The Crookston Pirates Boys Soccer team scored two second-half goals and use strong defense down the stretch to secure their second win of the season 2-1 over Detroit Lakes in a Section 8A match played at the Crookston High School Soccer Field.
Crookston received a boost with the return of Logan Wardner in net with the senior providing a major defensive boost for the Pirates’ backline while recording 14 saves in the scoreless first half. “He’s a good, solid keeper,” explained Crookston head coach Don Cox. “Having him in there, I think the defense was able to concentrate on the attacks and keeping the attacks away.”
In the second-half, Crookston took the lead at 48:03 when Eric Delorme headed a shot into the net off a corner kick sent in by Mason LaPlante giving the Pirates a 1-0 lead. “It was a corner kick,” noted Cox, “it got pushed in, just headed in there. Their keeper was over on the far post and the header was along the near post, on the corner kick side.” Crookston added a second goal just 6 minutes later when Sam Overgaard received a pass from Eric Delorme and fired a shot past the Detroit Lakes goalkeeper to give Crookston a 2-0 lead. “It was another good one,” explained Cox, “we got a nice feed from Delorme. It was just some good pressure going down the side and a cross to the center which (Sam Overgaard) was able to get in.” Detroit Lakes rallied later in the match when Cole Metelak received an assist from Kale Omang and beat Wardner for the Lakers lone goal to cut the deficit to 2-1 with just under twelve minutes remaining. Wardner would hunker down the remainder of the match recording eight second-half saves for twenty-two total to help Crookston secure the 2-1 win. “We played pretty well,” summarized Cox, “They play aggressive, their fast. Our d-line held pretty well, and I was able to make subs. We got knocked around and knocked down and there were more than enough yellow cards today, but that’s kind of the way things go whether you play down there or play up there.”
Crookston improves to 2-6 on the season and will return to the pitch on Thursday when Crookston travels to East Grand Forks for a 7 p.m. kickoff. Detroit Lakes drops to 3-6.
Logan Wardner makes one of his 22 saves in the game
| 1st | 2nd | Final | |
| Detroit Lakes | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| CROOKSTON | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Mason LaPlante brings the ball upfield in the second half
Scoring
48:03 – Crox – Eric Delorme (Mason LaPlante)
53:55 – Crox – Sam Overgaard (Eric Delorme)
68:43 – DL – Cole Matelak (Kale Omang)
| Saves | 1st | 2nd | Total |
| Logan Wardner – Crox | 14 | 8 | 22 |
| Trey Seebold – DL | 2 | 6 | 8 |
