Cloquet and Esko-Carlton Get Jamboree Wins

Wes Vork-NSO

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Aug 25

Kerry Rodd-NSO

Any type of early season jamboree is used by most coaches to get players on the field and to see what those players can do under game conditions. Tuesday’s Lake Superior Conference soccer jamboree was no exception. However, it did give a glimmer of what’s to come for the upcoming season.

Denfeld opened with a 2-0 win over Proctor. With the help of goals from Sara Gustafson and Amanda Bergstedt, Esko-Carlton beat Two Harbors 2-0.
With The Esko-Carlton win over Two Harbors proves that the Eskomos will be tough again this season. The Agates have been a steadily improving team over the past 3 years and the Eskomos were able to shut down the Two Harbors offense which at times can be one of the best in the area.

In a rematch of last year’s section finals,
Sadie Mickie
scored a goal in the first half and Haley Basset scored a second-half goal to give Cloquet the 2-1 win over Hermantown.
The Lumberjacks
had nearly notched a 2-0 shutout when they were called for a handball with only seconds left in the game. Hermantown then scored on a penalty kick, with Cloquet netting the 2-1 win. Duluth Marshall and Duluth Central played a late game.

Cloquet, which was beaten in the sectional championship game by Hermantown in a shootout last season, proved once again that they are a team that will be in contention for a state berth. The Lumberjacks have a new coach, however they seem to have reloaded once again to appear as if they will be among the elite in the section.

The Lumberjacks will open on the road at St. Francis on Friday and then play in Forest Lake on Saturday. Cloquet will finally open at home next Tuesday against Esko-Carlton in a big sectional game early in the season.

Esko-Carlton will open their regular season on Thursday in Proctor before playing at home on Saturday against Osseo.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at Kerry@northlandsportsonline.com