4 seeds sweep

Last year Minot left the state soccer tournament with its first postseason victory, but this year the Majettes have a chance to walk away with their first state championship.

Minot's Taylor Bachman-Williams scored on a header in the first half to lift the Majettes, the No. 4 seed out of the West, to a 1-0 semifinals victory over Fargo Shanley Friday at the Hillcrest Soccer Complex.

"We're really excited," Bachman-Williams said. "This is the first time Minot has ever gone this far."

The Majettes, oddly enough, won't be the only four seed joining the party in today's championship match at 3:30 p.m. at the Rotary Soccer Complex in Jamestown. West Fargo, the No. 4 seed from the East Region, defeated the two-time defending state champion Fargo South Bruins 1-0 earlier in the day.

"It's unbelievable," said Minot coach Matt Pfau. "We struggle the first half of the season this year and then we just played well at the right time of the season."

Minot opened the year with just one win in its first six matches but then turned around to finish the regular season 6-5-3, edging out fifth-place Jamestown by one point in the West Region standings.

"The girls have defended great," Pfau said. "We haven't given up a goal yet this weekend."

Minot's Makayla Sandvold finished with three saves against Shanley and is the only starting keeper to have yet to give up a goal in the tournament.

"She's been great," said Pfau. "She's only a sophomore but started every game for us the last two years. She's been our backbone. She's honestly our MVP because she can play anywhere in the field."

Making another push for team MVP in the tournament is Bachman-Williams, who scored her second goal of the tournament on Friday in a somewhat nerve-wracking fashion.

In the 16th minute of the first half sophomore Emily Christensen sailed a corner kick in front of the net for Bachman-Williams, who headed the ball just under the crossbar for the goal.

But it took some time before the officials made the signal.

"I was scared because I saw it go over the line and the ref didn't call it," Bachman-Williams said. "It was pretty exciting, it was just a little delayed."

The Majettes (8-5-3) have been tough to take down when they start the game with the lead, posting an 8-1-2 record this year when notching the first goal.

"That's been a focal point all year," said Pfau. "We just play with so much more confidence."

Shanley (10-8-1) had its chances in the second half but the Deacons came up empty and will now be playing for third place today at 1:30 p.m. at the Rotary Soccer Complex against Fargo South.

"I'm hoping that we recover and that we're ready to play," said Shanley coach Kevin Roos. "Hopefully we'll be ready to go and we can finish the season strong."

Fargo North 2, Bismarck 0

Fargo North wasn't kept down.

The Spartans bounced back after an opening-round loss with a 2-0 win over Bismarck, securing a spot for North in today's fifth-place game, which begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Rotary Soccer Complex.

Claire Ivers gave the East Region's top team the lead in the first minute of play when she found the back of the net off a setup from Alyssa Dehne.

Noel Scherer added to the Spartans' lead in the second half when she was awarded a penalty kick in the 53rd minute.

Bismarck supplied the offensive push but North goalkeeper Angie Waller was on her game, turning away nine shots in the contest.

Amanda Bennes was in net for the Demons and recorded six saves.

North will meet up with St. Mary's today after the Saints knocked out the West Region's top-seeded team Bismarck Century, 2-1.

North Dakota State Tournament

At Hillcrest Soccer Complex in Jamestown

Minot 1, Shanley 0

Minot 1 0 -- 1

Shanley 0 0 -- 0

Scoring

First half

1, MHS, Taylor Bachman-Williams (Emily Christensen), 24:15.

Second half

No scoring

Saves: Minot, Makayla Sandvold 3; Shanley, Sammi Post 10.

Cards: Shanley, Haley Gerving (yellow), second half.

Records: Minot 8-5-3; Shanley 10-8-1.

Fargo North 2, Bismarck 0

Bismarck 0 0 -- 0

North 1 1 -- 2

Scoring

First half

1, FN, Claire Ivers (Alyssa Dehne), 39:30.

Second half

2, FN, Noel Scherer (unassisted), 28:52.

Saves: Bismarck, Amanda Bennes 6; North, Angie Waller 9.

Records: Bismarck 9-5-2; Fargo North 12-3-2.