LA CROSSE, Wis.

Thursday, July 12, 2001

LA CROSSE, Wis. – Through three full games, two of them shutout victories, championship was still elusive for the Albert Lea Elks U-15 girls’ soccer team.

It remained so.

The locals, tied 2-2 after regulation in the title game of last weekend’s tournament at LaCrosse, Wis., finished second by the slimmest of margins while falling 2-1 in a shootout.

According to coach Paul Marka, the Elks team got excellent defense and midfield play throughout the tournament.

Playing defense were Mandy Ardolf, Missy Reichl, Katie Dooley, Emily Bergstrom and Brianne Plantage. The midfielders were Katie Stenseth, Brianna Miller, Brianna Millhouse, Char Everhart, Lacey Pederson and Emily Staloch.

Amy Marka, Crystal Rentz and Stacy Armstrong – a U-14 &uot;play-up&uot; player – were strong at forward.

Nicole Sorenson was in goal for all three games, making several key saves.

The locals blanked the host team 2-0 in the opener on two goals by Marka. Plantage and Dooley assisted.

Game two was also a 2-0 win, this time against the Rochester Fire. Marka scored first on assists from Dooley and Stenseth. Rentz netted the second goal, assisted by Dooley and Marka.

The opponent in the title game was the Brookings, S.D. Twisters, a U-16 Classic 3 team. It was tied 2-2 at the end of regulation, with Albert Lea goals by Marka and Rentz on assists from Stenseth and Dooley.

Brookings won the shootout 2-1.