Southwest Returns To State Soccer Tournament

THE MATCH-UP
(14-3-1, 9-1-1 Minneapolis City Conference) vs. Anoka High School (12-3-4, 4-3-3 Northwest Suburban Conference)

CHEAT SHEET
SITE: Park High School, Cottage Grove – Class AA quarterfinals
TIME: 7:30 p.m. Thursday
LAST MEETING: Southwest defeated Anoka 1-0 at home in 2008.

ON THE LINE
The Lakers, who finished runner-up to Apple Valley last season, returns for its seventh tournament appearance. They finished No. 10 in the final coaches poll and outscoired their opponents 106-22. Anoka is making its 12th tournament appearance, having won a title in 2007 and finishing second in 1991. Anoka finished third in the competitive Northwest Suburban Conference. The conference has three teams in the state tournament with Blaine and Maple Grove joining the Tornadoes. They have not lost in their last nine matches. The Tornadoes are 5-0-4 in that stretch. The winner faces the victor of number one seed Eastview versus Rochester Mayo.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Shane Marshall - Southwest
The senior and team captain Shane Marshall on a penalty kick in section title game win over South.

Donovan Gross – Anoka
The senior led Anoka with 22 goals and three assists. He scored three of the team’s four goals in the section title game versus St. Michael-Albertville and scored both goals in their 2-0 semifinals win over Moorhead. Gross scored all five goals in a 5-1 win over Park Center earlier this season.

LAKERS WIN IF...
They can continue their strong offensive output. They scored 50 goals in their last ten games.

TORNADOES WIN IF...
They can continue their strong defensive play. They allowed just 12 goals in their last 15 games.