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Rivals play an intense match on Cloquet turf
Elise Boyd-Affias (center) tries to break up a rush by Esko's Celia Preiner while Cloquet goalkeeper Allison Hammond comes out of the net to challenge and make a save in Tuesday's soccer match in Cloquet.
Esko's Whitney Hanson and Cloquet's Adeline Randall compete for the ball during Tuesday's match.
Natalia Hernandez, left, and Makenzie Lynch move toward a pumped Lauren Hughes after she scored a goal in the 17th minute against Esko.
Neighboring rivals Cloquet and Esko did battle for the first time at the Members Cooperative Credit Union athletic complex Tuesday in Cloquet. It was a wild 1-0 win for the Lumberjacks.
"I really believe these are two of the better teams in the area," said Esko coach Sharon Lahti. "You know every year it is going to be a battle, and it was again tonight."
Esko came into Tuesday night's fray with a 2-0 record, with wins over Cambridge-Isanti and Proctor. The Lumberjacks sported a 1-1 record with a win over St. Francis, and a loss to Two Rivers High School of Mendota Heights in the Twin Cities area. Two Rivers was formerly known as Henry Sibley High School.
Both teams had chances early in the affair, but defenders and goaltenders on both sides clamped down to keep the ball out of the net until an amazing play put the 'Jacks ahead at the 22-minute mark.
The play started with a long pass out of the Cloquet/Carlton end of the field that sent sophomore Makenzie Lynch on a long run down the right side. Lynch took a long shot that was saved by Esko goalie Hannah Roemer, a junior. The ball eventually found its way to Adeline Randall. The junior centered the ball in front of the net, but Roemer managed to punch the shot away from the goal. The ball popped out front to junior Lauren Hughes about 10 yards away from the net. Hughes, who was facing away from the net, flicked the ball over her head backwards and the ball settled into the goal for a 1-0 Cloquet/Carlton lead.
"It was a good, quality goal by the team and Lauren," said 'Jacks coach Dustin Randall. "The goalie made multiple stops in that sequence and eventually Lauren made a great play to score and give us the lead."
The rest of the game saw both teams counterattacking with a vengeance, but neither squad was able to score despite top-notch opportunities.
The best chance for Esko came with 13 minutes remaining, when Celia Preiner had a mini breakaway, but Cloquet goalie Allison Hammond came flying out of the net to meet Preiner as the Esko senior started to shoot the ball. Hammond managed to stuff the shot and keep the 'Jacks in the lead.
"We are blessed with several good goalies this year," Coach Randall said. "Allie got her shot in goal tonight, and made some great saves that kept us in the game."
With a little over three minutes remaining, Hammond made another save on a high shot that bounced high in the air and off her hands toward the net, but before the ball crossed the goal line she was able to latch on to it and snuff out the Esko attack.
After the game, the game's sole scorer was happy with the win.
"Esko is always a fun competitive game, and a team win always feels good," Hughes said.
Both teams had questions coming into the game, and for Esko, much of their questions centered around who would patrol midfield after losing two players to the Division II college ranks after last season.
"That was a big question mark for us coming into the season," said Lahti. "I thought our midfielders played well, and Preiner really came to play for us tonight as did the others in that position."
The win improved the Lumberjacks record to 2-1 on the season and the loss also drops Esko to 2-1 on the season. Cloquet will play next at home Thursday against Alexandria while Esko will play next Tuesday against Hibbing.
