Rogers gets lone goal in overtime

MANKATO -- Senior forward Karis Rogers scored 6:51 into sudden-death overtime to catapult Willmar past No. 2 seed Mankato West 1-0 Tuesday and into the Section 2A girls soccer championship game.

The Cardinals (10-8-2) will play at No. 1 seed Albert Lea at a time to be announced.

Rogers scored when she punched her own rebound past Scarlet goalkeeper Kelly Wick.

The game's first 80 minutes were scoreless.

Willmar goalie Chelsey Wierschem made a sprawling save on a West penalty kick with five minutes left in the second half.

"That really picked us up," said Willmar coach Jeff Winter. "After that spark, we dominated."

This was the second win of the playoffs for the No. 3 seed, who eliminated New Ulm 3-1 in the quarterfinals.

Wierschem made 14 saves for the shutout. Sweeper Hannah Murphy made two defensive saves and Lesley Christianson another.

The Cardinals put 18 shots on the West goal.

Willmar will be playing in its first section title game. Albert Lea beat No. 4 seed to advance to the final.

"I think our conditioning made a difference," said Winter. "We really controlled the last 20 minutes of regulation and overtime."

Willmar 1, Mankato West 0

Willmar 0 0 1 -- 1

Mankato West 0 0 0 -- 0

FIRST HALF - no scoring

SECOND HALF - no scoring

OVERTIME - Wil: Karis Rogers (unassisted) 6:51

Shots on goal - Willmar: 18 ... Mankato West: 17

Goalie saves - Willmar: Chelsey Wierschem 14 ... Mankato West: Emily Wick 17

Defensive saves - Willmar: xxHannah Murphy 2, Leslie Christianson