Girls state soccer: Blake outlasts Mahtomedi to reach state final

After more than 70 minutes, Blake got the go-ahead goal Thursday to secure a 1-0 win over Mahtomedi in their state Class 2A semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Sophomore midfielder Lauren Breyer's perfectly placed ball off an assist from Ellen Rippe found the corner of the goal to send the top-seeded Bears (18-2-0) into Saturday's championship game against No. 2 seed Holy Angels (18-1-1).

"We knew we needed to score in the second half. After Rippe found me the ball, I just knew I had to place it," Breyer said.

Goalie Reese Aafedt fought off multiple Zephyrs attacks at the net throughout each half.

"Reese and coach Emma Gumlia have been working for the last two years on high balls, under the crossbar, and Mahtomedi had a free kick," Bears coach Jocelyn Keller said. "Reese was prepared and (she) made a save on a dime, and it kept us in the game."

"We had a half dozen really good opportunities, and it was a really nice way to finish the way we did with less than 10 minutes left," Blake head coach Jocelyn Keller said, "Definitely a team win."

Last year, the Bears fell to Mahtomedi 1-0. This year, it was their chance to flip the script.

"We were under a lot of pressure against a really skilled team. We just had to get to a different level today, and it didn't happen," Zephyrs head coach David Wald said.

The Bears are hoping to carry one thing over to their championship match at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

"Continuing to support each other and being positive on the field," Breyer said. "During the second half, we were really supporting each other, and I feel like we saw that energy boost."