SAINT CLOUD — After breaking the Minnesota state record for most goals scored in a season, St. Cloud Tech senior forward Molly Burkstrand was named Class 2A Ms. Soccer.
St. Cloud Cathedral junior forward Jack Stang was also nominated as a finalist Class 1A Mr. Soccer by the Minnesota State High School Soccer Coaches Association, but he just took a spot on the all-state teams with several other local athletes.
Burkstrand finished with 62 goals her last year with the Tigers, including the team’s only goal in the Class 2A state quarterfinal game Oct. 24 against Mankato East. Behind Burkstrand Tech advanced to its first state tournament since 2001.
Scoring in all 20 games she played, Burkstrand also had nine assists this season. She’s ended with 112 goals in her career, tied for eighth all-time in the state and is committed to play Division II ball at Bemidji State.
Stang was one of four Crusaders to make all-state and one of three on the first team. He was joined on the first team by fellow attacker senior Jacob Oliver. Two more teammates were named to the second team: keeper Noah Henderson and midfielder Mason Layne. Despite being one behind the leader in assists for Class 1A, senior Connor Stockman was left off the lest.
Also getting a nod to the Class 1A second team was St. John’s Prep sophomore attacker Oskar Haberl.
Having made the Class 1A girls state tournament, the St. Cloud Cathedral girls team also had four players make all-state. Sophomore striker Amelia Newiger was the only Crusader to find the back of the net in their quarterfinal shootout loss versus Esko and is alone on the first team. Junior keeper Aubrey Lesnau, who made several game-saving stops in the 0-0 game before conceding three penalty kicks, was named to the all-state second team with junior defender Emily Schaupp and senior midfielder Mirtnesh O’Neal.
St. John’s Prep senior Amanda Bolton was also named to the Class 1A girls all-state second team.
ROCORI senior defender Jack Metzger was the only area player named to the boys Class 2A state team, making the second team.
On the girls side of Class 2A, Tech senior midfielder Maggie O’Hara joined Burkstrand on the all-state team. O’Hara was named to the second team.
Additionally, the MNSHSSCA recognizes coaches and assistant coaches of the year. St. John’s Prep girls coach Kris Fremo was named Class 1A coach of the year and Cathedral boys assistant John Stemper was named Class 1A assistant coach of the year.
Becker girls coach Arnold Changamire was nominated for Class 2A coach of the year and Brandon Gonzalez and Ashlee Loehrer were nominated as assistants for the Cathedral and ROCORI girls, respectively.
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Contact reporter Reid Glenn at rglenn@gannett.com.
