Albert Lea boys’ soccer wins in double overtime

Published 9:20 pm Wednesday, August 28, 2019

The Albert Lea boys’ soccer team defeated Stewartville 4-3 in overtime Tuesday night.

Albert Lea took a 2-0 lead in the first half, the first goal scored by Kyaw Kmoe off a header set up by Lei Htoo with a cross. Htoo got the second goal after dribbling through multiple Stewartville defenders and finishing a nice shot.

Stewartville got one back on a shot that snuck through an Albert Lea defender’s legs and past the keeper. Stewartville leveled the game with a free kick that took a friendly bounce in the box. Regulation ended tied at 2-2.

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The first overtime was scoreless, but Caleb Hanson made a huge save on a penalty kick to keep things even.

Stewartville scored with about three and a half minutes left in the second overtime period off of a corner. Albert Lea took the next possession down and earned a penalty kick, which Htoo converted from the spot to level the game at 3-3. With one minute left, Htoo won a ball from the Stewartville defense and finished the ball on a strike to retake the lead.

“The team worked very hard for that result,” said head coach Zac Luther. “We created a lot of opportunities and just couldn’t finish until the very end. We’re pleased to leave with a victory, but know that we need to keep working in order to be successful the rest of the season.”

The Tigers will be back in action Thursday night at Rochester Century and at home Tuesday against Austin to break in the new stadium.