In a game that featured three yellow cards, a delayed start and dozens of free kicks, the Crookston Pirates boys‘ soccer team came out on the losing end, as they fell 4-1 to the East Grand Forks Green Wave at KROX Radio Stadium on Friday afternoon.
FIRST HALF –
As the first half got underway, after a delay due to no flags in the corners of the field, both teams had a chance to get a look in the first few minutes, but each goalkeeper showed that they would be playing aggressively throughout the game. As the half wore on, EGF began to step up their game, making great passes and getting good looks. Then, off of a corner kick, Dalentei Rustad blew a shot right by the arms of Colton Osborn, putting the Green Wave up 1-0. A few minutes later, Crookston got a yellow card, which turned into a free kick for the Green Wave. They would take advantage, as Nick Azure put a perfect pass from the sideline right to the head of Elijah Benjamin, who headed it in to make it 2-0. The Pirates got a great look in the final two minutes of the half, as Grant Funk put a great shot on goal, but EGF goalkeeper Alex Link made the save, and the score stayed at 2-0 headed into the second half.
SECOND HALF –
In the beginning of the second half, the Pirates made adjustments. Their defense improved, as they prevented the Green Wave from getting a shot on goal for the first 25 minutes of the half. On offense, the team got a couple good looks, and then Masen Lessard took of with 15 minutes left, and after his first shot was saved, he buried the next one before the ball hit the ground, and that cut the lead to 2-1. The Pirates were hoping that the goal would shift momentum, but unfortunately, EGF was able to score two minutes later on a ball that was never cleared, immediately restoring a 3-1 lead. Three minutes after that, Tarik Almashhadany scored on another ball that wasn’t cleared, giving the Green Wave a 4-1 lead. That would become the dagger; the Pirates got two more yellow cards and one shot on goal in the final 10 minutes, and EGF held on for a 4-1 victory.
Crookston drops to 1-3 on the season, while EGF improves to 1-2-2.
| 1st | 2nd | Final | |
| East Grand Forks | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Crookston | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Scoring –
22:32 – EGF – Dalentei Rustad (Grayson Holweger)
31;06 – EGF – Elijah Benjamin (Nick Azure)
65:01 – Crox – Masen Lessard
67:22 – EGF – Dalentei Rustad
70:35 – EGF – Tarik Almashhadany
| SAVES | 1 | 2 | Final |
| Colton Osborn – Crox | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Alex Link – EGF Evan Matsen – EGF | 3 – | 3 1 | 7 |
