Woodbury Girls Soccer Team Gains Momentum Ahead of State Tournament
The Woodbury girls soccer team is peaking at the right time, having won 10 of their last 11 regular-season games. This impressive run has been spearheaded by senior goalie Sam Mattes and junior forward Clara Fedunok, who have been instrumental in the team’s success. Fedunok’s technical ability and leadership have been key to the team’s offense, while Mattes’s exceptional goalkeeping has directed the defense, resulting in an 11-2-1 campaign.
Mattes emphasized the team’s focus on making the state tournament, which kicks off on Wednesday when second-seeded Woodbury hosts seventh-seeded Tartan in the Class 3A, Section 4 quarterfinals. “This team definitely has that ability. For us, it’s staying focused,” Mattes said. “We make it a big thing about getting our school work done, separating school and soccer when we need to. So having that driving force, focusing on one game at a time.”
Clara Fedunok: The Driving Force Behind Woodbury’s Offense
Fedunok, a Marquette commit, has exhibited her exceptional technical ability and leadership throughout the 2025 season. Woodbury girls soccer coach Pat Malicki praised Fedunok’s relentless work ethic and skill on the ball, stating that she is integral to the Royals’ attack. “She’s gonna beat players one v. one, and she’ll get to the goal and she can finish with both left foot and right foot,” Malicki said. “When she gets marked, she’s able to get (to the) endline and get service across. She’s basically the quarterback of our attack.”
Undated courtesy photo of Woodbury junior forward Clara Fedunok, who fires a shot for the Royals during the 2025 season. (Courtesy of Rich Peterson)
Fedunok leads Woodbury with seven goals and has tallied five assists on the season. She attributes her offensive production to her gritty mentality and motor, stating that her speed and aggression on the field have been key to her success. “I’m sort of an aggressive player, I like getting the ball,” Fedunok said. “I like winning the ball back, and I think that my speed definitely helps.”
A Strong Defense: The Backbone of Woodbury’s Success
The Royals have also sported one of the best defenses in the state, keeping nine clean sheets in 14 games. Mattes has made 61 saves this season while only allowing nine goals, posting a 0.69 goals against average. Coach Malicki praised Mattes’s exceptional communication skills, stating that she is a student of the game who can see opponent’s buildup and instruct her back line on how to align. “Over the last couple of years, her communication has improved so much. So she’s organizing our back line,” Malicki said.
Mattes emphasized the importance of communication on the pitch, stating that it extends beyond her defense to involve midfielders and forwards, keeping the entire team in sync. The Royals have outscored their opponents 36-9 this season, and Mattes attributes this success to the team’s strong defensive record, which is thanks to her back line and the chemistry the team has developed. “I scan (the field) to make sure they know what they’re doing, because if we have someone who isn’t as familiar with the position, the defenders and I are good at helping them out with that,” Mattes said. “But it’s really reliability and trust.”
Originally Published: October 7, 2025 at 1:16 PM CDT
For more information on the Woodbury girls soccer team and their journey to the state tournament, visit Here
Image Source: www.twincities.com
