sports

SCORING SURGE LEADS CROOKSTON GIRL’S SOCCER PAST PELICAN RAPIDS

September 24, 2019

The Crookston Pirate Girl’s Soccer team scored six goals, including a hattrick from Makenze Epema, in a 6-2 win over Pelican Rapids in a Section 8A game played at the Crookston High School Soccer Fields.

The game started poorly for Crookston as Pelican Rapids’ Tatianna Wiley scored just 20-seconds into match giving the Vikings a 1-0 lead. Cassie Solheim tied the score 9:00 into the match with an assist from Sophia Sanders leveling the score at 1-1. Cassie Solheim scored her second goal of the game eight minutes later giving the Pirates a 2-1 lead. Makenze Epema slotted a pass from Anke Wiersma in the 25th minute pushing Crookston’s lead to 3-1. “We had three goals that all basically came from the same general area on the field,” explained Crookston head coach Sarah Reese. “On the right-hand side, about ten to fifteen yards out. Really, super nice passes. We played the field from left-middle-right, we played the field across today, and it was super evident in those first three goals. We had two goals by Cassie (Solheim) and a goal by Kenze (Epema). We had great assists on those goals. Great teamwork and good passing through the middle and good through balls that resulted in goals because we kept the ball at our feet, we put our head up and put the ball in the net.” In the 30th minute, Clara Meyer scored with an assist from Keona Arnold for the Pirates’ fourth goal of the first half and a 4-1 lead. Tatianna Wiley scored her second goal just before halftime firing a shot inside the near post right before the halftime horn sound trimming Pelican Rapids’ deficit to 4-2 at halftime.

Crookston was poised in the second half with a defensive adjustment keeping the Vikings off the scoreboard for the final 40 minutes. “They played a run-and-gun style of ball where they used the length of the field to try and boot it,” said Reese. “They have a girl who has a lot of speed up front as their front-runner. Their tactic was to play a deep defense and try and rocket it for her to run onto, and when she was able to get the ball and turn and be forward-facing, it was a foot race. She won most of those races (in the first half). So at halftime, we talked about marking her up and not allowing her to turn, but rather be right on her backside and take up her space. That proved to be very effective in the second half.” Makenze Epema scored her second goal 52:00 into the match set up by a pass from Cassie Solheim into the 6-yard box which Epema struck into the net giving the Pirates a 5-2 lead. Epema and Solheim teamed up once more nine minutes later as Epema completed her hattrick and closed out the scoring in Crookston’s 6-2 win. “It was really exciting for her to get a hattrick,” noted Reese. “Unfortunately, she’s having a knee that’s being a little problematic right now, but you would never know it. She really was playing with lots of persistence and poise. She kept the ball at her feet. She was not only taking her opportunities but distributing for her teammates. She has this knack for always being at the right place at the right time.” Reese Swanson was aggressive in goal for the Pirates in the second half making four saves in addition to a few clearances outside the box to preserve a second half shutout in Crookston’s victory. “It was really exciting,” summarized Reese. “We’ve played teams that are very good. Bemidji had a roster that was full of juniors and seniors. We’ve played teams that are incredibly talented, and I keep telling our girls, ‘you are just as talented as every other team, but you have to bring your ‘A’ game,’ we have to bring one-hundred percent effort because when we do that, really good things happen.”

Crookston improves to 2-10 on the season. The Pirates return to the pitch on Friday when Crookston hosts Hibbing at 3:30 P.M. Pelican Rapids falls to 1-6.

	1st	2nd	Final
Pelican Rapids	2	0	2
CROOKSTON	4	2	6

Scoring
0:20 – PR – Tatianna Wiley
9:00 – CROX – Cassie Solheim (Sophia Sanders)
17:00 – CROX – Cassie Solheim
25:00 – CROX – Makenze Epema (Anke Wiersma)
30:00 – CROX – Clara Meyer (Keona Arnold)
39:59 – PR – Tatianna Wiley
52:00 – CROX – Makenze Epema (Cassie Solheim)
61:00 – CROX – Makenze Epema (Cassie Solheim)