The Winona boys soccer team is headed to the first state final in program history after a 2-1 win over Blake in the Class AA semifinals on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Sophomore Leif Overhaug scored his 28th goal of the season early in the second half, and senior Jose Carrion Lopez added a second goal to put the Winhawks up 2-0.
Blake, the defending Class AA champion and the tournament's top seed, cut the lead in half on a goal by freshman Marcello De Leon Garcia with just over 11 minutes left in regulation.
Winona goalkeeper Robert MacLennan took a hard shot to the face late in the game and briefly left the field. Blake put the rebound in, but the goal was waved off for offside, and MacLennan returned to finish the win.
The victory was Winona's second straight upset in its first-ever trip to the state tournament, improving the Winhawks to 17-2-1. Blake finished 16-4-1. Winona now faces Cretin-Derham Hall, which beat Sartell 4-3 in overtime in the other semifinal, for the Class AA title.
