CEC results mixed as season ramps up

Boys and girls high school soccer seasons are generally pretty compact. This year is no different, with the the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton boys soccer team playing its first game Aug. 23 and its last regular season game scheduled for Oct. 3, a day shy of six weeks. What this means is sometimes having to play several games in close succession, something the Lumberjacks faced this past week as they competed in five games over eight days.

While they finished a respectable 2-3 over that period against some tough section opponents, it is clear from the intensity of their play start to finish that they do not like to lose. This exciting team will be dangerous in the playoffs should they find consistency in scoring.

The 'Jacks recent five game run began Tuesday, Sept. 17 at home against a very opportunistic Superior team. The Spartans began by controlling play on the CEC half of the field for the first five minutes; after that, the ball-control prize went to the 'Jacks as they possessed the ball for the majority of the remaining 75 minutes. But CEC was not able to capitalize early after generating some great scoring opportunities.

The Spartans led 3-0 before the 'Jacks were able to finally score on a penalty kick from Drake Schram. Despite a furious effort the last 25 minutes of the match, they fell to the Spartans 3-1.

Thursday found them on the road in Proctor. The 'Jacks found themselves down 1-0 midway through before Schram scored the first of his three goals. The Rails increased their pressure but a successful penalty kick from Schram as well as a tough collision between one of the Rails stronger midfielders and 'Jacks defender Henry Slater seemed to sap their energy as the final was 3-1 CEC.

The Lumberjacks returned home Saturday with North Branch, a solid 3-0 win.

CEC returned to play Monday on the road against section power Duluth Denfeld. It was an incredibly exciting game to watch with the 'Jacks sustaining intense pressure on the Hunters keeper as the second half progressed, but to no avail.

The majority of the scoring occurred in the first half, with the Hunters going up 1-0 early in the game and the 'Jacks responding shortly after to make it 1-1. The Hunters tallied two additional times before the 'Jacks were able to cut the lead to 3-2 to end the half. A strong 'Jacks start in the first couple minutes of the second half was countered with a steal and a strong shot buried in the back of the net for a 4-2 final.

The team was in Grand Rapids Tuesday and another hard-fought loss, 2-0.

The 'Jacks have three more games before playoffs, all at home. Their overall record now sits at 6-7. They play Hermantown at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept 28, Chisago Lakes in a make-up game at 4:45 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30 and finish up against Proctor at 6:45 p.m.