title in girls soccer
A triumphant Orono girls’ soccer team shows its fans the state 1A trophy after beating Blake 5-0 at the Metrodome. “It was our best game of the year. It’s a good time to have your best game,” Spartans head coach Erin Murray said. PHOTO: Mark Trockman
Coming into the season the Orono girls' soccer program had made four trips to the state tournament during this decade, but had never taken home the championship trophy. In fact, the Spartans had never advanced as far as the championship game.
That all changed last week as the Spartans made the Metrodome their home away from home. After a 2-1 overtime victory over a plucky La Crescent squad in the semifinals, the Spartans routed the Blake Bears, 5-0 in the championship match.
"It was our best game of the year. It's a good time to have your best game," Spartans head coach Erin Murray said. "Blake wasn't quite as strong as they are missing some players, but it really was our best game of the year. Everybody came out and played really well."
The Spartans dominated possession of the ball and the quality scoring chances from the opening kickoff.
Senior midfielder Kerrie Dingmann got the Spartans on the board early in the game's 13th minute when she headed home a crossing pass by senior Amy Larson.
Dingmann and Larson were the same pair that helped the Spartans advance to the state championship game.
With their semifinal match tied at one in overtime, Larson served up a corner kick that Dingmann deposited into the back of the net.
"Kerrie's been on the team for three years and she is the most passionate player," Murray said. "In big games she really steps up. If there's one person that feeds off the energy and excitement of a game, it's Kerrie. She had an awesome tournament."
Another player who was instrumental in the Spartans' success in the state tournament and throughout the regular season was seventh grader Sophie Babo.
Babo scored four goals during the state tournament including three in the championship match against Blake.
Babo gave the Spartans a two-goal cushion in the game's 19th minute with a rocket off her left foot from 25 yards out.
"I've been saying all year that Sophie has one of the best shots in the state," Murray said. "Her first goal - you can't have a better shot than that."
Then in the game's 30th minute, Babo put the Spartans ahead 3-0 when she settled a crossing pass from freshman Nikki Smith and found the back of the net from close range. Smith scored the Spartans' fourth goal early in the second half with an assist from senior Caitlyn Quilty.
Babo then added her third goal of the game when she collected a loose ball in front of the net.
The Bears never got going offensively as they forced Orono keeper Grete Miller to make only four saves.
Miller and the Spartans' defense was solid as can be during the final month of the season. The Spartans yielded only one goal in their final ten games of the season.
"They were our rock - our defense," Dingmann said. "We could not have been where we were without them. Greta has just beat the record at our school for shutouts. She had an awesome season."
"I was really nervous going into the game," Miller said. "To go out senior year and end the season with a win like this is amazing."
The Spartans landed five players on the All-Tournament team including Sophie Babo, Macie Babo, Dingmann, Miller and Haley Erickson.
The Bears had three players named to the All-Tournament team including Korleki Akiti, Natalie Sill and Lydia Sutton.
