ST. CLOUD, Minn. -- Another postseason run for the East Grand Forks Senior High girls soccer team has ended at the state tournament.
The Blake School used a first-half goal from Nicole Kozlak and stifling defense to beat the Green Wave 1-0 in the first round of the Minnesota Class A state tournament, ending Senior High's season with a mark of 19-2-1.
Kozlak, a sophomore midfielder, picked up a loose ball, carried it near the goal and fired it past Green Wave goalkeeper Chelsey Grassel at 23 minutes, 3 seconds of the first half for the game's lone goal.
The Green Wave managed just four shots during the game and Blake goalkeeper Addie Adams was there for all of them.
"It was a high-tempo game," Senior High coach Jessica Krog said. "We played quick. We played very well. We had a lot of jump in our step. We just had a hard time cracking their back line. (Blake) played a great defensive game. It was hard to break that line and we didn't generate many opportunities.
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"I thought that most of the game, we controlled the tempo and had possession. We just didn't get the bounce we needed to. At the state tournament, you have to be pretty perfect. You can't make any mistakes or the team will jump on it and that's what happened."
This is the second season in a row that has ended at the state tournament for the Green Wave. Last season, they fell to La Crescent High School 2-0 in the first round.
Krog said the Green Wave played much better this season. Blake played for the state championship a year ago.
"We had them running around a lot," Krog said. "We had them worried."
Despite the loss, Krog said she will remember this season fondly.
"We had a big target being the defending section champs," she said. "We got back to state and had a little better showing. It says a lot about the character of this team. The season was awesome. Every team has ups and downs, but we had a lot more ups than downs. We improved tremendously. It was a fun group to watch.
"And I can't say enough about the seniors. They helped put our program and our city on the map. They created a lot of excitement and made a lasting impression on the program."
