John's Journal: Six Years Of Soccer Excellence In Alexandria

Six autumns ago, a youngster became the starting goalkeeper for the Alexandria High School girls soccer team. For every game in every season since – 102 consecutive games in all -- Sophia Vinje has been there for the Cardinals.

Her high school career ended with a 5-1 loss to Benilde-St. Margaret’s in the Class 2A state quarterfinals last week. Sophia was denied her dream of playing at U.S. Bank Stadium this week, but that doesn’t diminish what she has accomplished.

She never missed a start in those 102 games while recording 43 shutouts and a career goals-against average of 0.3. Her career record is 59-37-6; she posted 14 shutouts this season as the Cardinals finished with a record of 16-3.

The numbers tell part of the story. But what Sophia, who has been a team captain for two years, has provided beyond statistics is even more important.

“She's a real confidence-builder for our team,” said coach Amy Korynta. “She’s a rock back there. Every year she’s gotten stronger and stronger. She instills a lot of confidence in the defense and that builds through the whole team.”

It wasn’t always like that. Sophia was only 12 years old when she started the first varsity game of her seventh-grade year against East Grand Forks.

“Six years is a long time,” she said. “I started when I was 12, and I'm 18 now. I've grown as a person. I’m a completely different person and I’ve visibly seen myself growing as a person. I've gained more confidence, I've grown as a leader.”

The final game of Sophia’s career saw something strange: her absence from the field. She was injured in a collision midway through the first half and sat on the sideline until returning with three minutes remaining in the game. She was hobbling on a sore knee but she wanted to finish her high school career on the field with her teammates.

“Amy came to me and was like, ‘Do you just want to go in the last two or three minutes?’ I think it was really important because you started on the field and you want to end on the field. What's really important to me is that I finished with the team that I am so proud of.”

Despite her injury, Sophia made a diving save with 28 seconds to play in the state quarterfinal. As the game ended, she was on both knees as teammates ran to console her. After shaking hands with the Benilde-St. Margaret’s players and the officials, a smiling Sophia led the Cardinals to the front of the bleachers, where they exchanged hand slaps with their student fans.

“I grew up with these people for my whole life,” Sophia said of her teammates. “And being a part of this, these people are my best friends. And to be part of this team, it's such a beautiful thing. The game draws you together. It makes you closer, and every time you get on the field, it's just a reward to see how close you are.”

As practice began six years ago, the Cardinals needed someone to replace a goalkeeper who had graduated. Korynta, an assistant coach at the time, said the staff was aware of Sophia.

“We knew of her through summer programs. She was a strong keeper. And that’s how it’s been ever since then. It’s really incredible.

“She’s very quick. She’s strong. Her reaction time is really amazing. She comes off her line well, she’s able to read the play and anticipate where the attack is coming from. She’s become very vocal these last couple of years, and she helps the defense adjust and shift and move.”

Asked what memories will be foremost in her mind 10 years from now, Sophia said nothing about individual accomplishments. She talked about what is most important to her: the team.

“We’ve had a lot of different personalities come through this whole entire program,” she said. “And for every single person, this sport brought everyone so close together. It's very special to me.”

--MSHSL media specialist John Millea has been the leading voice of Minnesota high school activities for decades. Follow him on Twitter @MSHSLjohn and listen to "Preps Today with John Millea” wherever you get podcasts. Contact John at [email protected]