SEYMOUR 

Sparked by three goals by Kash Siefker, the Trinity Lutheran boys soccer team advanced to the championship of their Class 1A sectional by defeating Austin 5-1 in the semifinals Thursday night.

The win gives the Cougars (3-12-1) back-to-back wins for the first time this season and sends them to the championship match at 2 p.m. Saturday against either Providence or Christian Academy, who played in the late match Thursday night.

The Cougars took a 1-0 lead six minutes in on an own goal.

After the Eagles tied it on a score by Zach Stidham, the Cougars took the lead for good on Siefker’s first goal with an assist from Micah Baumgartel with 13:37 left in the half.

Siefker didn’t wait long to score again as he advanced the ball toward the goal and made it a 3-1 with a strike at 12:16.

Cougars coach Joe Doggett said moving people around late in the season has helped his team have success in the tournament by outscoring Lanesville and Austin by a combined margin of 11-2.

“We usually try to put emphasis on the sectional. Games during the season we try to win, but we’re trying to find out who plays the best at what position. That’s always a tedious job and I think we figured it out," he said. “The last game we moved some people around that could score because we weren’t scoring much, and bolstered up our defense by doing the same thing.”

He said against Lanesville he moved Zephyr Wilson from stopper to forward. 

Coach said that allowed him to move his son, Sawyer, from center-mid to the defensive side and that strengthened the defense.

Baumgartel (24:39) and Siefker (11:24) added goals in the second half with Doggett assisting on both scores.

“We had a real good outing," Doggett said. "We started a little slow. I was a little disappointed in our start. We did score first but it was on a ricochet own goal. We seemed a little sluggish but really picked it up midway through the first half, and really got strong in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

“Everybody has really improved their game, but we’ve got to have a better start to make it a game Saturday.”

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Trinity Lutheran 5, Austin 1

TL goals: Kash Siefker 3, Micah Baumgartel, own goal

TL assists: Sawyer Doggett 2, Siefker

Shots: TL 30, Austin 9

TL saves: Brayden Stockleman 6

Record: Trinity Lutheran 3-12-1

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