WILLMAR-The Willmar Soccer Association 16-U boys soccer team defeated Eden Prairie 2-1 in a shootout on Wednesday in Chaska to secure the No. 1 West seed in the upcoming, six-team Competition Level 2 state tournament.
Willmar is 10-0-2 and Eden Prairie's goal was the first the team has surrendered this season.
On Tuesday, Willmar's Sergio Moreno scored all three goals in a 3-0 win over Chanhassen/Chaska to ensure a spot in the state tournament. The Eden Prairie game determined seeding.
"It's been a great season," said coach Richard Courtney. "I've been doing this 35 years and we've never played 11 games without giving up a goal. We've even stopped two penalty kicks."
Willmar plays in one of two three-team state tournament pools beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Coon Rapids. A second pool game is Thursday, July 21, also in Coon Rapids. The two pool winners meet for the state title on July 23 in Shakopee.
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Against Eden Prairie, Cole Monson scored on an assist from Morena in regulation time. After two scoreless overtimes, Morena, Gerson Maldonado and Jesse Lopez scored in Willmar's 3-2 shootout win.
Moreno has been one of the team's top offensive threats, and other standout players include Maldonado, Lopez, goalie Zach Courtney, Abdi Sheefe, Josh Curtiss, Triston Hillenbrand and Adam Ziebarth, Richard Courtney said.
