Football: Blaine opens with a bang in a 45-23 win over Anoka

Posted: 09.03.2010 by Jason Olson SportsPrepZone Editor For the last three games, Blaine has dominated Anoka in one of the oldest rivalries in the north metro, winning by an average of 27 points. Thursday's abnormally cool season opener at Bengal Stadium proved to be more of the same as Blaine won 45-23. Blaine 's young and inexperienced defense came up with a big play early, intercepting Anoka 's...

Football: Coon Rapids held off Park Center

Posted: 09.03.2010 by Tom Yelle Staff writer For the record, Coon Rapids prevailed in its opening Northwest Suburban Conference game of the 2010 season Sept. 2 with Park Center thanks to a pair of superlative offensive efforts and some timely ball-control when it counted during the second half. But it was hardly as easy as the final 14-point, 34-20 difference in the score suggested. Without...

Football: Finnes, Andover powered past Centennial

Posted: 09.02.2010 by Tom Yelle Staff writer Quarterback Tyler Finnes passed for 200 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another 85 and scored three touchdowns Sept. 2 in a 41-26 opening Northwest Suburban Conference win over Centennial. Andover fell behind the defending conference champion Centennial early, but shortly after took advantage of a pair of Centennial turnovers to turn the game in its favor....

Huskies/Cardinals runners impress in opener

Posted: 09.02.2010 by Jason Olson SportsPrepZone Editor Andover cross country headed to St. Cloud to open the 2010 season at the Apollo Early Bird invitational. Both varsity teams earned runner-up finishes, despite not having its top runners toe the line. "The team did very well considering the girls ran without top runner [sophomore Nicole Heitzman] and still had two go under the 15-minute mark," Andover ...

Soccer reacap: Sept. 1

Posted: 09.02.2010 by Jason Olson SportsPrepZone Editor SOCCERGIRLS Elk River 2, Blaine 1 (OT) After score three goals in the season opener, Blaine has struggled to find the back of the net, scoring two goals in three straight losses including Wednesday's overtime loss in the Northwest Suburban Conference opener. Andover 2, Anoka 1 The Huskies continued a strong start to the season, starting the new month with a...

Boys Soccer: Panthers explode in home opener

Posted: 09.01.2010 by Jason Olson SportsPrepZone Editor Spring Lake Park /St. Anthony boys' soccer coach Jake Smothers knew all but three players would be returning this year. The question was how much improvement the Panther's coach could expect on a team that returned all but three players and finished tied for third in the North Suburban Conference, behind Totino-Grace and Fridley. Three games into the new...

Aug. 30 area results recap

Posted: 08.31.2010 by Jason Olson SportsPrepZone Editor BOYS' SOCCER Anoka 11, Minneapolis Edison 0 The Tornadoes rebounded from a shocking 2-1 loss to Forest Lake in the season opener by overwhelming Minneapolis Edison 11-0 Monday night. STMA 4, Coon Rapids 3 (OT) Coon Rapids continued to play close to its competition Monday night after forcing St. Michael-Albertville into overtime where the Knights beat the Cardinals' defense. The Cardinals...

Girls Soccer: New Blaine coach nets first win

Posted: 08.27.2010 by Jason Olson SportsPrepZone Editor Opening Day for soccer and volleyball offered some excitement and firsts for at least one team. Blaine 's new girls' soccer coach, Beck Dellaria, collected her first win as a head coach as her squad defeated St. Francis 3-1 at Bengal Stadium Aug.  26. The Saints won the previous meeting last October as they upset the Bengals 2-1 in the...