The Albert Lea Elks U-13 girls’ soccer team dominated during the regular season.

Friday, July 30, 1999

The Albert Lea Elks U-13 girls’ soccer team dominated during the regular season. The state tournament has been no different.

The Albert Lea girls have advanced to the Classic 3 state championship game after shutting out Centennial 5-0 and blanking Inver Grove Heights 6-0 in state tournament games at the National Sports Center soccer complex in Blaine.

The locals, who got an automatic bid in the state tourney by winning the regular-season league championship, opened with Centennial Sunday.

Amy Marka scored two goals for Albert Lea while Emily Bergstrom, Tessa Christensen and Katie Stenseth netted one apiece. Assisting was Laura Hillman.

The U-13 girls’ success continued against an Inver Grove Heights team that had a record of 11-1-0.

Marka and Hillman registered two goals apiece. Christensen and Melissa Reichl each scored once. Assists were by Emily Bergstrom, Kjersten Lee, Hillman and Marka.

The rest of the team includes Nicole Sorensen, Amanda Ardolf, Brianne Plantage, Kindall Perea, Sarah Kurth, Crystal Rentz, Hilary Flores, Breanna Miller, Casey Callahan, Breanna Millhouse, Char Everhart, Jenny Hulst and Emily Staloch.

The team is coached by Paul Marka, who’s assisted by Dennis Bergstrom and Bob Lee.

The Albert Lea girls will face Cambridge-Isanti for the state title Saturday at 11 a.m. on field H-3 of the National Sports Center.

The U-13 girls, who won their league title with a 12-0 record, will take an overall mark of 21-3-1 into the state championship game.