One goal decided their fate. Finishing a 7-2-1 season by dominating Richfield, the locals knew going in that the best they could finish was second in the district. The Albert Lea team scored the most total goals by a wide margin and gave up the second fewest, but an early season tie to arch-rival Austin made them division runner-up.

It means that the Elks U-17 soccer team is five victories away from a state championship, rather than three.

A loss in any game would end the season.

Next Saturday in Bloomington, the playoffs begin. In the morning, they face the winner of the Bloomington/Richfield matchup.

The winner will play Winona or Austin for another loser go home contest.

Thursday, the locals celebrated a 4-0 drubbing of Richfield under the lights.

In the 13th minute, Jesse Tovar buried a Josh Svendsen pass for the game winner and the only score of the first half. Nine minutes into the second half, Spencer Dahl inked the insurance goal on another Svendsen crossing pass. In the 78th minute, Tovar put together a strong single effort to nail the third goal.

Nine minutes after that, he set up Dahl’s second goal of the night. This exhibition didn’t include

the two scores called back for offsides.

While Richfield had opportunities, it was Albert Lea’s game from whistle to whistle.

&uot;The team is ready,&uot; said coach Dan Williams. &uot;When everyone is here and fully prepared to play, I haven’t seen a team that can beat us.

Now, the challenge is to demonstrate that. The team won’t be at full roster for districts, so each remaining player must step up that extra effort on Saturday to secure the two wins. Then, at the end of the month, they can play for it all.&uot;