The Crookston Pirate Girls Soccer team struggled offensively in a conference game played in Bemidji against the Lumberjacks. Bemidji’s Lily Paquette scored four goals on the day as Bemidji cruised to a 5-0 victory.
FIRST HALF –
Bemidji wasted no time putting pressure on the Pirate goal, and 55 seconds into the match, Lily Paquette found the back of the net to give the Lumberjacks the 1-0 lead. Bemidji continued to put unrelenting pressure for the next seven minutes, and in the eighth minute, Paquette scored off of a corner kick. Paquette already had a hat trick brewing, and she would complete it in the 15th minute after she scored off of a pass from Imrie Mistic, giving Bemidji a 3-0 lead.
Crookston struggled to find consistent possession, so it was up to Cassie Solheim, who was playing in relief of Reese Swanson, to make saves, and she was up to the task. Solheim made several excellent saves to keep the Lumberjacks from furthering their lead. Bemidji switched out their goalie about 27 minutes into the game.
Crookston began to play much better defensively as the half went on. Bemidji could not get as many chances due to great clears and 50/50 wins from Crookston. About 34 minutes into the match, Crookston had their first offensive chance as they found themselves with the numbers advantage in the Bemidji zone. Bemidji was able to clear it before the Pirates got a shot off. Neither team dominated possession for the last five minutes. The Lumberjacks had one more chance to score as they had a free kick from about 30 yards out with 20 seconds left, but Solheim was able to save it, and the half ended with Bemidji ahead 3-0.
SECOND HALF –
Bemidji started the half by putting pressure on the Crookston goal. At about three minutes into the match, Paquette almost scored her fourth goal, but it went over the net, despite a round of applause from the crowd thinking that she had made it. Crookston got it into the offensive zone 10 minutes into the half, but the goalie scooped it up before a Pirate could get a shot off.
Crookston continued to play good defense, keeping the Lumberjacks off the board for the first 20 minutes of the half. Bemidji continued to dominate possession, but the Pirates made good clears, and Solheim continued to make saves. Bemidji had a chance to put the game away in the 62nd minute with Hannah Voge getting a shot off, but Solheim blocked it and saved the rebound. Voge would have another chance in the 65th minute, but Solheim made an excellent double save to keep the game 3-0. One minute later, Paquette had another opportunity to get her fourth goal, but the shot went wide. She would finally breakthrough for her fourth in the 68th minute, as she received a pass from Katherine Corradi, slipped past the defense, and put her shot in the net, and Bemidji took a 4-0 lead.
Crookston played strong defense for the rest of the half as neither team dominated possession. Paquette almost scored her fifth goal with about 10 left in the game, and shortly after that, her day was done as a reward for her excellent performance. With nearly one minute left, Makayla Meza received a pass from Brynn Meyer, giving her an open look in front of the Crookston net, and she would hit it off the crossbar and into the net to Bemidji the 5-0 lead. The game would end shortly after, and the Pirates would fall by 5-0.
Crookston falls to 3-5-1 on the season and heads to Fergus Falls to take on Hillcrest Academy. Bemidji improves to 5-3 on the season.
To listen to Sarah Reese’s post-match comments, click below:
| 1st | 2nd | Final | |
| Crookston | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bemidji | 3 | 2 | 5 |
Scoring –
0:55-Bemidji-Lily Paquette
8:00-Bemidji-Lily Paquette (Kate Halden)
15:00-Bemidji-Lily Paquette (Imrie Mistic)
68:00-Bemidji-Lily Paquette (Addy MaCrady)
79:00-Bemdiji-Makayla Meza (Brynn Meyer)
| SAVES | 1 | 2 | Final |
| Cassie Solhiem – Crox | 5 | 10 | 15 |
| Clara Bieber – Bemidji | 0 | – | 0 |
| Hayden Seitz – Bemidji | 0 | 0 | 0 |
