Magic No. 5, boys’ soccer wins 5th straight game

Jeremy Lagos

jeremy.lagos@apgecm.com

After going winless through the first two games, the Monticello boys’ soccer team has gone on a five-game winning streak. They went 4-0 since last Tuesday and have outscored their opponents 20-2 in that time.

After beating Mound Westonka 2-1 the floodgates have opened up on the Monticello attack. They beat North Branch 7-1, Zimmerman 6-0, Alexandria 3-0 and Cambridge-Isanti 4-1.

Monticello traveled to North Branch High School on Tuesday, Sept. 7 and popped in seven goals for an easy win. Senior forward Alvin Bropleh popped in a hat trick. The score was 3-1 at halftime before the Magic scored four more times.

Junior midfielder Kian Gustafson had a goal and two assists, sophomore Matteus Sundine had a goal and an assist, senior Cameron Wuollet had two assists, senior Alex Anderley had an assist while junior Gabriel Corzo and senior Anthony Haman had the other two goals against the Vikings. Senior goalie Dane Jacobson made five assists.

It was some much-needed offensive output. The team had two goals through three games and a 1-1-1 start. The win over the Vikings was the second in a row and they haven’t slowed down.

After two days, Monticello traveled to Zimmerman High School last Thursday, Sept. 5. A 2-0 halftime lead turned into a 6-0 win with another four-goal second half for the second straight game. Three straight wins marked the official start of a streak.

Bropleh had two goals in a five-point effort. Sophomore John Curtis and Sundine each had a goal and an assist. Senior Jackson Moran and junior Gabriel Corzo had the other two goals. Gustafson had another assist.

On Saturday, Sept. 7, Monticello finally played back at Monticello Memorial Stadium against Alexandria for the first time after a four-game road stretch. Bropleh netted another hat trick and outscored the Cardinals all by himself for a 3-0 Magic win.

Senior Alexander Zettervall, junior Bennett White and Sundine assisted Bropleh on his goals. Jacobson had five saves to shutout the away side.

On Monday, Cambridge-Isanti ended up as Monticello’s fifth straight victim. The Bluejackets held a 1-0 lead after 40 minutes but once again, a second-half onslaught saw Monti score four goals for a comeback victory.

Bropleh tied the game with his 10th goal of the season, Gustafson scored the game-winner and junior Mason Howry added an insurance marker on a penalty kick late in the game to make it a 4-1 victory.

After winning their last five games, Monticello is 5-1-1 and sits on top of the Mississippi 8 Conference standings at 3-0 with St. Francis. Princeton is also undefeated in conference play but has only played two M8 opponents through Monday evening.

Bropleh has been the offensive star the the Magic and leads the team with 10 goals, tied for sixth in the state and second in Class 2A.

Coming up next, Monticello plays Big Lake (3-3-1, 1-1-1) on Thursday at 7 p.m. On Saturday they travel to Delano (3-1-1) for a noon game. On Monday, Sept. 16, the Princeton Tigers visit Monticello for a 5 p.m. matchup.