Cloquet Girls Soccer Outscores Esko-Carlton 4-2

Wes Vork-NSO

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Sept 1

Wes Vork-NSO

In a much anticipated rematch of last year’s Section 7A semi-final matchup, the Cloquet Lumberjack girls soccer team hosted Esko-Carlton on Tuesday evening at Hilltop field. The previous six regular season meeting between these two clubs ended in an overtime tie. At the end of the first half with the score tied 1-1, it looked like a familiar outcome would take place. Cloquet, however, would score three second half goals to pull away and win the game 4-2.

Cloquet first opened the scoring with a goal by Jesse Ryan in the 24th minute. Esko would answer when Amanda Bergstedt jumped on a rebound and put it in the net in the 39th minute to tie the score at 1-1.

Cloquet goalie Kaitrin Rathe came up big in the first half, making nine saves, including one on a penalty shot. The penalty shot was awarded to Esko-Carlton when Sarah Gustafson was taken down in the box. Cloquet coach Dustin Randall had high praise for his goalie stating, “she really came up big on the penalty kick.”

Ryan would open the scoring in the second half, netting her second goal of the game in the 47th minute. That lead was once again short lived when Amanda Bergstedt got behind the defense near midfield and scored her second goal on a nice right to left cross goal shot.

The Lumberjacks would keep working and it paid off when Lena Swander put the Jacks ahead for good with a goal in the 70th minute. Haley Basset would add an insurance goal in the 76th minute.

Lumberjack goalkeeper Rathe made five second-half saves for a game total of 14. Emily Johnson recorded three saves in both the first and second half for a total of 6 saves for the visiting Eskomos.

Coach Randall mentioned that while there are things to work on he is happy with his team at this early stage of the season. He added, “we have a good hard working squad with a great group of leaders.”

With the win, the Lumberjacks are now 2-1 on the season and will be back in action on Friday as they travel to Public Schools Stadium to take on the Denfeld Hunters in a 7:00pm matchup. Esko-Carlton drops to 1-2 on the season and will travel to Andover for a 4:00pm game on Thursday

Wes Vork can be reached at wes@northlandsportsonline.com