2010 State Soccer Tournament Boys Class A Semifinals
Mall of America Field (Metrodome)
Mankato East 1-0 St. Cloud Cathedral
The first of six semifinal matches got underway at the Mall of America Field on Monday morning in the 2010 Minnesota State High School Soccer Tournament.
The first game saw the Mankato East Cougars (19-0-2) take on the St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders (18-5-1) in a closely contested match. The Metrodome crowd had to wait until the 77th minute before either team was able to make their mark. It was Abdifatah Aden who finally broke the deadlock just 3 minutes from full time.
The Cougars fed a ball to Class A Mr. Soccer Adam Osman. The senior midfielder took the ball to the top left of the goal box and looked to have missed his chance as he made a diagonal run across the penalty area. He swung around and cut the ball back to the center and did several start-stops with two defenders nipping on his heels. Staying calm under pressure, he finally fed Aden who had made a run to the center of the goal box. Aden laced the ball into the lower right corner.
Mankato East saw the game out and punched themselves a ticket to the finals on Thursday. The game ended with Mankato East having a slight 12-11 shot advantage but a bigger advantage in corner kicks, 7-2.
Prairie Seeds Academy 4-0 St. Paul Academy
The Prairie Seeds Academy Lycans (19-0-1) took on the St. Paul Academy Spartans (16-4-1) in the second Boys Class A match of the morning.
In the 24th minute PSA was awarded a corner kick. Christian Dominguez played the corner out to freshman forward Carlos Boquin. He settled the ball and shot past SPA keeper Matt Fiedler to open the scoring for the Lycans. The play was reminiscent of Boquin’s second goal in Friday’s quarterfinal that also saw the freshman score off a corner played to him at the top of the box.
SPA was able to keep the score close with the Spartans trying to man mark Isaac Kanneh out of the game. Kanneh is the key central midfielder and everything seems to go through him. However, the Spartans were unable to mount much of an attack with so many players behind the ball. The game stayed 1-0 until the half.
It didn’t take long for the PSA to open their account in the second half. Boquin played a ball into Gerald Ben. The Lycans leading scorer popped the bouncing pass over Fiedler. Two SPA defenders attempted to clear the ball as it bounced on the line but were only able to knock it into the goal for PSA’s second of the day.
Gerald Ben scored again in the 50th minute from a long kick from Hafid Darbaki. The ball was played from the right side of the field and was dumped into the middle of the box. Two PSA players where left unmarked, Ben being one of them. He calmly collected the ball and slotted low left for the 3rd Lycans goal.
Late in the game Ben broke through a tackle leaving him one-on-one with the keeper from 15 yards out. He calmly knocked the ball low left for the 4th and final goal of the game.
Gerald Ben, who lead’s his team in scoring, says he’s already prepared for the final against Mankato East, but that doesn’t mean there will be any special plans.
“This feels great,” said Ben. “We couldn’t play last year because it was the school’s first year. So we had to wait and be patient. Now we just want to play good and compete. We never make any plans for any specific games. We just go in with the belief that we’re going to win. So that’s our plan for the final.”
Comments are closed.
SPA Spartans, not SPA Trojans…
Would love to see Prairie Seeds play Apple Valley, but that’s a mere pipe dream, I’m afraid…
Yes! Wouldn’t that bee great?
To see possesion soccer versus boot and run
Yes! Wouldn’t that bee great?
Watching AV beat PSA
Yes!
another wishful thinking again!.. LOL
Long ball vs. Passing
16-17yr olds vs. Adults
I think it would still be a close game regardless of age or style of play.
Once again Mike, if you have proof that’s great. Come up with it. Otherwise I’m asking politely for you to not keep belaboring something that is not substantiated. I’ll start having to sensor the comments and that’s just a lot more work for me. So please, until something is proven lets let that go. OK?
How’s this for a classy coach post-game comment (from the 11/2 Strib):
“They (SPA) knew they didn’t have a chance to win,” Darbaki said. “So their game plan was to sit back and not allow as many goals as they did earlier in the season.”
Well, duh. Men vs. boys. How about the player who spoke through an interpreter during his post-game newspaper interview. I wonder how he’ll do on the reading/english portion of the ACT…you know, that test kids take to get into college.
