Magic toppled by Knights in non-conference action

There is a big battle for the top of the girls’ soccer Mississippi 8 Conference standings. Monticello is one of four teams that are unbeaten in conference play and got a break last week. After the Magic beat Princeton 2-0 on Monday, Sept. 16, they didn’t play again until Saturday, Sept. 21.

Even though the St. Michael-Albertville Knights are no longer a section rival there is still a little extra juice between Monti and STMA when the two teams face off.

Riding a three-game winning streak, Monticello felt good going into the matchup. They looked good early but the Knights took over and eventually lest Monticello Memorial Stadium with a 6-0 win over the red and black.

Speed is the name of the game and the blue and gold had the quicker boots last Saturday. Monticello applied pressure early but the Knights flipped a switch and the field titled in the other direction.

Some offsides calls delayed the inevitable but eventually, St. Michael-Albertville High School junior Emma Kvant broke free and scored the first goal. Kvant got the ball on the perimeter, raced toward the goal and cut inside. Her shot struck true and the Knights took a 1-0 lead with 28:11 left in the half.

A couple of minutes later, Kvant almost potted her second of the game. On a similar play as her first goal, Kvant did almost everything right but her shot hit the far post and bounced back into the hands of Monticello senior goalkeeper Elle Nelson.

Four minutes after her first goal, Kvant struck again. She got free on the boundary cut to the inside and ripped a shot past Nelson.

Before the half was over, STMA looked like they were going to get another breakaway opportunity but Monticello junior defender Kendall Metso recovered at the last minute in time to alter the shot and Nelson made the save.

Eight and a half minutes into the second half, Kvant scored her third goal and completed the hat trick. STMA seniors Sanae Radloff, Olivia Seurer and Ella Ostlie scored before the game was over and handed Monticello a 6-0 loss.

It was a struggle on the attack for Monticello. They weren’t able to control much possession and as a result, only put two shots on frame.

Only two of the final six games are home for the Magic before the section playoffs begin. On Tuesday, Monticello played at Becker. On Thursday they host St. Francis and on Monday, Sept. 30, St. Cloud Cathedral comes on down.

With two conference games left and one against the Saints, there are a lot of directions the final weeks of the season can go.

St. Francis (7-1-2, 4-0-2 Mississippi 8) and Zimmerman (9-2-2, 4-0-2) are tied on top of the table with 14 points. Monticello (6-3-1, 4-0-1) is one point behind. Chisago Lakes (7-1-2, 3-0-2) are one point behind Monti.