The Jamestown (N.D.) Bluejays Boy’s Soccer team scored two goals in the first half and survived Crookston’s late offensive pressure in a 2-1 win in a non-Section game played on the Crookston High School Soccer Field.
Both teams battled sloppy field conditions and a brisk wind in the first half, but only Jamestown was able to score. 28:50 into the first half, Cullin Bennett sent a cross into the box setting up a Jaden Christ saved shot, but Kael Jenison followed the loose ball and slotted it into the net giving the Bluejays a 1-0 lead. The lead doubled just before halftime after Zach Lunde chased down the ball towards the far post and blasted a shot into the top of the net giving the visitors a 2-0 halftime lead in the 39th minute. Crookston goalkeeper Kaleb Thingelstad did well in goal to minimize the damage stopping seven shots in the first half. “The conditions didn’t help us on both goals,” explained Crookston head coach Lon Boike. “We had guys slipping and getting out of position, and they were able to sneak it in. On the other hand, we had some opportunities. Their keeper came up with some really nice saves. It could’ve been 2-2 at halftime quite easily.”
In the second half, both sides battle the elements as much as each other. Kaleb Thingelstad faced just two shots in the final 40 minutes stopping both. ” He’s a pretty athletic guy,” said Boike of his goalkeeper. “He has some quickness to him and sure hands. He’s done a really nice job in goal this year for a first-time goaltender.” Jamestown goalkeeper Jay Kupitz saved six shots to keep Crookston scoreless heading into the final minutes. With 1:05 left to play in the match, Noah Kiel took a pass from Ben Brantner and put his shot in the net cutting the Pirates’ deficit down to 2-1 going into the match’s final minute. “That was exciting for us,” added Boike. “I thought in the last five minutes of the game, and even one of the officials said if, ‘if you play like that five minutes all the time, you’ll be a lot better.’ It was good for (Noah Kiel) to get that goal. He missed a couple of other shots tonight, so it was good for him to bury that one. We got a little momentum on our side in the last minute there. We made it exciting. We just couldn’t tie it up.” Crookston’s comeback effort ran out of time as Jamestown hung on for a 2-1 win. “We spent quite a bit of time in practice yesterday working on different things,” noted Boike, “I think that carried over into the match today. We’d still like to be a better passing team. We now take some confidence with us going into Saturday at Bemidji. They are a really good ball club, so we’re going to have our hands full over there.”
Crookston falls to 0-6 and returns to the pitch on Saturday when the Pirates travel to Bemidji to play the Lumberjacks at 3:00 P.M. Jamestown improves to 7-1-1.
| 1st | 2nd | Final | |
| Jamestown | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| CROOKSTON | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Scoring
28:50 – Jamestown – Kael Jenison (Jaden Christ)
38:45 – Jamestown – Zach Lunde
78:55 – Crookston – Noah Kiel (Ben Brantner)
| Saves | 1st | 2nd | Total |
| Jay Kupitz – Jamestown | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| Kaleb Thingelstad – Crox | 7 | 2 | 9 |
