The Albert Lea U-13 Classic-3 girls’ soccer team advanced to the state tournament as league champs with an 11-1-0 record this season and came home with state championship medals, defeating all three metro teams in the pool play tourney this past week.

The entire team stepped up in the tourney. Eight different players scored the nine goals over three games and all played exceptional defense and offense throughout, allowing only one goal with the outstanding goalkeeping of Hanna Devries, who only allowed six goals the entire season.

Albert Lea first faced Mahtomedi and won 3-0 with goals scored by Sarah Savelkoul, Megan Kortan and Kylie Nelson. The team then took on Hopkins and won 4-0 with goals scored by Sarah Savelkoul, Megan Stark, Mackenzie Waldemar and Brooke Hanson.

The championship game was played against Orono and Albert Lea came out on top 2-1 with goals scored by Sydney Overgaard and Alayna Chavez.

The defensive effort was led by Anna Anderson, Sarah Niebuhr, Brooke Hanson, Mackenzie Waldemar, Annika Pederson, and Anna Waltman.

Midfielders and forwards rounded out the strong season with great plays made by Sydney Overgaard, Megan Stark, Megan Kortan, Alayna Chavez, Kristina Schmidt, Cammy Tewes, Samantha Blair, Larissa Hacker, Mady Dahl, Sarah Savelkoul and Kylie Nelson.

The team thanks the many, many Albert Lea fans who made the trip to Lakeville to cheer Wednesday night. And thanks to the members and leaders of the Albert Youth Soccer Association for keeping soccer alive and well in Albert Lea.