Defending Section Champion Lumberjacks Advance With 2-0 Win

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Oct 11, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

The Cloquet-Esko-Carlton Lumberjacks opened the Section 7A playoffs Thursday Afternoon at Bromberg Filed in Cloquet, and it was a 2-0 shutout victory for the Lumberjacks. The Jacks now advance into the quarterfinals of the Section 7A boys soccer tournament.

Ben Pietsch scored both of the Lumberjacks goals Thursday afternoon as the Lumberjacks will now face the Grand Rapids Thunderhawks Saturday afternoon in Grand Rapids. The Thunderhawks had an opening round bye in the section playoffs.

Hawks goalie Josh Lenard came up huge at 18:12 of the first half when he stopped the Jacks on a penalty shot. Lightning couldn’t strike twice however and it was the Lumberjacks Pietsch who scored the first goal of the game in the second half on a penalty kick at the 45:28 mark that put the Lumberjacks in front 1-0.

Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, leading 1-0 saw Pietsch scored the second goal of the game at the 68:33 mark with the assist going to Ben Vuicich. The shutout was the fourth of the season for CEC and their first win in the last five matches. After a great start the Jacks closed the regular season with three loses and on tie entering the section playoffs.

CEC goalie Halen Danielson picked up the shutout win in goal for the Lumberjacks by stopping all five shots on the night. Josh Lenard of Hermantown faced 12 shots on the afternoon and he finished with 10 saves overall.

Hermantown finishes the season with a 2-14-1 record overall. In a rare rebuilding year for Hermantown, the Hawks struggled down the stretch as they finish the season dropping their last 8 matches, scoring only one goal in those eight contests.

Cloquet-Esko-Carlton improves to 7-7-3 overall on the season and they will play Grand Rapids Saturday at 1 pm at Grand Rapids High School. The Lumberjacks are hoping to continue on and defend their Section 7A title from a season ago.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com