It really smells.
But the players are maintaining a 3.0 GPA or higher MissMolly…
The much envied and loathed ( by Class A HS parents in general ) PSA team will celebrate a state tourney win however it will be Mankato East who wakes them from their confidence with an early goal. The giant is stirred and rolls to a convincing win
PSA will win now (3-0), Mankato East will win once all PSA victories are forfeited in a Reggie Bush-like probe following the season.
I am impressed by the borderline racist comments that are being thrown about in the comment section of this website. Just because a student needs an interpreter does not mean that they will not be attending college, or is unable to receive a free and fair public education.
It is shameful that missmolly has resorted to these types of tactics to call into question the games of PSA. While there may or may not be an argument that the players are not eligible for a variety of reasons, there is no need to suggest that the need for an interpreter, thereby suggesting immigrant status, is a pre-req for access to public education is rude and below the belt.
Agreed SR. I just haven’t had time to address this properly. We have a mutual friend who heard blatant racist comments coming from the students of Proctor. Again, I don’t have a lot of time to address this but the issue is some things that do seem a bit questionable in general team management and some racism that is also being spewed. It muddles the situation no doubt.
BQ – as you stated earlier, as much as I dislike the MSHSL at times, they would be all over any situation that was improper and would act immediately. Everything being thrown out there right now is based on petty envy and vindictiveness. The ugly side of soccer in MN
When you first read her comments thesuperrookie were you like… “Good Golly!”?
Michigan Mike,
Yes.
Signed,
An unbiased and non-vindictive fan of soccer.
Yes! Wouldn’t that bee great?
Watching AV beat PSA
MissMolly,
A bit agressive don’t you think?
Honestly this is quite ridiculous. I happen to be in a relationship with one of the boys on the PSA team as well as PERSONALLY know all those boys. They are all of age, and aspects of racism are obvious in these comments as well as the way these boys have been treated on and off the field as well as to their face and behind their backs. Did they choose to be African or Mexican ? I think not, that is by the gift of god, as well as how they look so there is nothing that can be said of that. They are all top notch players who play on top notch teams, many of them having played up, not because of their age but because of their skill level. That in itself is a testament to why they are able to play well, they challenge themselves to be faster and stronger by playing against and with those who are. Players who play club with these boys know that they are genuine players who also have feelings, hopes, and dreams as well as any other high school player. Coming from another personal point of having played varsity soccer for 4 years just recently, any up and coming team faces opposition. All teams have enough problems within, they don’t need anymore from you. I closely follow soccer in this state because it is so close to my heart, but I am tired of all this drama. Us soccer players play for the love of the game, whether we win or lose. We choose to play because it brings us joy, we don’t need outside interference, we play because it makes us happy. Just let them play the game, all they need are 11 people a side, and the refs. They don’t need the judges from the sidelines, because you don’t make or break them. Thanks.
MichiganMike,
Did you read the post from BQ about not making comments regarding PSA players eligibility unless you have some sort of proof to back it up? For your convenience, here it is:
“Once again Mike, if you have proof that’s great. Come up with it. Otherwise I’m asking politely for you to not keep belaboring something that is not substantiated. I’ll start having to sensor the comments and that’s just a lot more work for me. So please, until something is proven lets let that go. OK?”
Maybe you should RE-read it and then STFU (unless, of course, you have proof that there are over age players on their roster).
For the record, MissMolly is definitely over the top with her comments, but so are you…
Oh & to MissMolly
-In reference to Coach Youseff’s comment, if you read what Coach Franklin also says, he pretty much acknowledges that fact. Not to mention the 8-0 score of their season game. There are games like that for all teams, and in honesty, sometimes there IS nothing you can do, but hope to lose by the least goals possible and that is from experience.
-Also, as for Carlos, I was unaware it was now a CRIME to want a better life in this place called America which was once deemed the land of the free and the brave. He is from El Salvador, classified as a third world country. I think you should stop being so narrow minded and learn more about the people around you, because clearly your spectrum needs to be broadened.
Thanks toallyouhaters and M.
