In this week’s CCX Sports Spotlight, John Jacobson profiles Wayzata boys’ soccer standout Charlie Piller. The senior midfielder is key player on an unbeaten 7-0-1 Trojans’ team that is currently ranked first in the state in Class AAA. Piller leads Wayzata in assists with seven and has also scored three goals. Piller was on the Trojans’ team last year that won the Class AAA state championship and is hoping that he and his teammates can win the title again this year. After high school, Piller hopes to play college soccer at the Division I level.
Tag: Wayzata Soccer
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“The Wayzata boys soccer team is hoping to stay at the top after winning the state class AAA title last season, the fourth championship in program history. The Trojans have to replace standout scorers Mike Orlov and Joe Highfield and others lost to graduation, but they do return five starters. Midfield will be a position of strength for Wayzata, with most of that crew returning from the championship team.” From CCX Media.
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Top-seeded Wayzata used a late-game surge to score two goals, one in regulation time and another in an extra session, to prove worthy of their top billing in the Minnesota State High School League’s Boys Soccer State Tournament.
Senior forward Joe Highfield was credited with the clinching goal with 5:38 left in the first overtime to give the Trojans a 3-2 victory over No. 3 Woodbury in the Class AAA championship game on Friday, Nov. 4 at U.S. Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis.
The Trojans (19-1-2) celebrated its first big-school state title since 2017 on a dazzling play that was engineered by Highfield. He got loose on the near side and found himself in a breakaway situation. He eyed the right side of Woodbury junior goalkeeper Eddie Puglisi. He made a nifty save with his right foot, but the ball caromed off a Woodbury teammate and bounced stunningly into the goal.
It was Wayzata’s second championship since 2009. The other three appearances resulted in runner-up finishes.
The Trojans appeared headed for another runner-up finish before senior defender Joe Burica scored the equalizer with 1:42 left in regulation time.
In the first half, Woodbury built a 2-1 advantage behind two goals from sophomore midfielder Olin Franzwa. His second goal gave the Royals a one-goal edge at the break. Ten minutes earlier, Wayzata senior defender Tarun Gorripati scored after dribbling around a defender.
Woodbury was seeking its first championship in boys soccer. In 2005, the Royals were runner-up to Wayzata as well.
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“The Wayzata boys’ soccer team advanced to the state class AAA championship game Tuesday morning with a 4-1 win over Andover. Mike Orlov opened the scoring with a penalty kick goal with 6:52 remaining in the first half. Charlie Piller scored with 1:39 left in the first half to put the Trojans ahead 2-0 at halftime. Andover pulled within 2-1 when Baraka Tarleton scored on a penalty kick with 25:16 to play in the second half. Wayzata was awarded another penalty kick and Joey Burica scored to give the Trojans a 3-1 lead. Piller’s second goal of the match late made the final score 4-1. The Trojans (18-1-2) will face Woodbury in the state championship Friday at 10:15 am at U.S. Bank Stadium. The teams tied 1-1 during the regular season. Wayzata is in the state final for the first time since 2017 when they won the Class AA title.” from CCX Media
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Trojans find redemption in 2022 having lost to STMA earlier in the season and in the playoffs last year
The Knights scored first on a 28 yard pass and catch from Knight QB from W. Barthel to C. Luongvan early in the 1st quarter.
Wayzata answered early in the 2nd as Trojan QB Cole Heilbrun found wide receiver Ford Griffith in the end zone to make it 7-7.
Two field goals by place kicker Nate Stueve had Wayzata up 13-7 at the half.
Wayzata scored on a Deyon Loveless 4 yard TD run late in the 3rd to make 19-7.
In the first play of the 4th quarter, Heilbrun threw the ball 39 yards to Tyler Milkes for an unbelievable touchdown to make it Wayzata 26, STMA 7.
Both teams would score later in the 4th, with the final score Wayzata 33, STMA 13.
Running back Deyon Loveless rushed 32 times for 230 yards and 2 touchdowns in the contest. Cole Heilbrun complete 10 passes on 18 attempts for 169 yards and 2 touchdowns. Ford Griffith caught 5 passes for 112 yards and a TD. Tyler Milkes has 1 catch for 39 yards and a TD.
Defensively, the Trojans were led by Chase Ullom who had 11 tackles, Andrew Westermeyer with 7, Noah Rychlik with 7, Noah Regan with 5 and an interception, and Keyaundre Watkins with 3 tackles and a sack.
On special teams, kicker Nate Stueve made 3 extra points and 2 field goals.
The Trojans (5-4) travel to Rosemount (9-0) on Friday to take on the the #1 seed Irish.
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From CCX, “The Wayzata boys soccer team was matched up against a Lake Conference rival in the state class AAA quarterfinals. The Trojans beat St. Michael-Albertville 3-0 to advance to Tuesday morning’s semifinals at U.S. Bank Stadium. Joe Highfield scored on a penalty kick to give Wayzata a 1-0 halftime lead. The top-seeded Trojans added two more in the second half as Miles Redmond and Kieran Mahan scored.“
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From CCX, “Joe Highfield’s header goal gave Wayzata a 2-1 overtime win over Minneapolis Southwest, sending the Trojans to the Section 6AAA final. Ben Esinger opened the scoring for the Trojans in the first half with the assist to Callum Campbell-Sulter. The Lakers tied the match midway through the second half on a header from Pablo Gonzalez off a Will Zenner corner kick. Highfield’s game-winning goal, set up by Jackson Widman, improves the Trojans’ record to 15-1-2. Wayzata hosts Minneapolis Washburn (11-6-0) for the section title Tuesday at 7:00 pm at Wayzata High School.”
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From CCX Media: “The Wayzata boys soccer shut out Hopkins 5-0 Thursday to remain unbeaten on the season. The Trojans (11-0-2) are ranked second in the state in Class 3A. Joe Highfield, Cole Frazier, Joey Burica, Mike Orlov and Colin Leech scored for Wayzata.”
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From CCX Media: “The top-ranked Wayzata girls soccer team beat Hopkins 4-2 to get a sweep of the Royals this season. Grace Estby had two goals for Wayzata with Amya Conway and Ana Munyon each netting one. The Trojans built a 3-0 halftime lead in the win. They are now 12-0-1 this season.”
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