Submitted Photo Minot High sophomore Grayson Steele moves the ball up field in their state quarterfinal game against Shanley High School on Thursday, Oct. 16. Photo by Michael Linnell.

The Minot High Magicians fell to the Shanley High School Deacons in the 2025 NDHSAA Boys Soccer State Tournament at the Starion Sports Complex in Mandan on Thursday, Oct. 16, 0-1 in a long defensive duel.

The Magi and Deacons both had a strong defensive night, a reflection of both teams’ season up to the state quarterfinals. Minot High School came into the tournament seeded second in the West Region with a regular season record of 9-3-4 in conference play and only allowing 16 goals across all 16 games. Fargo Shanley came into the tournament seeded third in the East Division with a record of 8-3-3 and only 17 goals allowed. Both teams’ strong defense showed through during the quarterfinals match with no goals scored in the first half. Minot controlled the majority of time in the first half, but neither team was able to break through. Both Minot High’s senior goalkeeper Ian Stewart and Fargo Shanley’s senior goalkeeper Simon Schwind put in a lot of work to keep the game scoreless. A Shanley corner kick in the 45th minute looked to spell disaster for the Magi, but they were able to defend. Stewart was also able to pick up a save for the Magi not long after in the 49th minute from a line drive kick, all while blinded by players from both teams. Schwind was able to pick up a save of his own in the 51st minute, blocking a shot attempt brought about by a Minot High corner kick. The game was looking like whoever could score a goal first would walk away with the win. The time ticked down quickly in the second half and it looked like the match would go into overtime until Fargo Shanley’s sophomore forward Andrew Schneider snuck a ball into the back of Minot’s net, giving them the first lead of the match in the 74th minute. With just six minutes to go, the Magi turned up the aggression. Minot continued to drive the ball down the pitch but just could not break through the Deacons’ defense. With just a few seconds left in the match, a swift kick from one of the Deacons’ defenders fired the ball into Magi territory, ending the match in an 0-1 loss for Minot High.

Minot’s defeat confirmed a complete East Division sweep in the state tournament, with each team from the West losing their quarterfinal match. The West’s second seeded Minot High lost to the East’s third seed Shanley High, fourth-seeded Jamestown lost to the East’s first seed team Fargo South, West Fargo Sheyenne took out the West’s third-seeded Bismarck Century and fourth seed Grand Forks Red River upset the West’s first seed, Bismarck Legacy, who went undefeated in conference play through the entirety of the regular season.

Both semifinals matches will take place on Friday, Oct. 17, and will see Grand Forks Red River take on West Fargo Sheyenne and Fargo South take on Shanley. The consolation will also take place on Oct. 17 and will pit Legacy and Century against each other and put Minot High against Jamestown. The winners of the consolation semifinals will then go on to play in the fifth place game on Saturday, Oct. 18.