MissMolly has had their IP address added to my spam list. So no more comments from that computer. They were also using multiple email address which were not valid. It’s always interesting how easy it is to make a comment when you don’t have to stand behind it. Thanks to everyone for reading and for your patience. I’ve not been able to deal with this properly trying to cover all the games at the dome.
M,
I simply made a prediction, I didn’t make a factual claim. Is it wrong for someone to predict the future Mcfly?
“Maybe you should RE-read it and then STFU (unless, of course, you have proof that there are over age players on their roster).”
Such a threatening statement telling someone to STFU. This is a thread regarding highschoolers so please leave your rated “R” statements elsewhere. Most of these kids are probably 17 or younger so your inappropriate comments aren’t welcome here.
“For the record, MissMolly is definitely over the top with her comments, but so are you…”
Sounds like opinion… But atleast it was on record.
MichiganMike,
You are an idiot.
M,
Hopefully BQ blocks your IP address… Disparaging comments aren’t welcome here.
Hahahahahahahaha, love it. Keep it coming MichiganMickey!
stupid comments like “thats not their real age” is the reason why minnesota lose good soccer players like myself, not to sound cocky, we are getting sick and tired of comments like this.some of us started playing soccer from since we can remember. back home we have two options, soccer or school. you can not do both. so as soccer fans in minnesota let us support the best, and incourage the ones who are not up there yet, soccer wise. Give them time,and keep helping them to work harder. you dont get better at soccer over night, you dont expect to beat someone who been playing for the whole life in one high school season. Good luck mankato and psa, give minnesotan a great high school final to remember. God bless.
I’ve played in this tournament, I won the the tournament for single A last year, and got injured in the tournament. As of now I’m greatly disappointed with what is happening with these racist, and outright ridiculous comments. I played in the tournament last year with my team and enjoyed the feeling of succeeding on the field. That is what these kids are trying to do: succeed on the field. None of this off the field nonsense is needed… It’s about the game we play and love. These players are all top players and coming from a different background does not make them any different. I have played with all these guys and they’re some of the most talented, yet nicest people you could meet. When I played with Isaac and Gerald last summer, they told me all they wanted to do is show this state how good they were. That is what they’re doing. As for Coach Youseff Darbaki, he is one of the states best coaches. Disrespecting him is absurd. His knowledge about the game of soccer will be out of many our reach for ever. He’s the best coach that I have ever had.
And for the remarks about eligibility, go enroll your kid in another sport. Honestly, you don’t have to make remarks like that. Soccer in Minnesota has had this “eligibility” debate for years, and it has to stop. Let the MSHSL and MYSA do their jobs and let the kids play.
Soccer is about the love, passion, and determination. Not about the off-field commentary.
Let the kids play, and show the state of Minnesota what real soccer is about.
GET IT BINHO AND DINHO
much love, JN
Come on – clarity over agreement. Name calling is just the inability or laziness to make a rationale argument or form a cohesive opinion and rebuttal.
M – it would be Mikey which is an informal version of Mike
well stated JN 2009 State Champ
Mickey, as in Mickey Mouse. Kinda like TomASS instead of Thomas…
tomASS to Thomas is more phonetically correct than Mike is to Mickey. I think a poorly executed attempt but keep trying!
Can’t we all just get along???
Golly gee whiz, thanks Tommy, I sure will!
@ CranGrape – define getting along? It doesn’t mean agreeing. It’s easy for you to say since Cranberries and Grapes go together so well
@ M – Now that was good, subtle but on theme. Thats much better!
Getting along = Being nice to each other or just ignoring each other.
Clearly Michigan Mike is trying to push buttons and is too witty for M. (MM > M)
Still, many unecessary comments from all.
Actually, MichiganMike and I are the same person. I/we just have multiple personality disorder.
@ CranGrape, not meaning to be annoying but it comes easy for me; how about just civil and honest ? That MN Nice thing ( and I’m a native ) is just another form of passive – aggressiveness. It would be too vanilla here then.
M,
It makes sense now. You really had an interesting spat with yourself earlier.
Ok, I am a sophmore at a school that has lost to Prairie Seeds this year and I was part of the State Tournament for Class A last year. The players from PSA are tremendous athletes and amazing soccer players. Coach Darbaki is without a doubt one of the best coaches in the state. But, with all due respect, those players need to learn sportsmanship. I don’t care what they are trying to prove to the state, they have already proved it to me. They are the worst sports I’ve ever had to play agianst. Yes, celebrate your goal, but don’t be pricks about it.
