Pirate Girl’s Soccer gets first win while shutting out Fergus Falls Hillcrest

The Crookston Pirate Girls Soccer team had a lot of excitement and nerves as they played the opening game at the new KROX Radio Stadium in Crookston and came away with their first win of the season by beating Fergus Falls Hillcrest Academy, 2-0.

FIRST HALF –
Mady Knutson kicked off the game for the Pirates and it resulted in an immediate offensive chance. Hattie Weiland had an early breakaway chance in the first few seconds, but Hillcrest goalkeeper McKinlee Ballweg came out of the net to make the save. Moments later, lightning would strike for the Pirates on offense. In the 2nd minute, Hattie Weiland was able to find the back of the net, giving Crookston a 1-0 lead. She was assisted on the goal by Kinsley Wangen. Pirates head coach Sarah Reese commended the early grit of the offense. “We’ve been a little more of a sit back kind of offense and wait for the perfect shot, but there is no perfect shot in soccer,” she explained. “And so today, they were gritty, they were first to the ball, and they were persistent.” Crookston’s defense was tested on the following possession, as it was played mostly on the Hillcrest offensive end. Maddie Harbott and Lilli Bridgeford were able to break up some passing lanes, before the ball was kicked out of bounds. There was a run of throw-ins followed by stalemates on the sidelines, as Crookston slowly advanced the ball into their offensive third of the field. The Comet defense was able to stand tall, and Crookston was unable to capitalize on their chances. In the 15th minute, Hillcrest was able to get back on offense. A long shot from Kathryn Holzner of the Comets bounced over the head of the Pirate defense, and into the hands of Crookston goalkeeper Naomi Johnson in the 16th minute. The ensuing punt ended up with the Comets taking possession, and a long kick out of bounds ended the possession. Crookston’s great passing in the middle third highlighted the next several minutes, with the Pirate defense holding strong when tried. In the 20th minute, the Comets were able to sustain possession in Crookston territory, with the tandem of Brooklyn Waldal and Myriah Epema fending off Hillcrest’s Alexa Ewan in the corners. Crookston was able to clear it out and briefly get back on offense, but the Comets would get a steal in the 22nd minute. They would not be able to escape the Pirate defense in the corners, as Crookston was able to hold up and force Hillcrest to send the ball out of bounds. A handball against Crookston in the 26th minute gave Hillcrest a free kick, but the Comets were unable to make the most of the chance on offense. Moments later, the Comets had a chance off a throw in from the middle of the field. A long pass from Hillcrest’s Kathryn Holzner was overshot, and the ball bounced into the hands of Naomi Johnson again. In the 32nd minute, Hillcrest had a chance. A Pirate possession was stopped in their offensive third, as Ava Lindgren of the Comets was able to beat Epuma on a pass to Dakota Campbell. Campbell had a breakaway chance and shot into the upper left corner of the net, but Johnson read it perfectly and made the save. “Today, [Johnson] had to have very good decision making, since she didn’t see as many shots. But when they did, they were balls where the goalie had to decide whether to stay on her line or come out,” Reese explained. “She did an excellent job.” The Hillcrest offense kept applying pressure in the next few minutes, with Johnson picking up another save in front of the net. The Comets had another opportunity on the sideline from Campbell, but Epema got in the way of a centering pass to make the stop. Crookston spent the final few minutes of the half on defense, but their tight and patient coverage limited any chances for Hillcrest to fire any shots.

SECOND HALF –
With the field flipped, the Pirates would play with the wind on their side for the rest of the way.The Comets took the kickoff to open the half, but struggled to beat Crookston’s transition defense in the middle third of the field. Moments later, another long comet kick outran both teams, and Naomi Johnson ran out from the goal to pick up another stop. A Johnson punt found Lilli Bridgeford in the 44th minute. Bridgeford found Waldal across midfield on the sidelines, but there was nowhere for her to go but out of bounds. Crookston would later have a chance at a corner kick, but it fell short and was cleared out by the Hillcrest defense. Crookston would continue keeping the ball away from Hillcrest in the middle third, until a penalty against the Comets resulted in a Maddie Harbott kick from just across midfield. The kick did not make it past the wall of Hillcrest defenders, and was later kicked out of bounds by the Pirates. Crookston’s defense would see some action in the 50th minute, as an open Comet found herself in front of the goal. Unfortunately for Hillcrest, the Pirate defense kept the ball down the sidelines and forced a pass out of bounds. Moments later, another long Hillcrest shot missed wide left of the goal. Johnson’s punt would set up Crookston’s Aubrey Bartrum with a breakaway run for the net, but her shot found the chest of Hillcrest goalkeeper McKinlee Ballweg. The Comets would have an offensive opportunity in the 55th minute, as Dakota Campell sent a long pass to Genevieve Swedenburg in front of the net. Johnson was able to dive on the ball seconds before Swedenburg could attempt a shot, or a cross field pass to Abigail Wutka on her left. Crookston would have an offensive chance of their own in the 57th minute, as some flashy passing gave Jennika Reese a scoring chance. Her shot was broken up by the Comet defense, and the ball ended up sailing wide right. Reese seemed to have a nose for the ball over the course of the next few minutes, as she had many touches in the corners while outrunning Hillcrest defenders.It was a stalemate in the middle of the field for several minutes after that, with the exception of an occasional clearout kick by either defense. In the 68th minute, the Pirate offense was able to make their way back into Comet territory. They would stay there, and in the 70th minute, Jennicka Reese was back in front of the net. As the Hillcrest keeper cheated to her side, Reese passed off to Kinsley Wangen, who would score her first varsity goal off the inside of the crossbar. The goal would put Crookston ahead 2-0, and give them a comfortable lead the rest of the way. ”We absolutely controlled the second half,” commented Reese, “It sealed the deal to get the goal. Kinsley had a fantastic game.” In the final minutes, the Crookston defense played inspired and kept the ball near the middle third of the field. Hillcrest took a few desperation shots in the end from long range, but Pirate defenders were able to chase them down and clear out any threats before they could get near the net. As the clock hit zero, the Pirates began their celebration, exchanging high fives over their first win on the season. “We talked about how we have to put the full package together,” said Reese after the game, “And we did that. We had a very strong start.”

Crookston is 1-7 on the year and will host Hibbing on Friday, September 27. Hillcrestdrops to 2-7 on the year.