ST. CLOUD, Minn. -- The road to redemption continues for the Moorhead boys soccer team.
For the second time in as many playoff games, the Spuds avenged a regular-season loss, beating St. Cloud Tech 1-0 Tuesday in the Minnesota Class 2A, Section 8 semifinals.
No. 3-seeded Moorhead (13-5) will play at Elk River Thursday in its bid for a second straight, and second ever, state tournament berth.
"We just did not know what we had ahead of us, but the kids have put together two games in a row that have been nice and they're ready to play," Spuds coach Tim Costello said. "They have a chance to go (to state) for a second year in a row. It'd be awful nice."
The Tigers dominated the first half, but were unable to put a ball past Moorhead keeper Brady Ishaug.
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Then, 14:00 minutes into the second half, the Spuds claimed the lead on a set play. Blake Johnson lofted a corner kick in front of the net, where teammate Ben Roller headed it in for the game-winner.
"From there they (the Tigers) just played a completely different game," Costello said. "I can't explain it. But we held on. ... It's a pretty sweet win."
The victory is especially gratifying considering Moorhead graduated 15 seniors from last year's state tournament team, and is relying on a keeper, Ishaug, who played football instead of soccer last fall.
"I'm feeling pretty good," Costello said. "The kids are jazzed, but they also know they have a job Thursday."
FIRST HALF: No scoring.
SECOND HALF: 1, M, Roller (Johnson), 54:00.
SAVES: M, Ishaug 8. SCT, Keeper 5.
