Fargo Shanley breaks through to win boys soccer state title

By Tom Mix
NDHSAA Media Specialist

BISMARCK – A second NDHSAA boys soccer state championship has eluded the Fargo Shanley Deacons for over a decade.

Until Saturday (October 14) when the Deacons broke through to give its 2008 trophy a little company.

Shanley scored a 2-1 victory against Bismarck Legacy in the championship match of the 2023 NDHSAA Boys Soccer State Tournament played at the MDU Resources Community Bowl.

Sophomore forward Andrew Schnieder scored the match-winning goal in the 60th minute of play, off a pass from senior defender Peter Noah.

Shanley’s other goal came in the first half when senior forward Andrew Kankelfritz scored off a free kick from 24 yards out.

Legacy’s goal was a penalty kick off the foot of senior midfielder Reece Snow early in the second half.

In between its 2008 state title and Saturday’s victory in the 2023 final, Shanley had advanced to the state championship match five times (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2021). The 2015 and 2021 championships were lost via penalty kick shootouts.

Legacy (15-2-2) was playing its first state final in program history. To punch their ticket to the title match, Legacy defeated Minot High 4-2 on Friday afternoon in the semifinals. The Sabers opened the state tournament with a 2-1 win over Grand Forks Red River in the quarterfinals.

Shanley (16-1-2) scored two shutouts – a 1-0 win over Bismarck High in the quarterfinals and a 1-0 victory over Jamestown in the semifinals – to advance to the championship match for the first time since 2021.

2023 NDHSAA BOYS SOCCER STATE TOURNAMENT BRACKET

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