The boys varsity soccer team earned their first win of the section tournament on Oct. 9, defeating Hiawatha Collegiate 1-0. It was an exciting game for BVS, given the back-and-forth nature and the limited scoring opportunities. BVS had won three of its last four regular-season games.
A defensive masterclass was on full display, presented by both teams, as productive opportunities to score were traded back and forth throughout the entire first half. Sophomore Darien Hull drew multiple fouls, prompting a reaction from head coach Max Lipset.
St. Paul Academy and Summit School scored the eventual game-winning goal halfway through the first half after a foul committed in the penalty box. This foul led to a penalty kick for captain Erik Bjorgvinsson. Bjorgvinsson buried the ball in the back of the net, and BVS found a 1-0 lead, which they held for the remainder of the game.
Graham Waibel, a sophomore on the team, praised the team’s defensive strength in their victory.“I think the defense was really solid. I think everyone was on the same page, and our communication was at a season high,” he said.
Up next in the section tournament for the boys soccer team will be the Minnehaha Academy Redhawks. Minnehaha finished the season 11-2-3 overall and 6-1-3 in conference play, earning the top regular-season finish in the Independent Metro Athletic Conference (IMAC). They played BVS twice this year, beating them 2-0 both times. The Redhawks defeated Trinity in their first section game 7-0.
Waibel also commented on Minnehaha Academy, their talented opponent. “Minnehaha has a primary threat in Elijah Jensen. And if we can shut that down, we know that this is a team we can beat on any given day,” he said.
On Oct. 13, BVS lost in the section semifinal to Minnehaha Academy 2-1 in the second overtime.
