PIZM boys soccer team makes it three straight trips to state with section title

Oct. 19—AUSTIN — Make it three straight state trips for the Pine Island/Zumbrota-Mazeppa boys soccer team.

The Wildcats secured their latest one Thursday night at Wescott Field, coming up with a 2-0 win over Tri-City United in the Section 2, Class 1A championship. The score was misleading, PIZM dominating infinitely more than it suggests.

Top-seeded and No. 5-ranked PIZM rode a goal from Seth Konik with 6:35 left in the first half and then one with 22:48 left in the second by Mr. Soccer candidate Chris Tree to get it done. But they also rode an attack that had the ball in the Titans' end virtually the entire evening.

PIZM takes a 13-2-2 record to the state tournament, which begins next week. The Wildcats were 2-1 losers in the first round last year to St. Anthony Village, which finished as the state's runner-up.

The Wildcats also head to state knowing they have something special going on. Three straight trips to state is rare and doesn't just happen. Work and devotion is required.

PIZM has used loads of both to become a mini-dynasty.

"This program, it's these kids working hard and we have really good coaches," said the architect of it all, PIZM head coach Rafal Konik. "It is teamwork. It's a community that makes it happen, with traveling teams and kids playing a lot of soccer. And it is kids playing multiple sports, staying in shape."

One of those multiple-sports guys is Tree. The senior is an outstanding track-and-field hurdler in the spring. But his best and favorite sport is soccer. That's where the bulk of his attention goes.

And it shows. Tree was a huge reason that the Wildcats owned this latest contest, start to finish. A terrific scorer, Tree added to his total Thursday. But that's not where he believes he impacts games most.

Instead, it is his passing that he prides himself in most. That, to Tree, is the most "winning" part of his game and the most satisfying part, too.

He showed it off all night against Tri-City United from his midfield position, continually sending one precise ball after another to teammates, making things flow.

"He sees the entire field," Rafal Konik said.

He does it with a single purpose — to get everyone involved, knowing that is soccer at its best.

"I pride myself on attacking, but even more on setting my teammates up for success with my passes," Tree said.

As much as PIZM dominated No. 3 seed Tri-City United, they didn't have much to show for it much of the game. The Wildcats just couldn't quite finish off scoring attempts, and they had plenty of them. They outshot the Titans 10-2 and rarely were forced to play defense.

They finally broke the ice with 6:35 left in the first half with Seth Konik sending a sharply angled shot into the upper-right corner of the net.

This inability to score in droves is not something PIZM is used to. It entered the contest averaging nearly five goals per game while permitting just 0.4 per game.

Against Tri-City United, the Wildcats' offense was really their best defense. Though they weren't scoring much, that they kept the ball in the Titans' end for such long stretches meant Tri-City United rarely got a look at the PIZM goal.

But when Seth Konik connected, there was a sigh of relief from the Wildcats.

Scoring, with so much on the line, can be difficult. Rafal Konik can attest to that.

"That first goal is tough," Rafal said. "Soccer is 95 percent mental. It's really hard when kids can't get that goal. They were trying too hard, pushing too hard. They had to be patient."

When Tree connected on his attempt, a blast delivered from about 22 yards out into the right corner of the net and assisted by Seth Konik, it essentially ended Tri-City United's hopes.

Tree badly wanted that one.

"I wanted to solidify things and show them that we deserved this," he said.

Pine Island/Zumbrota-Mazeppa 2, Tri-City United 0

Tri-City United#0#0#---#0

Pine Island/Z-M #1#1#---#2

Tri-City United: Goalie: Luke Skluzacek 8 saves.

Pine Island/Z-M: Seth Konik 1 goal, 1 assist; Chris Tree 1 goal. Goalie: Luke Sems 2 saves.