And honestly, everyone who commented on this before me…You’re most likely adults and saying these things about a team that has easily handled every single team that has come in their way. Think what you want to think, but don’t say it.
Keep in mind that I’m a SOPHMORE in high school, younger that every single one of you, and my season was ended by Prairie Seeds. Not one of you can say anything until you’ve played 80 minutes against this team.
No offense, but grow up. Please.
PSA would beat AV anyday
to frankthetank
-with all due respect, there are only TWO seniors on the team, their team is overall very young.
I was talking about everyone whos fighting with comments..Not PSA.
MY COUSIN CARLOS PLAYS FOR P S A . AND HE PLAYS FOR LOVE TO SOCCER HE WOULD PLAY IT IN HIS SLEEP IF HE COULD. HE SAYS THAT IN THE LAND OF THE FREE. WITH ALOT OF SACRIFICE THE SKY IS THE LIMIT . HIS ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO GET AN EDUCATION AND PLAY IN THE M L S. I ASKED HIM WHEN HE IMIGRATED FROM EL SALVADOR . I SAID YOU GOT TO WORK HARD AT IT. I HOPE HE BECOME ANOTHER SUCCES STORY….. HE DESERVES IT…AND WHEN HE LOOKS AT THE SKY HE IS DEDICATING THAT GOL TO THE BROTHER HE JUST LOST ,EARLY THIS YEAR . JUST LET HIM BE HAPPY DOING WHAT HE LOVES TO DO AND THAT IS ….. PLAY SOCCER.
I wish Prairie Seeds all the best, but I’m just curious what the player’s futures will be like. Especially Carlos, as he is clearly quite talented, but when he becomes too old to play in the MSHSL in his junior or senior year (he’s currently 18 according to MD of PSA) I hope he can continue his career elsewhere.
MSHSL Athletes are allowed to play until their 20th birthday I believe. Last year, we faced St Cloud Cathedral and they had a player (Michael Coborn) similar to Carlos skill, yet he was older than most players. He finished his last season in the state tourney. Great player….
As for FranktheTank, PSA may be celebrating their goals, but they do it b/c they know everyone hates them. Would you do the same if you had that much hate against you and you WERE THAT GOOD?
And you’re not the only kid on this thread. Think about it.
much love,
JN
KILL IT ON THURSDAY PSA. DINHO AND BINHO!
Great Joining PSA, i am proud of you guys,i will be there watching you gentlemen raise the throphy on thursday. bigs ups to Gerald Ben, Isaac Kannah, Carlos Boquin ,Adama Keita, Mounir Darbaki and most of all Coach Youssef Darbaki.
PSA you guys are arguably the best team in minnesota high school soccer this year, and with the most in individual talented players.I wonder why non of these player guy never got an individual award with Gerald Ben, Isaac kannah, and Adama keita being the best player at their position in my opinion, and with out doubt hands down i expect coach Youssef Darbaki to be name minnesota high school soccer coach of the year, this guy has been outstanding by putting these talented young mens together and producing magnificent performance.
Well when is all said and done and with PSA and Apple Valley arguably maybe with out a doubt being the best team in minnesota high school soccer and with all the speculation rumoring about a friendly match between the two team, how about both coaches and schools give the people what they want. A match between Apple valley and PSA.
Isaac is a beast. Gerald is a beast.
Sorry if your a kid, or parent of a kid who thinks their child is being treated unfairly because there getting just plain demolished on the field by better athletes. Some people just don’t have the gift to be able to play the speed of the game that others can. I’ve played with Isaac since he was eleven, and believe me, he was a tiny little kid with a smile on his face who loved to play the game just like I did. Now, will he ever be as good as me, I don’t believe so….hahaha. But anyway, PSA is winning state, go cry about it while their whole team does the robot by the corner flag after every goal and their school cheers them on. Boo hoo…
A match between AV and PSA will never happen because I am almost positive, not 100%, that it is against MSHSL rules to play after the state tournament ends and AV has many players who play other high school winter sports that will start almost immediately after soccer ends this week. AV and PSA have to win their games on Thurs. for any of this conversation to even matter.
