State bound

Farmington- The Owatonna High School boys’ soccer team has been the proverbial giant killers all season long, playing its best games against some of Minnesota’s best teams. They have also notably struggled when playing on field turf. 
In the Section 1-AA finals, the Huskies managed to overcome a season-long struggle playing on field turf with a 2-1 overtime win against Farmington. After losing in the finals of the section last season, Head Coach Bob Waypa said that this one feels much better. 
“I’m proud of the way these guys fought tonight. Their resilience, they got down and it didn’t affect them at all. If anything it sparked them. This is what we play for. You play for these games,” he added. 
With Owatonna kicking off to start the first half, everyone in attendance could tell how fast paced the game was going to be. The opening strike by senior Dan Keller traveled roughly thirty yards before striking the turf and bouncing another 10 to 15 yards. 
Senior ‘keeper Aiden Buryska was tested early in the match after a long counter ball from Farmington found its way behind the Huskies defense. Fortunately, Buryska was able to get a hand on a quick strike, deflecting it over the cross bar. 
Despite the unfamiliarity with the surface, the Huskies managed to put themselves in scoring position early in the contest. 
However, they were unable to connect. The best chance for Owatonna to break the deadlock was just minutes after Buryska’s save. Senior Zakariya Abdi was able to put a clean shot on net after his defender lost him in the shuffle, but was unable to capitalize. 
While it was a fast paced game, it was also a physical game. There were numerous occasions where contact between an attacker and defender was much more than what would typically be displayed in a regular match. 
Just minutes after Buryska’s second save of the half; the Huskies were pushing the ball up field when there was a short scuffle between players after a ball rolled out of play. Referees stepped in and gave each player a warning prior to them being subbed out. 
After the score remained tie at half, each team’s offense appeared to catch a rhythm, launching long counters to the opposing team’s final third before being stymied by the respective ‘keepers. After the Tigers fired a shot on net, Buryska attempted to dive to cover the ball. During his attempt, the ball was actually chipped away from the sprawled out Husky and Farmington’s Spencer Koch was able to put it away to break the scoring drought. 
Just minutes later the Huskies offensive attack was ramped up, with Abukar Fakrudin firing two consecutive clean shots on goal but missed both attempts. 
With the clock winding down, the Huskies were rewarded a free kick after Keller was tripped deep in the Tigers. Senior Mitchell Mayer was chosen to take the kick for Owatonna and was able to clear the front line and knot the game up at 1-1 with just three minutes left to be played. 
The game would eventual roll into overtime and with just 6:09 left on the clock, Fakrudin managed to fake his defender, creating just enough space to fire in the game winning goal. Afterward, Waypa said that Farmington’s choice to landmark opened up Fakrudin’s biggest goal as a Husky. 
“What they’ve done all day is landmarked and double-teamed Nate Smith. On that game winning goal, whether he intended to or not, he (Tigers defender) let the ball go right through and Abu (Fakrudin) is wide open, then he was calm enough to put it right in,” he added. 
With the win Tuesday night, Owatonna notched its sixth straight win and seven of its last eight. 
The Huskies played Wayzata Monday night in the State quarterfinals. 
A win would ensure the Huskies a trip to US Bank Stadium for a state semifinals matchup. 
 
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For results on the contest Monday night, go to www. Steeledodgenews.com