The Albert Lea U-16 boys’ soccer team was left to lament a season where it made progress on the field but had little to show for it as it dropped a 2-1, season-ending game to Sibley Thursday in Bloomington.

The team finished the season winless after going undefeated last season and advancing to the state tournament for the third time.

After a back-and-forth first half where neither team could find the net, Sibley broke through for two goals early in the second half.

“We played tough with them in the first half,” said Albert Lea head coach Scott Pirsig. “They got those early goals in the second half and they looked like a different team.”

With 20 minutes left to play Pirsig pulled goalkeeper Cameron Hove and inserted him at forward to create more scoring opportunities. The unusual tactic worked and Hove struck for a goal with a little more than 10 minutes to play to make the game 2-1.

Albert Lea (0-9-1) continued to apply pressure through out the rest of the half, but wasn’t able to find the equalizer.

“We put on some pressure at the end of the game, but we couldn’t convert,” Pirsig said.

The season-ending loss was a little more difficult because it means that the team will be forced to move down in classification next season. Albert Lea played in the Classic 2 division this season, but will move to the lowest level, Classic 3, next season.

“That’s the toughest thing, we don’t have a choice, we have to drop down to C-3,” Pirsig said. “They really proved that they can play with the C-2 level competition.”

Sibley 2, Albert Lea 1

Albert Lea 0 1 — 1

Sibley 0 2 — 2