PSA guaranteeing victory? There may have been some inapropriate remarks (MissMolly) but it sounds like the PSA fans may be matching the lack of class with some of these responses.
Hopefully Mankato gets the first goal to make this an interesting game.
PSA players can speak for themselves. In this case, you can’t really say they are guaranteeing victory…I’m pretty sure there are no players speaking on this. FYI.
CranGrape-
There is a difference between “guaranteeing victory” and overtly racist comments.
I second that SR. A big difference. I have had to delete a few comments from last night. While I can understand the anger from friends of PSA players, IMS does not allow personal attacks. I refer back to TomASS comment, “Name calling is just the inability or laziness to make a rationale argument or form a cohesive opinion and rebuttal.”
Debate is fine, just make it respectful. You’ll win people over a lot faster.
I’ve never had a comment harken back to before!!!!!!!! Well at least in a positive manner that was not used against me in a court of law
What are you talking about?
I know I’m old and I maybe even old fashion but I keep thinking of a Bud Grant quote to his players about excessive celebration.
Act like you scored before.
Celebrations are great perhaps on the first two goals, after that it just seems like your rubbing your opponents face into it and isn’t very classy. PSA isn’t the first team I’ve seen or heard that has this problem. As far as the coaches comments, for the losing coach to acknowledge that his strategy was to play defensive and hope for a counter attack goal is a great complement to PSA. Dubinsky comments seem a bit less complimentary to his opponents and have obviously ruffled more than a few feathers. I believe his team had already won the game; again I’m not quite sure why there is a need to rub the other teams face into it.
I would like to ask a question without being called racist. I really would like to know. If a student speaks another language can he take the ACT test in his language or does he have an interpreter or does he have to take it as the majority of students do? The reason for my question, could this possible be some or part of the problems that our very good foreign born student soccer players have had getting into D1 colleges?
PollyAnna
I am not aware of the SAT or ACT being available in other languages. One of score measures is an English verbal score. Still we can look at the roster’s of numerous D-1 thru D-3 colleges that have great numbers of international students playing every type of sport. In general, those student athletes need to take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Second Language) as part of the admission process. That score along with the SAT or ACT scores and HS grades will ultimately determine if the school admits them. (the scores & tests required by different univerisities vary greatly – Western Ill vs Drake for example) I don’t know a lot about the NCAA clearing house, but it could be a school with lower requirements accepts them, but they maynot be immediately elgible to play due to a low SAT and not getting thru the clearing house. That is why you see some student athletes starting at a community college as it has open door admission, and athletic eligibility is not tied to the NCCA clearing house. The student athlete could be taking primarily English as a Second Language classes for credit and be eligible to play their sport. Then upon completing enough Comm. College credits and working up to Freshman composition they could likely get admitted to the 4yr school and have some eligibility left.
J buck! haha im loving this kiddo. they’re both beasts and to be honest its about the celebration of a great goal, and knowing youseff, they’ll be celebrating the first and last goal they score. people can say they don’t have class, but the way they play on the pitch (crisp passes, quick play, and talented moves) show the real class that is in the game.
Thank you for the information ticotom, learn something new everyday.
2009SoccerChamp, unfortunately for you I don’t think you understand that how you behave as you win says as much about you as how you win. I am perfectly willing to think it maybe a cultural thing, but I don’t think you, PSA or anyone else will endear themselves with such behavior. I did watch PSA at a sectional game dance thru the opposing team’s bench after the game. My only thought was how well behaved the opposing team was, as I thought that at age I would have deck one of them. If such behavior continues next year, I will be surprised if someone doesn’t react and I will have a hard time condemn them. Not that I won’t but a part of me will think, I guess you (PSA) got what you deserved.
CONGRATS PSA!!!! I use to teach at PSA and taught all the boys on the soccer team. They are great individuals. All they wanna do is play soccer! Many of the boys have played all their lives! It’s so sad to hear adults be have such poor sportsmanship! I was at the PSA vs Eagan game and I couldn’t believe the adults from Eagan and what they were shouting! What’s wrong with people!
These boys are deserving of their state championship!
Love you guys!