Stillwater 3 Edina 2 in Class AAA Girls Soccer Semifinal

Stillwater found a way to solve Edina’s suffocating defense in the Class AAA semifinals of the Girls Soccer State Tournament on Thursday, Nov. 4 at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The No. 4-seeded Ponies scored three goals in an 11-minute span to turn what had been a two-goal deficit into a 3-2 upset of top-seeded and previously undefeated Edina. The victory sends the Ponies (15-3-2) into a girls soccer championship game for the first time since 2001 when it was the runner-up to Minnetonka. Junior midfielder Nell Smith, senior midfielder Catherine Fredkove and senior forward Marissa Bonilla scored goals in a frenetic flurry of offense for the Ponies.

Entering the game, Edina (19-1-0) had surrendered just six goals this season. The last goal allowed by Edina was on Oct. 2 in a 6-1 victory over St. Michael-Albertville.

Bonilla capped the furious offensive surge on a goal that came after a free kick. Edina junior goalkeeper Bayliss Flynn got a hand on the shot, but it landed near Bonilla, who placed a shot over lunging defenders.

Edina senior forward Madeline Dahlien gave the Hornets a two-goal lead at the break with goals in the 19^th minute and the 36^th minute, respectively. Her second goal came after she weaved through five defenders.