With the winning goal by Hassan Adan in the 57th minute, the Millers held on to a 2-1 lead and defeated Minneapolis Southwest on October 20, capturing the 2015 6AA championship and advancing to the state tournament for the first time since 1989.
Adan’s goal came off a free kick from Mitch Taylor, with Southwest’s defensive line failing in an offsides trap against the Millers. Three Millers advanced in front of the line and Adan trapped the ball from Taylor, settled it, and poked it into the left of the net past Southwest keeper Luke Peterson.
The Millers had to fight back from a 1-0 deficit at the half after Southwest scored first with a header from James Gagnon that grazed the top of keeper Max Elofson’s hand and floated into the back of the net.
Nine minutes into the second half, however, the Millers tied it up after Andy Pulkrabek headed in a perfectly placed free kick from Kevin Lowen. It was Pulkrabek’s first goal of the season.
After Adan netted the winning goal with 23 minutes left in the game, the Millers’ back line repeatedly closed down Southwest threats, and the Millers continued to press on offense, nearly getting late-game goals from Juan Louis and Mohamed Kalmoy.
At the final horn, Miller players and fans swarmed the Southwest field to celebrate the Millers’ first section championship since 1989.
Videos courtesy of Paul Taylor. More video and Mike Lieb’s match photos available on Flickr.
