Aynslea Ulschmid took an aggressive touch to get out of a crowd of Holy Angels defenders from just outside the box. Another aggressive touch pushed the ball past the last defender between Ulschmid and the goal. Then the senior took a touch to turn toward the goalie, who she saw coming out toward her. “So, I just blasted it, and it went through her legs and into the net,” Ulschmid said. The goal made it 2-0 Mahtomedi, the final score of Friday’s Class 2A state final at U.S. Bank Stadium. The play was a perfect encapsulation of this Zephyrs’ effort not just Friday, but throughout the course of the campaign — aggressive, relentless, and oh, so talented. Mahtomedi’s other score was a perfect strike from roughly 25 yards out from Cecelia Emery. The score read 2-0, but Mahtomedi was dominant in every facet of the title bout, as was the case for Mahtomedi virtually all fall. “We were so defensively aware and offensively ready to attack,” Ulschmid said. “And, I think, as a team, that’s what makes Mahtomedi, Mahtomedi girls soccer. As a team, when we all work toward our goal, and our goal was to win state.” And do it in resounding fashion. This season was one giant revenge mission for the Zephyrs who, after four straight state title game appearances, failed to reach the state tournament a year ago, instead falling in the section final. That, senior defender Emily Muetzel noted, was a “huge” source of motivation for this year’s group. “We have 11 seniors on the team, and all of us wanted it so bad, because we knew the pain of losing last year,” she said, “and we just didn’t want it to happen again.” There was no opportunity for such an occurrence to take place. Not in a postseason where the Zephyrs won every game by multiple goals, and didn’t surrender a single tally throughout. In a schedule flush with Class 3A opponents, Mahtomedi surrendered just seven goals all season. “Our defense is special,” Mahtomedi coach Dave Wald said. “We played our style. We knew they had great players, but we’re going to run multiple people at you, we’re going to hustle, we’re going to be physical.” That was a product of a dominant back line, and a long, athletic goalkeeper in the 6-foot-3 Harlow Berger. Perhaps Holy Angels’ best chance of the day came on a shot that looked destined to fit in under the cross bar. Not only did Berger deter the attempt, she did so with relative ease. Everything this Mahtomedi team did was executed to the highest degree, and with purpose. After a game this season, Benilde-St. Margaret’s coach Scott Helling-Christy told Wald, “You guys play a little angry.” You bet they did. “If you think back to when we lost two years ago in the final to Holy Angels — it’s tough to motivate a team that’s won four state championships in a row. They don’t realize they can lose,” Wald said. “It’s a lot easier to coach a team that’s bitter, and we were bitter this year.” Bitter, and dominant. Top-seeded Holy Angels (20-2) thrived all season on pressing teams, playing in the opponent’s half, winning corners and scoring on them. The Stars — who finished as runners-up for the second-straight season — attempted only one or two against second-seeded Mahtomedi (19-2-1) and were on the defensive for most of the game. “They have a big, physical back line that just cleaned up everything we threw at them,” Stars coach David Marshak said. “I’ve been doing this for awhile. … That’s got to be one of the biggest 2A teams I’ve ever seen. And it’s not just size, they can play — they’re well coached, they’re well organized, they’re very technical. They check all the boxes. I think what you saw was us trying to stay in a prize fight where the other fighter had an extra five inches of reach.” After the game, Mahtomedi’s senior captains delivered a claim to Wald: “We’re your best team.” That’s quite a statement considering the Zephyrs’ long line of success. Friday marked Mahtomedi’s 11th title. And yet, the evidence suggests this year’s group was right up there with the best of them. “It’s about attitude, and it’s certainly easier after you’ve lost to come back and realize and know that you’re mortal as an athlete, and to take each moment and make the most of it,” Wald said, “and these guys did.” Related Articles High School Sports | High School Football Roundup: Hill-Murray tops Simley in overtime in thrilling section final High School Sports | High school football: Edina runs past Eagan to reach state quarterfinals High School Sports | High school football: Shaughnessy, Blaine defense handle Forest Lake to advance to state High School Sports | Class A Boys state soccer: St. Paul Academy completes the championship three-peat High School Sports | State cross country: Four St. Paul public school teams reach state as conference continues cross country ascension