A historic adapted sports program and a perennial runnerup took home the championship hardware from the 2024 Minnesota State High School League Adapted Soccer Tournament. Minneapolis South won the PI title, with Dakota United taking the CI crown. The wins were especially meaningful for both senior-dominated winning teams.
Prep athletes with physical disabilities compete in the PI Division. Athletes with cognitive disabilities compete in the CI Division. This year’s tournament was held at White Bear Lake Area High School.
The Tigers of Minneapolis South defeated the Rochester Raiders, 5-4, in the title game. Although South has had adapted sports since 1982, the team had never won a PI Division title until now.
The Dakota United Hawks topped defending CI champion Burnsville/Farmington/Lakeville, 3-0. The win snapped the Blazing Cats’ three-year championship streak. In the past three years the Hawks were the runners-up.
PI Division
The Minneapolis South Tigers improved on their 2023 runner-up status by defeating the South Suburban Flyers and Park Center Pirates to get to the title game. The win capped an undefeated season for the Tigers.
But the Raiders of Rochester Century would not give up easily. Tigers’ senior Yonis Noor scored all five of Minneapolis South’s goals with junior David Rodriquez Rosas adding one assist. For the Raiders, senior Braxton Small and eighth-grader Jacoby Denny were a dynamic offensive duo, combining for all four goals. Small finished with three goals and Denny tallied one. The Park Center Pirates took home the third-place title, defeating the Dakota United Hawks, 7-1. Senior Bryan Lopez paced the Pirates’ offense, scoring four goals. Sophomore teammate Caleb Plummer had one goal and one assist to help offensively. Eighth-grader Dylan Burns scored the lone goal for Dakota United.
The Robins of Robbinsdale/Hopkins/Mound/Westonka/St. Louis Park took home the consolation crown, topping Anoka-Hennepin 6-5. Ninth-grader Hector Vergas Flores led Robbinsdale/Hopkins/Mound Westonka with three goals and two assists. Ninth-grader Grady Lease added two goals for the Robins and senior Noah Mittendorf had one goal and one assist. Senior Tyler Johnson was the top scorer for Anoka-Hennepin. He finished the game with three goals.
St. Paul Humboldt was the eighth team in the tournament.
Noor is one of three Tigers on the PI All-Tournament Team, joined by Eliseo Sanchez Piedra and Lindasue Anderson. Small is one three Rochester Century players on the team, along with Braeden Booth and Andrew Westerman. Lopez and Brayden Small are the Park Center honorees, joined by Martin and Dominik Albus of Dakota United; Josh Reis of Robbinsdale/Hopkins/Westonka/St. Louis Park and Anoka-Hennepin’s Johnson.
CI Division
The Dakota United Hawks came out strong to top Burnsville/Farmington/Lakeville, 3-0. The win not only made up for three years of runner-up status, it also was the first title win for the Hawks in more than a decade. Dakota United has won three titles in program history, but the 2024 crown is the first such win since 2012.
The Hawks got goals from seventh-grader Jacob Jackson and seniors Henry Eisele and Greidin Corley. But Blazing Cats goalkeeper Zahven Kotzian made it difficult for the Hawks to score for much of the game.
Dakota United defeated Stillwater/Mahtomedi and Buffalo/ Monticello/St. Michael-Albertville to get to the title game. This was the state tournament debut for Buffalo/Monticello/St. Michale-Albertville.
The South Suburban Jets topped the Park Center Pirates, 6-4 for the third place honors. Sophomore Jordan Cavness paced the Jets’ offense with four goals. Senior Joseph Johnson netted two goals for Park Center and sophomore Cortez Crumble added one goal and one assist.
In the consolation final, it was an all-Washington County battle. The Ponies of Stillwater/Mahtomedi topped the South Washington County Thunderbolts, 8-5. Stillwater/Mahtomedi senior Mason Mora-Clark led all scorers with seven goals. Xander Hansen, a seventh-grader, tallied three assists for the Ponies. For South Washington County, junior Brett Wedan struck for three goals. Juniors Jordan Nde and Logan Curtis added one goal and one assist apiece.
The St. Cloud Area Crush was the eighth team in the tournament. The MSHSL described the tournament field as the strongest it has seen, with all teams boasting winning records.
Corley, Makai Smith and Myles Johnson led the CI All-Tournament Team for Dakota United. They were joined by Burnsville/Lakeville/Farmington’s Kotzian, Caden Zoldy and Eric Rodriguez. Other team members are Cavness and Jemarie Wright, South Suburban; Johnson and Dylan O’Hotto, Park Center; and Logan Yannarelly, South Washington County.
