Girls Soccer Season Kicks Off With LSC Jamboree

Wes Vork-NSO

Click here for additional Esko-Carlton vs Hermantown Photos

Click here for additonal Cloquet vs Denfeld Photos

Aug 20, 2012

Wes Vork-NSO

Year in and year out, Section 7A girls soccer proves to be one of the most competitive sections of any sport in the state. Judging by Monday night’s Lake Superior Conference Jamboree game between Esko-Carlton and Hermantown, this year will be no exception.

The Eskomos struck first with a first half goal, but Hermantown’s never say quit attitude allowed the Hawks to tie the game at one apiece with only 55 seconds left in the second half. Overtimes are not played in the time shortened two 20 minute half games leaving both teams to use the regular season to establish winners and losers.

Defending Section 7A champion Esko-Carlton returns eight seniors from last year’s 13-6-1 team, all of which started and saw extensive playing time last season. They do need to fill some key positions after graduating goalie Rachael Ofstie and the area’s leading scorer Kaitlin Lilly.

“We have to find that attacker this year.” Esko-Carlton Head Coach Nicole Peterson explained to Northland Sports Online. “I think we are going to have a more balanced attack this year. I don’t think we are going to have a Caitlin Lilly or Amanda Bergstedt. I think we will have some players step up and score 10 goals and others score some which will give us our goals and some balance that way.”

The Hawks also sport a senior laden roster consisting of 11 seniors, with the bulk of them seeing extensive playing time last season where they compiled an 11-6-2 record. Hermantown does return goalie Courtney Simmons, who was name First Team All-Conference as a junior in 2011. While the Hawks also have to replace several key players including Melissa Madison and Rachael Hoium, their expectations remain high also.

“Every year we look to be competitive, work to get a high seed for the playoffs and make a run for the section title.” Head Coach Scott Larson stated. “What helps is the summer soccer schedule runs to late July, so most of these girls have been playing together all summer and are ready to go.”

Last season it took overtime to establish a playoff winner between the two teams with the Eskomos getting the 2-1 OT victory over Hermantown. Esko-Carlton then went on to beat #1 seeded Chisago Lakes on their home field to win the section title. Chisago Lakes (12-3-4), who normally has a very solid program, should also be in the mix. “They lost a couple of their top players, but they will reload and be right there again this season,” stated Larson.

Also sporting double digit wins last season and expecting to challenge for this year’s title are the Lake Superior Conference Champion Denfeld Hunters (11-4-3) who return five seniors, and Hibbing/Chisholm and Cloquet with 10 wins apiece. The Lumberjacks efforts received a huge boost with senior goalkeeper Kenzie Rathe returning to the team after not playing her junior year.

In the early game of the LSC Jamboree, Proctor and Duluth Marshall played to a 0-0, while Duluth Denfeld topped Cloquet 2-0 in the late game. The Lumberjacks played and won a full game scrimmage earlier in the day against Northfield.

Wes Vork can be reached at wes@northlandsportsonline.com