Hillcrest Lutheran Academy blanks Crookston at home

The Crookston Pirate Girls Soccer team fall to the Hillcrest Lutheran Academy Comets, 4-0 at home after a 4 goal second half.

FIRST HALF –
Hillcrest received first possession and got to work early, with Kaia Fiskness and Mari Fjeldskaar connecting for a great shot on goal, but Shyuh Burnette denied them with a quick save. The Pirates responded with great offense of their own, with Brooklyn Waldal turning on the speed up the sidelines, before a nice crossing pass to Hailey Fritz who puts it just wide. After some back and forth by both sides and great defensive plays, Brooklyn Waldal and Lainee Wagner combine for two great passing plays that result in another chance on the goal for Wagner. Wagner can’t convert however, and McKinlee Ballweg makes a great save to deny Crookston a score. Hillcrest then put together a great offensive rush of their own, before having it negated by the only offsides call of the first half. Both teams did not budge defensively for the next 15 minutes, with Shyuh Burnette and McKinlee Ballweg each making great saves.

Crookston’s next big offensive chance came with under 10 minutes to go, when Waldal and Fritz pushed through Hillcrest’s backline for two quick shots on goal, blocked by the defense. The ball then trickled to Jennika Reese, who blasted it over the head of Sarah Diniz towards the net. McKinlee Ballweg dove to make the save, and kept the score at 0-0 after 40 minutes.

SECOND HALF –

Crookston was first to have possession, again looking to strike quickly on offense. Good passing by Kira Daniels and Waldal results in another good offensive rush for the Pirates, but a great defensive play by Paisley Garvin results in a rush the other way. With Fjeldskaar bearing down on goal, Burnette misplays the ball, resulting in a wide-open net for Fjeldskaar. However, Knutson rushed all the way back to the goal to make the stop and kept the ball out of the back of the net. Both teams traded defensive stops before the scoreless tie was finally broken by Maggie Mark, who was awarded a free kick in mid-field position. She strikes from 50 yards out, finding the upper corner to break the tie and give the Comets the lead in the 64th minute. Crookston bounces back quickly, putting together another nice offensive rush, but could not convert on a few crucial chances. The Comets rush back down the field, and Mari Fjeldskaar is left wide open to get the defensive steal and scores in the upper-left-hand corner to increase the lead to 2-0 at the 66th minute.

Crookston starts to fail offensively, as they are not able to put together any passing plays, and are stripped of the ball in mid-field by Paisley Garvin, who quickly moves the ball forward to Lauren Markovetz. Markovetz streaks to the corner before turning and firing a shot on net. It trickles through the goaltender Shyuh Burnette’s hands and into the back of the net, to make the score 3-0 in the 75th minute. It takes the comets just over two minutes to strike again, as Dakota Campebell strings together a beautiful move and pass to find Isla Frobish, who puts it home past Shyuh Burnette to make the lead 4-0 in the 77th minute.

In the final few minutes, the Pirates rush down the field, putting a shot on McKinlee Ballweg, who denies the goal, but Crookston is awarded their only corner kick of the game. Crookston fails to convert, and results in a rush the other way for the Comets. With Mari Fjedlskaar streaking down the pitch and no defenders in front of her, Kambree Wangen turns on the jets and tracks her down to clear the ball. The Comets fended off a few more Crookston offensive plays to win the game, 4-0.

Crookston Head Coach Sarah Reese’s comments: