Esko-Carlton Edges Cloquet In Girls Soccer

Wes Vork-NSO

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Aug 31

Kerry Rodd-NSO

CLOQUET – In a rematch of last year’s sectional final game the Esko-Carlton girls soccer team came away with a 3-2 win over the Cloquet Lumberjacks in Cloquet on Tuesday night in Cloquet. Caitlyn Lilly provided the spark the Eskomos needed to beat the defending section champion Lumberjacks.

In the 12th minute Alyssa Rodlund gave E-C the lead with an assist to Lilly. Then in the 16th minute Lilly scored a magnificent goal off a long run that resulted in a 2-0 edge for E-C.

Before the first half ended the Jacks bounced back with a goal in the 36th minute on a header by Carley Esse with the assist going to Carri Zeadow and it was 2-1 entering intermission.

“I thought we didn’t start playing well until the end of the first half, and by then we had dug ourselves a hole that was too great,” commented Cloquet coach Dustin Randall. “We did have some positives that we will build on. We will keep our eye on the big picture and keep working to be better down the stretch.”

Cloquet appeared to have dug themselves completely out of that early game hole when Kristi Konietzko pumped in a goal off a corner kick with Zeadow picking up her second assist, but it was short-lived when Lilly went on another long run in the 68th minute and was taken down in the box and scored the game-winner on a penalty kick.

“Obviously getting a win is nice,” mentioned E-C coach Nicole Peterson after the game to NSO. “More importantly, I was happy with the way the girls played. We played good solid soccer on offense, defense and in transition, we really played as a team.”

Rachel Ofstie made 2 saves on 4 shots for the Eskomos and Kaitrin Rathe finished with 4 saves on 7 shots for the Lumberjacks.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com