There weren’t a lot of games on the schedule for the 2003 Albert Lea U-18 girls’ soccer team, but now there are at least three more. And they’re big ones.

The locals have qualified for the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association state tournament.

The U-18 squad, coached by Paul Marka, needed only one win in the district tourney to advance to state, but it was a long and close one. A goal by Sydney Staloch with 30 seconds remaining in the second overtime lifted Albert Lea to a 1-0 triumph over Mendota Heights. The shot came from about the 18-yard marker in Saturday’s game at Richfield.

The girls will play three preliminary games in the state tournament, Saturday at 9 a.m., Sunday at 1 p.m. and Tuesday at 7 p.m. Finalists are determined by a point system, and the championship game is Friday, Aug. 1 at 7 p.m. All games will be played at the National Sports Center in Blaine.

It’s the fourth state tournament appearance for the 18-year-olds on the team, who include Nikki Allard, Kelly Cook, Nicole Gilbertson, Steph Overgaard, Amy Ravenhorst, Liz Reynen, Shawna Robertson, Sydney Staloch and Brie Woitas.

The squad’s 17-year-olds, who have won two state championships and also qualified for state for the fourth time, include Mandy Ardolf, Emily Bergstrom, Katie Dooley, Char Everhart, Amy Marka, Lacey Pederson, Brianne Plantage, Missy Reichl, Crystal Rentz, Emily Staloch and Katie Stenseth.