STOLEN — Fairmont Area’s Emma Scheppmann (11) takes the soccer ball away from Mankato Loyola’s Rayann Kruse (21) during Section 2A quarterfinal playoff action Thursday night at Jeffery Kot Soccer Complex in Fairmont. Fairmont Area’s Elayna Anderson (left) and Selma Bleess (16) watch the action. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — The No. 4-seeded Fairmont Area Cardinal girls soccer team started the postseason on Thursday night by beating the No. 5-seeded Mankato Loyola Crusaders 1-0 in a Section 2A quarterfinal at Jeffery Kot Soccer Complex in Fairmont.

Fairmont Area (8-9) advances to the sectional semifinals to battle No. 1-seeded Rochester Lourdes at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Rochester Community and Technical College in Rochester.

The Cardinals played Lourdes earlier the season, losing 4-0. The Cardinals kept it close, trailing 1-0 at the half.

No. 7-ranked Lourdes advanced with an 8-0 quarterfinal victory over No. 8-seeded Triton Area on Thursday in Rochester.

The Fairmont Area game seemed headed for overtime, but with 5:01 left in the second half, Elayna Anderson converted a pass from Kate Busche into the playoff game’s only goal.

“It took the whole team tonight,” Fairmont Area head coach Matt Nielsen said. “The girls came out and kept up the intensity the whole game. I was really hoping we could keep it together.”

Loyola had a chance to take a 1-0 lead with 6:06 left in the second half, but Fairmont Area goalkeeper Madi Stromberg came up with the save on the slow-rolling penalty shot.

A little more than a minute later, Anderson sent her shot into the left corner of the net for the go-ahead goal.

“That penalty kick was the worst-case scenario,” Nielsen said. “We were controlling the play, but all of sudden they get the penalty kick. Madi came up with a big save.”

Stromberg made four saves in the second half, none bigger than the stop on the penalty kick.

Fairmont Area swept the regular season series, winning 3-1 at Loyola and 4-1 at home.

“It’s tough to beat a team three times in the same season, but we found a way tonight,” Nielsen said. “It was a very physical game.”

The Cardinals had three players come out of the game in the second half due to injuries — Allison Janssen, Bella Larson and Emma Scheppmann.

The Cardinals outshot the Crusaders 9-8 in the first 40 minutes and 13-11 in the second half, but only had nine shots on goal in the contest.

“We had our chances, but didn’t get many shots on net,” Nielsen said.

Paige Olinger made eight saves for the Crusaders.

Loyola 0-0–0

Fairmont 0-1–1

Scoring Plays

1st Half

No scoring

2nd Half

FA–Elayna Anderson (Kate Busche), 34:59.

Shots-on-goal: Loyola 4-4–8; Fairmont Area 5-4–9. Corners: Loyola 3, Fairmont Area 10.

Saves: Paige Olinger (LOY) 5-3–8; Madi Stromberg (FA) 4-4–8.

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Boys Soccer

Fairmont Area 3, Tri-City United 1 — The No. 5-seeded Fairmont Area Cardinals edged No. 4-seeded Tri-City United, 3-1, in their Section 2A quarterfinal game on Thursday in Montgomery.

Fairmont Area (8-8-1) advances to play No. 1-seeded Pine Island/Zumbrota-Mazeppa in the sectional semifinals at 5 p.m. Saturday in Pine Island.

Pine Island/Zumbrota-Mazeppa won its sectional quarterfinal 10-0 over Cannon Falls.

Fairmont Area’s Prince Lebbi scored two goals in the victory and the third tally proved an own goal. Jack Sadusky assisted on Lebbi’s second goal.

Lebbi scored at the 10:18 and 19:50 marks of the first half. The own goal came at the 7:51 mark of the second half, extending the Cardinals’ lead to 3-0.

Tri-City United spoiled Fairmont Area goalkeeper Jack Kosbab’s shutout bid, scoring on a penalty kick at the 22:31 mark of the second half. Kosbab had three saves.