by Erik Nelson, staff writer

The season for the HHS girls soccer team came to a close as Hopkins lost 1-0 to Minnetonka in the section finals. The Royals finished with a record of eight wins and seven losses. All seven losses came against Lake Conference opponents.

In their second section game, on Oct. 12, the Royals defeated Wayzata 2-1 in a shootout.

“It was emotional because of our history with them [Wayzata].  None of the players on this team had beaten them until that playoff game,” said Keith Pavelka, head coach. “We weren’t happy with the 2 close games we had with them in the regular season. But they were focused and went to Wayzata with the intention of winning that game.  They put everything into it and got the result they deserved.”

It was the first time in 19 years that the Royals have beaten Wayzata.  Players celebrated the win like it was 1994, one year before any of them were born.

“That was my favorite moment from the season. It was a big deal for us. We earned the win, we worked really hard the entire time, and we really wanted it,” said Lindsay Clay, senior captain.

The game against Wayzata was not filled with frills or cheerfulness. The task was to beat a conference rival.

“It was a very intense game from the beginning.  The weather wasn’t great and the wind was blowing hard.  Besides battling Wayzata we were also battling the conditions,” Pavelka said. “It was draining and emotional because we need we needed to be focused the entire game and not let down.  Both teams had chances to score and you could feel the tension any time a team got around the other’s goal.”

This was the team’s second win against a Lake Conference opponent during the season. The other came during the regular season against Edina in overtime.

“We increased our intensity in the section games, and we played together as a team,” said Olivia Geiwitz, junior.

In the section final, the only goal was scored with about eight minutes left in regulation. The game was intense, as momentum shifted multiple times throughout the game.

“It is very disappointing to know you are that close to being in the State Tournament.  I was very proud of the way we played and went into that game. We left everything we had on the field and the game could have gone either way,”, Pavelka said. “Each game we play all I ask is that they give everything and don’t leave the field with any regrets.  I thought we played well and really thought we were going to win.”

The team’s goal for next season is to make the state tournament after falling one round short. The younger players will form a new core that hopes to accomplish this goal.

“We have been in the section final 3 years in a row and feel like we are getting closer every year.  We also need to make sure we are more consistent in conference play.  We are going to miss the seniors from this years team,” Pavelka said. “They we great leaders and really helped our team grow and develop over the year. I know that our returning players will take the positives and bring them to next season and make it a great one.”