CEC Boys Get Big 4-2 LSC Win

Wes Vork-NSO

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Sept 6, 2012

Wes Vork-NSO

CLOQUET – Consider the notice served by the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton boys soccer team after Thursday evenings 4-2 win over Hermantown in Cloquet. After graduating several of the area’s top players last year, the Jacks had some question marks. However, on Thursday many of the questions may have been answered in the Jacks Lake Superior Conference victory.

“These kids can play” CEC Head Coach Archie Clark stated after the game. “That’s a tough act to follow last year, Landon (Straub) scored 25 goals, add in some other quality players and that’s probably 40 goals you don’t get back…. And Hunter Leon is a once in 15 year player.

“But when these kids take it up a notch and start to really believe in themselves and each other, we will be fine. We also need to work on finishing better; and today I thought we did a much better job of that.”

Logan Liimatainen scored the lone goal for either team in the first half at the 17th minute giving CEC a 1-0 lead.

At halftime, CEC Head Coach Archie Clark, let his team know that he felt they were not playing up to their expectations and the second half was a wild affair with CEC outscoring the Hawks 3-2 in the half.

Just 21 seconds into the second half Logan Mandefeld drilled home a goal with Westin Michaud assisting making it 2-0 for the Jacks. Gunnar Kuberra cut the Jacks lead to 2-1 with an assist by Kori Ochs in the 55th minute, but CEC responded with another goal just three minutes later when John Carr scored on an assist by Bryan Johnson. The Hawks continued to battle back with a goal in the 65th minute by Grant Sega, but again CEC answered when Michaud hammered home a goal in the 73rd minute that capped off the scoring for the game.

Josh Lenard was called on to make 7-saves for the Hawks on 9-CEC shots. CEC netminder Halen Danielson finished with 4-saves on 6-shots by Hermantown.

CEC is now 3-2-1 overall on the season and their conference record of 2-1-1 puts them at the top of the Lake Superior Conference, while the Hawks drop to 1-3-1 overall and 1-2-1 in the conference.

The Jacks will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to Chisago Lakes while Hermantown will also be in action on Saturday when they host Hibbing-Chisholm.

Wes Vork can be reached at wes@northlandsportsonline.com