'Jacks bow out of State tourney

It was déjà vu all over again for the Cloquet/Carlton girls' soccer team at the Class AA state quarterfinal Wednesday night. After winning the Section 7AA tournament last week in a shoot-out, the Lumberjacks ended up in the exact same situation against Orono in the first game of the state tournament. The game ended tied at 1 through regulation and through overtime before Orono scored four goals to the Lumberjacks' three in the shootout to win.

"I thought that after we got behind early and we made it to halftime, that the girls really came out and played hard in the second half," said Cloquet/Carlton coach Dustin Randall.

After trailing much of the game, the 'Jacks were finally able to get a ball in the net with only two minutes left in regulation.

"We were carrying the play at the end of the game and had all the momentum, so we liked our chances as the game wore on," Randall said.

Orono struck first, just seven minutes into the game. Kali Schmidt was sent in all alone against 'Jacks goalkeeper Rylee Senich on a pass from Madeline Dent, making the score 1-0 in favor of the Spartans. The first half ended with Orono maintaining their one-goal lead. Cloquet/Carlton had two shots on Orono's net, while the Spartans put seven shots on Senich.

Early in the second half Schmidt, the Spartans top goal scorer, went down with what appeared to be a knee injury, causing Orono to have to change its offensive configuration. As the second half played on, the 'Jacks got better and better and started to carry the play as the field tilted in their favor.

With two minutes left, 'Jacks junior Lauren Hughes sent the ball out front on a corner kick connection with Makena Smith, who headed it in the Orono goal. The game was tied at 1. Neither team scored in the remaining minute and the two teams headed into overtime.

Both sides also failed to score in two 10-minute overtime sessions and both also missed their first of five penalty kicks each. However, Orono goalkeeper Zoe Lopez stopped one attempt - a shot by Hughes - to give the Spartans the advantage. The game finally ended on the 10th and final penalty kick, when Anika Fortin got the ball by Senich to give Orono the victory.

"We sent out the same shooters as we did in the section finals," said Randall. "It just wasn't meant to be. It stings right now, but I think when we step back and look at this season we can all be proud of what this group accomplished."

The Lumberjacks will graduate nine seniors in a group that made it to state every year they've been in high school.

"It is a fun group with a lot of personalities," Randall said. "We had a lot of fun at our team dinner today and they've been enjoying the moment. They all have done a lot for this program. I just feel blessed and fortunate to be able to coach in this community."

Cloquet/Carlton wraps up the season with a record of 15-3-1. With the win, Orono advances to the semifinals on Oct. 29 against No. 1 seed Academy of Holy Angels.