Mandan-St. Mary’s boys’ soccer team has earned its first state tournament appearance as a co-op, capping a season that saw the team overcome a preseason seventh-place ranking to prove their capability among the state's best. The Braves secured eight regular season wins, marking one of their most successful seasons to date. This achievement comes as the team prepares for the state tournament, having defied initial expectations.
Head Coach Aaron McElwee attributed the team's turnaround to a significant shift in mentality and growth in both confidence and depth among his players. McElwee conveyed to the team that they were capable of beating any opponent, a belief he said they demonstrated this year. He also recalled specifically telling the players at the season's start that they could finish in the top three. According to McElwee, a discernible change in mentality was evident on the pitch this season and even last year, reflecting the team's belief in their ability to compete with the league's top teams.
The journey to the state tournament was not without its obstacles for the Braves. The team navigated a season plagued by injuries, most notably the loss of senior forward Caden Wondra due to a torn ACL. With one of their key scorers sidelined, the team relied on widespread contributions from across its roster to maintain its postseason aspirations. McElwee expressed profound pride in the team's achievements this year, particularly in overcoming the adversity faced through injuries and other challenges. He characterized the process of reaching this level as a lengthy one.
Senior Goalkeeper Ben Allan highlighted the team's embrace of an underdog identity as a driving force behind their success. Allan noted that the team perceived itself as an underdog story, given their lack of first-place votes in preseason polls, and was motivated to climb the rankings and prove critics wrong. Allan's performance has been crucial, as he posted an 82% save rate this season. This impressive mark places him among the top five in the West Dakota Association and is the highest of any West Region goalkeeper heading into the state tournament. Allan described his strategy in goal as playing calmly, not allowing a single goal to define his performance, and continuously playing his hardest even after conceding.
The Braves now face their most significant challenge yet as they open the state tournament against Fargo South, a formidable team that has only lost once all season. However, after a year of consistently exceeding expectations, the Mandan-St. Mary's team is not content with merely participating. Sophomore Midfielder Kylan Hoag shared the team's anticipation for the upcoming match, stating they are "really looking forward to playing Fargo South" because it is a team they have never competed against before. Hoag conveyed that the players are very excited and motivated to make a significant impact at the state tournament and discover their potential there.
For Hoag and his teammates, this season's achievements extend beyond a single postseason run; they aim to establish a new standard for the Mandan-St. Mary's boys' soccer program. This year marks the third time the co-op has made it to the state tournament, with previous appearances in 2018 and 2019. The 2018 season was their inaugural year operating as a co-op.