West Fargo rallies past Mandan-St. Mary's to advance to boys soccer state championship

FARGO — When it appeared all the momentum was against them, the West Fargo Packers didn t flinch. The East Region No. 3-seeded Packers scored two straight goals to defeat West Region No. 4 Mandan-St. Mary s 4-2 in the North Dakota boys soccer state semifinals on Friday at Fargo North High School. Two minutes after MSM tied the game 2-2, the Packers stayed even-keeled and the offense followed. West Fargo midfielder buried a deflected ball of a corner kick attempt in the 65th minute. In the 71st minute, Packers attacker Mike Fleury put away a cleared ball with a high kick that sailed over the MSM goalkeeper. We stayed composed, Fleury said. We passed the ball. We kept our heads up and we kept going. West Fargo (11-3-4) advances to the state championship against the winner of West Region No. 1 Minot and East Region No. 2 West Fargo Sheyenne at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 at North High. West Fargo's Mike Fleury (11) celebrates his second-half goal with