Title dreams die hard for Woodbury

• The agony of defeat

Woodbury's Jan Groth attempts to grasp his team's 2-1 overtime defeat to Wayzata in the Class AA State Boys Soccer Tournament semifinals on Monday night. Staff Photo by Tom Carothers.

Talk about it

They say the first time is always the hardest — apparently that is doubly true for defeats.

The Woodbury boys soccer team suffered its first setback of the 2009 season in particularly heartbreaking fashion — falling, 2-1, to Wayzata in overtime of the semifinals of the Class AA State Tournament on Monday, Nov. 2.

“Sometimes, the best team doesn’t win,” coach Joe Quintavalle said.

The No. 2 seed Royals outshot the unseeded Trojans 13-6 and held a clear advantage in the time of possession, yet a pair of Wayzata free kicks would decide matters in the end.

“We did everything but get the win,” Quintavalle said. “Everyone on this team played a great game, you couldn’t ask for more.”

Well, perhaps Woodbury could have asked for one more thing...

But that lone matter — a victory — was denied the Royals for the initial instance in this campaign after Ellis Andrews’ second free kick goal of the evening in the 87th minute of play concluded the contest suddenly and particularly painfully.

“Those were two great shots for Wayzata,” Quintavalle said. “There was nothing (goalkeeper Peter Runquist) could have done, they were both perfectly placed.”

Andrews gave Wayzata its first lead of the evening on a direct free kick from 27 yards out in the 56th minute after several deep penetrations by the Royals into Trojans territory were thwarted.

“It was the first time all season we were behind,” Quintavalle said. “I was proud at how our boys responded — they didn’t panic, we kept playing our game.”

That ethic was rewarded 13 minutes later as Eric Miller headed a throw in from Alex Young off a Wayzata defender and into the goal to level the count at 1-1.

Miller had one more shot on goal in regulation saved by Trojans keeper Grant Larson before time ran out on regulation.

Woodbury’s best attempt came five minutes into the extra session as a shot by Mats Brendesaeter sailed wide.

The ball would not see the Wayzata end again as the Trojans swung play around to the other side of the field, drew a foul on the right side of the box and promptly deposited the contest-clinching tally inside the far post.

“It’s frustrating to play so well and not come away with the win,” Quintavalle said.

The victory is the second-straight for the Trojans over Woodbury at the state tournament. Wayzata also bested the Royals in the championship game of the 2005 State bracket.

“We gave it our best, what can you say,” Quintavalle noted. “You can’t have any regrets after a game like this.”

The victory left only No. 1 ranked and seeded Apple Valley (23-0) as the one unbeaten team in Class AA this year.

Wayzata faces off against the Eagles on Thursday, Nov. 5 for the State title.

Woodbury (16-1-3) played Northfield in the third-place match on Tuesday, Nov. 3, after the Bulletin went to press.

Tags: sports, woodbury, boys, soccer, team, state, loss, wayzata