CROOKSTON BOYS SOCCER SHUTOUT BY HILLCREST ACADEMY

The Crookston Pirate Boy’s Soccer team’s offensive woes continued as the Fergus Falls Hillcrest Academy Comets cruised to a 9-0 victory at the Crookston High School soccer field. “We didn’t get off to a very good start and we had some guys down today and that showed a little bit,” said Pirates Coach Lon Boike.

FIRST HALF
The scoring started very quickly with the Comets scoring 30 seconds into the match when Steffen Synnevaag scored off a throw-in from Gabe Swedenburg. The Pirates almost had a quick answer when Jack Garmen got behind the defense but just got a little under the ball on his shot and it flew over the crossbar. The Comets netted another goal just 90 seconds after their first from Abram Ness who made a few nice dribble moves through the defense to make it 2-0. “We were missing Evan Christensen who is the anchor for our defense and that showed early,” said Coach Boike. Hillcrest Academy got another pair of goals within 90 seconds of each other about 15 minutes later. Synnevaag got his second goal on a pass from Simon Kleven after a corner kick and then Kleven notched a goal for himself on a through-ball from Ness. The Pirates were able to create a couple of opportunities for a goal, yet could only manage the one shot early in the half as they trailed by four after 40 minutes. “We had some other chances and it easily could have been around 4-2 at halftime, but it wasn’t,” added Coach Boike. “It just kind of snowballed from there.”

SECOND HALF
After getting 16 shots, eleven on goal, in the first half, Hillcrest Academy matched those totals in the second half, continuing to pressure the Pirate defense. “They are a good team. They are strong, pass well, and just a good ball club,” explained Coach Boike. We aren’t very big… we’ve got freshman and sophomores out there, but it’s a good learning experience for them.” The Comets got their fifth goal 40 seconds into the second half with Synnevaag earning a hat trick on a pass from Endre Okland. The Comets continued to find the back of the net in the second half scoring four more goals. The goals came from Swedenburg, Ness, and two from Okland. Even with the wind at their backs, the Pirates did not possess the ball often in the second half. The Comets defense was strong and stayed disciplined to prevent any breakaways for the Pirates’ forwards. “We have to get better. We have to get better in the off-season which a lot of these other teams do,” added Coach Boike. “I know we have a lot of other sports like basketball, wrestling, baseball and all that, but we have to get better and we will.”

The Pirates fall to 0-10 this season. They will be back on the field on Friday at Hibbing and on Saturday at Mesabi East looking for that first win. “We are going to have a good trip over there,” said Coach Boike. “We beat those teams a couple years ago and maybe the overnight trip will help us.”
Hillcrest Academy improves to 8-2-1 this year.

Scoring
0:30 – FFHA- Steffen Synnevaag (Gabe Swedenburg)
2:00 – FFHA- Abram Ness
17:39 – FFHA- Steffen Synnevaag (Simon Kleven)
19:00 – FFHA- Simon Kleven (Abram Ness)
40:40 – FFHA- Steffen Synnevaag (Endre Okland)
45:30 – FFHA- Gabe Swedenburg (Juin Moon)
59:45 – FFHA- Abram Ness (Gave Swedenburg)
73:00 – FFHA- Endre Okland
78:45 – FFHA- Endre Okland (Simon Kleven)