Heading into this year&8217;s state tournament, the Albert Lea U-14 boys&8217; soccer team knew it had its hands full. On the slate were four teams with a combined 39-2-3 record.

Despite coming away with one tie and three losses the locals proved they belonged playing four very close competitive games.

In the opener, Albert Lea played a Coon Rapids team with only one loss on the year. Early in the game Julio Ambriz put Albert Lea ahead knocking in the first goal. Coon Rapids answered with intense pressure and tied the game at the midway point and then took the lead on a questionable penalty kick call.

The game remained a close 2-1 battle until near the end when Coon Rapids knocked in the final tally to make the score 3-1.

On Saturday, the boys played a St. Peter team that came into the tournament without a loss on the year. Albert Lea came out strong and went ahead on a nice header from Cal Pirsig on a comer kick from Anthony Tate. St. Peter battled back and tied the score at one just before the half.

During one of Albert Lea&8217;s offensive attacks in the second half, Pirsig was tackled in the box setting up a penalty kick. He then converted on the kick to give the boys the lead 2-1. With a possible victory for Albert Lea just minutes away, St. Peter tied it up with a free kick that bounced off several players before settling into the back of the goal ending the game in a 2-2 draw. Dejected, Albert Lea headed into the next game 0-1-1.

On Monday, Albert Lea faced Glencoe (11-0 heading into tourney play).

It was the same story for Albert Lea playing tough, competitive soccer but coming up just short, 3-1. Once again the game was close, 2-1, up until the final minutes when Glencoe knocked in the final goal. Ambriz scored the lone goal for Albert Lea.

In the final match up on Thursday, with hopes of the championship gone, the boys started out a little flat giving up two early goals.

But knowing the opponent, Woodbury, needed to win 3-0 to have a chance of moving on, Albert Lea turned it on and held Woodbuy scoreless the rest of the way, knocking them out of championship contention.

Although they didn&8217;t come up with a victory, the boys played great consistent soccer, were in every game until the end and proved that they belonged with the best teams in the state.

Congratulations to the Albert Lea U-14 soccer team for a tremendously successful year.

The Albert Lea U-14 boys&8217; state tournament team includes: Julio Ambriz, Ryan Broitzman, Luis Cazares, Luke Cheever, Brady Falk, Cameron Hove, Jonathan Koenigs, Steven Kreun, Kyle Larsen, Chad Maier, Spencer Overgaard, Fernando Peralta, Callen Pirsig, Logan Tufte, Cesar Victorino, Darian Weigel, Anthony Tate and Aldo Campos. Also on the U-14 team but unable to play in the tournament are Carlton Stripe, Davis Thompson and Israel Chavez.