'Jacks win title in shootout

It was a battle.

After a full game and two 10-minute overtimes, the Cloquet/Carlton vs. Hermantown Section 7AA championship girls' soccer game hinged on goaltending and penalty shots. Fortunately for the Lumberjacks, they have one of the best goalies in the state in Rylee Senich. Between Senich and shooters who had ice in their veins, Cloquet/Carlton pulled out a dramatic 1-1 tie and 4-2 shootout to beat the Hawks and earn a trip to State.

"It was very scary going into the shootout," Senich said. "We practice penalty kicks almost every day and I think that really helped. Penalty kicks are just kind of a guessing game and you sometimes just get lucky."

Hermantown shot first in the shootout round and Senich stuffed Mya Gunderson, giving the 'Jacks some fire and hope after struggling to beat a good Hermantown squad.

"After I made that first save, I thought maybe, 'We're gonna win this,'" Senich said.

Ironically, Hermantown decided to pull their starting goalie, Lucy Critcheley, in the shootout and play junior goalie Cabrila Thomas in her place, so Thomas came off the bench cold.

The 'Jacks first shooter was Makena Smith, who had scored Cloquet/Carlton's lone goal in regulation. Smith calmly tucked the ball inside the post, putting the 'Jacks up by one in the penalty-kick scenario. After Hermantown tied it on their second shot, the Lumberjacks sent in Clare French, who had not played in regulation. The senior calmly stepped up and buried her shot.

"I don't know why they made the goalie move, but we also had a player who hadn't played come in during the shootout and French buried her shot," said Cloquet/Carlton coach Dustin Randall. "She's one of our best 'PK' shooters and she showed why when it counted."

The Hawks and the 'Jacks continued the shootout with Hermantown getting a goal by Sidney Shubitz and Cloquet/Carlton by Allie Jones. At that point, three rounds were complete with the Lumberjacks holding a 3-2 lead.

Hermantown elected to let Vienna Kolenda shoot, but the sophomore overshot the crossbar, giving Cloquet/Carlton a chance to win it on a shot by junior sensation Lauren Hughes. Hughes promptly powered the ball into the back of the net, giving the 'Jacks their sixth straight 7AA title. Hughes appeared stunned, as if she didn't know she had just given her team the win.

"Ever since I was little, I've played for coach Randall," Hughes said. "Every year we get in these game situations and I would miss the PK and he kept sending me out anyway. He did that again tonight and I made it and I was in shock after I realized we had won."

The game was tight throughout, with Cloquet/Carlton holding a slight edge in play in the first half. They eventually took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Smith off an assist by Hughes just over 10 minutes into the second half.

"That first goal kind of just happened," Smith said. "The goalie called it and their defender just kind of touched it down, and I just told myself don't shoot it over the net, because I happen to do that sometimes."

Hermantown tied the game a minute and half later on a goal by Kaija Markovich. From that point on, the Hawks carried the play to the 'Jacks, but the Cloquet/Carlton defensive line held Hermantown off the board despite a number of close chances. That led to overtime and ultimately, a shootout.

"That is not the way we wrote the game up," Randall said on the field after the game. "Hermantown really played well tonight and they really got after us. Honestly, we are fortunate to come out with the win."

In the end, the 'Jacks proved their resiliency by trusting their defense and their goalie.

"We know what Rylee can do when she's on her game," Randall said. "She hung in there the whole game, took a few knocks and I am proud of her."

The win improved the Cloquet/Carlton record to 15-2-1 on the season. The Lumberjacks will find out Saturday where they're seeded and who and where they will play in the 7AA state tournament next week.