Rikkola’s Hat Trick Leads Cloquet Past Princeton

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Sept 11

Wes Vork-NSO

The Cloquet Lady Jacks soccer team made the trip to Princeton a very worthwhile one, taking the field by storm, scoring two quick goals to start each half and cruising to a 7-0 win.

When the damage was all said and done, Emily Rikkola led the Jacks with a hat trick. Sadie Micke, Emily Wangen, and Carri Zeadow each scored a goal and picked up an assist while Carley Esse tallied three assists. Hannah Hammond also picked up an assist on the afternoon.

Cloquet opened the scoring in the 6th minute when Zeadow scored with Esse picking up the first of her three assists. Still in the sixth minute Rikkola notched the first of her three goals with Micke picking up the assist to give the Jacks an early 2-0 lead. Rikkola rounded out the first half scoring when scored in the 24th minute with another Esse assist.

As the second half began, the Lumberjacks picked up right where they left off in the first half with Rikkola garnering the hat trick on a goal just four minutes in. This time it was Zeadow with the assist. Just a few seconds later Micke scored with the third assist of the game from Esse to put Cloquet up 5-0. Mackenzie Roy and Wangen rounded out the scoring in the 72nd and 77th minute to seal the 7-0 win.

Cloquet Head Soccer Coach Dustin Randall was obviously pleased with the win, but more so yet with the intensity of play, commenting to NSO. “We had a Great effort by our girls after a long bus ride. They played well together and controlled play most of the game.” All of this was without three of the Jacks key players in uniform while the Jacks were trying to get healthy.

Jessie Ryan, Kaitrin Rathe, and Kelsey Anderson all missed the game allowing Randall to get additional playing time for and evaluate his youthful team. “We are starting to see some of the younger players find confidence, which will help us as the season progresses.” Randall added.

Picking up the shutout with 6 saves was backup goalkeeper Kenzie Rathe. Randall was also happy with the play of his fill in goalie, mentioning “Kenzie Rathe had 6 saves in the shutout – well deserved – some were very good shots, another great game from her.”

The win is Cloquet’s second in a row; they will be back in action on Thursday when they make the trip to Two Harbors to take on the 2-5 Agates.

Wes Vork can be reached at wes@northlandsportsonline.com