The Crookston Pirate Boys Soccer team found themselves down early, but three second-half goals would propel them past the Lakers, in a match played in Detroit Lakes.
FIRST HALF –
The first ten minutes of the match saw Detroit Lakes have most of the possession. They put two shots on goal but Blake Melsa saved both of them. Crookston had their first chance in the tenth minute with a shot from Brandon Tanquist, but it was saved by the Laker goalie Erick Ziegler. Lucas Miller had a chance with a breakaway but he was called offsides. Three minutes later, Zeke Blough took a pass from Tyler Pratt, broke through the Crookston defense, and scored after making a nice move on Melsa.
After the Laker goal, the Pirates started to put pressure on the Laker net. At the 16th minute, Crookston got a penalty kick but the shot was saved. A few minutes later, Carter Trudeau had a great centering pass but it was scooped up by Ziegler. A minute later, Reggie Winjum had a nice shot, but Ziegler made another save. At the 27th minute, Miller had a breakaway chance, but the keeper came out and saved it to keep it 1-0 Lakers. Detroit Lakes would finally get another opportunity with a free kick from about 20 yards out in the 29th minute, but the shot went high.
The last ten minutes of the half saw mostly Crookston possession and chances. Caden Boike had a shot that Ziegler leaped and tipped in order to prevent the goal. This brought up a corner kick, but Detroit Lakes was able to clear it. At the 33th minute, Boike gave a nice pass to Isaiah Olivaras but his opportunity was saved. At the 36th minute, Crookston had a free kick that led to a corner kick, but were unable to capitalize. In the closing seconds Crookston got one last chance on another free kick but it was also unsuccessful, leaving the score at 1-0 Lakers going into the break.
SECOND HALF –
Detroit Lakes came out and immediately put pressure on the Pirate goal. Jaxon Borash had a shot that was wide of going in by mere inches. Crookston went on the offensive shortly after, with a pair of shots on goal in the 43rd and 45th minute, but they were both saved. For the next 15 minutes of game time, both teams had equal possession and sparce scoring chances.
Things picked up in the 62nd minute with Detroit Lakes getting a free kick. The match up to that point was slowly getting more physical, and some frustration boiled over as coach Lon Boike was given a yellow card for arguing the call. Detroit Lakes were unable to capitalize on the free kick and a couple minutes later, Jack Everett found Caden Boike on the breakaway and he would score to tie the game at 1-1.
The next five minutes saw even play before Crookston got two corner kicks in the 71st minute. Neither attempt was successful and a minute later, Crookston would receive another yellow card, this time on Carter Trudeau. Detroit Lakes would try and use this gain some momentum, as at the 73rd minute they got their first corner kick of the game. Melsa was able to save the corner kick opportunity and keep the Lakers off the scoreboard.
With the score still tied at 1-1, Miller would get a chance as he received a pass from Erickson at the 75th minute. Miller would score on a nice shot that just barely snuck by the goalie’s right side. It was only one minute later when Boike would get another opportunity with a breakaway and shot. It was saved, but he forced a penalty kick, and it was buried to give Crookston the 3-1 lead. Crookston continued to keep most of the possession in the last few minutes, as they cruised the rest of the way.
Crookston improve to 2-2-1 and head to Bemidji on Monday. Detroit Lakes falls to 0-5.
TO LISTEN TO PIRATES COACH LON BOIKE’S COMMENTS, CLICK BELOW:
| 1st | 2nd | Final | |
| Crookston | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Detroit Lakes | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Scoring –
15:00-DL-Zeke Blough (Tyler Pratt)
63:00-Crox-Caden Boike (Jack Everett)
75:00-Crox-Lucas Miller (Jack Everett)
76:00-Crox-Caden Boike (penalty kick)
| SAVES | 1 | 2 | Final |
| Blake Melsa – Crox | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Erick Ziegler – DL | 12 | 9 | 21 |
