Goalie saves the day for Esko

It came down to the goalies and just which one could make the key save in a thrilling shootout Tuesday night in the Section 7A championship between Esko and Marshall. A berth in the state tournament was on the line on the Esko pitch.

Esko and Marshall are two teams that look like mirror images of each other. They have speed and scoring and solid goaltending and defensive back lines. On Tuesday night the goalies and defense stood strong as a scoreless match went to 100 minutes with double overtime.

Esko finally clinched the chess match in a 3-2 shootout.

"We had some great opportunities and at times I thought 'What is going on?'" said Esko coach Sharon Lahti. "It was just a great game and then it ends up going to double overtime and finally a shootout."

Esko goalie Hanna Roemer rose to the occasion.

"Hanna was magnificent. A lot of that is due to the fact that we now have a goalkeeper coach for her," Lahti said. "She's getting more and more confidence and it showed tonight."

The Hilltoppers lost starting goalie Emma Johnson to what appeared to be a concussion-type injury in the first half. Bella Baker stepped in to keep the game scoreless after regular and overtime play.

The game took a twist in the shootout as Marshall elected to have Nina Thorson step in as the goalie. Thorson is one of the best athletes in the area and is a star hockey player during the winter months.

"I commend their coach for making that move because Nina is such a great athlete," Lahti said. "I would have done the same thing."

Esko shot first and Britta Koski drilled the a ball past Thorson, who then came out of the goal as Marshall's first shooter. She promptly tied it.

Reese Kuklinski of Esko was stopped by Thorson in the second round of the shootout and Marshall gained the upper hand when Sam Grosnik scored to make it 2-1.

Momentum switched toward Esko in the third round when Kaitlyn McConnell buried a shot, tying the shootout at 2-2 after Marshall's Aubrey Johnson was stopped by Roemer.

"We work on shootouts all year long even though shootouts only happen in the playoffs," Lahti said.

Neither team scored in the fourth round, as Liberty Clifford of Esko had her shot bang off the post and Julia McGiffert of was stopped by Roemer.

"It was an amazing save by Hanna," Lahti said. "She made a diving save to her left and then it tipped off her and then hit the post. That was a huge swing for the team and a big boost in her confidence."

In the fifth round, Esko's Kenna Lammi scored on Thorson, meaning if Roemer was able to make one more stop, her team was bound for State. Roemer shined again, denying Sophie Olek and sending the Esko faithful into a wild celebration.

"I told Hanna after the game that this is life changing for her," Lahti said. "I've been around the program a long time and this is the first time since I've been involved that we won on penalty kicks."

The win pushes Esko into the Minnesota State Class A Girls Soccer Tournament for the third straight season.

"I am not usually very emotional, but I have to admit I shed some tears after the game," Lahti said. "We've been through a lot of ups and downs this year, it was great to see the happy emotions after we won."

Esko will learn the time, place and identity of their first round State opponent sometime on Saturday.