Reese scores two as Pirate Boys Soccer team beats EGF 2-1

The Crookston Pirates boys’ soccer team’s Jay Reese scored two goals to lead his team to a 2-1 victory over the East Grand Forks Green Wave at the East Grand Forks Senior High School field.

FIRST HALF –
Crookston had a great start to the contest, putting pressure on the Green Wave defense from the start. Over four minutes into the game, Crookston’s Carter Fee had a throw-in and got a pass to Jay Reese, who dribbled the ball towards the goal and blasted a kick from about 10 yards from the left side and into the net for a 1-0 lead 4:25 into the game.
A little over 12 minutes into the game, Reese launched a line drive kick from 40 yards out, with the wind at his back, and it was right on goal. The Green Wave keeper got his hands on it and made the save. Crookston continued to dominate play while taking advantage of a strong wind at their backs and had several more scoring chances, but the Green Wave goalie was able to make the saves. East Grand Forks hadn’t had a shot on goal through the first 20 minutes of the game as the Pirate defense didn’t let East Grand Forks get past midfield with the ball more than a couple of times.
East Grand Forks finally got by the Pirate defense and got the ball across the 20-yard line, but the Pirate defense kicked the ball away with about 10 minutes left in the half. Neither team had a quality shot on goal the rest of the half, and Crookston took a 1-0 lead into halftime.

SECOND HALF –
The second half didn’t have a shot on goal for the first 10 minutes of the half and then things would open up the rest of the way. Crookston had a couple chances but there wasn’t a quality scoring chance until half way through the half. Crookston’s Reese got a pass around about 35 yards out and miandered through three Green wave defenders, found an opening and flew by the defnse for a breakaway and lined a kick into the net to give Crookston a 2-0 lead 21 minutes into the half.
East Grand Forks answered less than three minutes later when they had the ball on the sideline and had a beautiful cross and Braden Hipp kicked the ball in to bring EGF within a 2-1 deficit with 15 minutes to go.
A minutes later, Crookston kicked the ball up field and Masen Lessard caught up with the ball and had a breakaway. He let a kick fly from about 20 yards out and it missed the top of the goal by inches and the Pirates still led 2-1.
With seven minutes left in the game, Crookston dumped another long pass up the field and Reese caught up with it around the 30 yard line and veered off to the left and let a kick go from 18 yards out and it went wide right.
The final five minutes were fast and furious with both teams emptying the tank as the Green Wave tried to tie the game and Crookston was trying to get an insurane goal. Nobody had a shot on goal in the final mintues and Crookston won the game 2-1 and should have assured themselves of a first round home playoff game on Tuesday where they should host East Grand Forks or Morris at KROX Radio Stadium.

Crookston improves to 2-7-2 on the year and will host the first round of the Section 8A playoffs on Tuesday. East Grand Forks falls to 1-9 on the year.
J.V. – EGF won 2-0

Click below to listen to Coach Lon Boike’s postgame comments-