The Caledonia/Spring Grove/Houston girls scored only one goal last week, but it was enough to secure a 1-1 non-conference tie after a two-hour Saturday morning drive to Cannon Falls. This followed a pair of league losses – a 10-0 setback on Sept. 28 at Dover-Eyota and two days later, a 2-0 home loss against St. Charles/Lewiston-Altura. The Eagles and the Saints completed season TRC sweeps against the Warriors, who closed the week at 2-9-1 (1-8 TRC).
D-E, 10, Cal/SG/Hou 0
“We were able to move the ball better than we have in the past and were creating opportunities in the first half,” said Warrior coach Chris Jandt. “We got a couple of shots off but nothing that tested the keeper. Senior Hailey Alfson played very well being an outlet to the defense and getting the midfield involved in the attack. She may not be scoring many goals, but she is distributing the ball and starting our attacks perfectly.”
Dover-Eyota scored three minutes into the game and had four goals before halftime before a six-goal second half. Warrior goalkeeper Josie Foster made eight saves before being injured during the second half. Autumn Meiners came in for another five saves.
The Eagles, who came into the game tied for the conference lead, had defeated the Warriors 2-1 earlier in the season.
SC/LA 2, Cal/SG/Hou 0
St. Charles/Lewiston-Altura got off 23 shots to 13 for the Warriors, which was an improvement for Cal/SG/Hou after being outshot 45 to 0 in an earlier 4-0 road loss against the Saints.
The Warrior girls “really came out firing at the beginning of the first half,” said Jandt. ”Hailey Alfson, Siri Konkel and Kennedy Kruse did a really good job sending balls out to the wings and into the open space. We had five or six great opportunities to score in the first half but could not finish any of them.” The Saints opened scoring late in the first half with a crossing pass that bounced inside the far post. They added the insurance goal with a penalty kick late in the second half.
”The second half, we were unable to get the opportunities like we did in the first half,” lamented the coach. “St. Charles (SC/LA) came out a little bit stronger and held possession. Josie (Foster) got peppered with a bunch of shots in the second half, but our defense was able to stop any good chances.”
Cal/SG/Hou 1, Cannon Falls 1
Midway through the first half, Siri Konkel scored near the six-yard box after receiving a pass from Ayshia Gay “We had a few opportunities to increase our lead but could not finish,” commented Jandt about the remainder of the first half.
Cannon Falls scored the equalizer just 19 seconds into the second half. “They came right down the middle of the field,” said Jandt, “and broke through the back line of our defense.”
Cal/SG/Hou would then control the pace. “We were able to keep the ball on their half for most of the second half,” added the coach. The Warriors attempted 17 shots on goal to only five for the Bombers. In goal, Foster saved four of those five attempts.
“We had a little trouble with the field condition as the ground was hard and a little bumpy. You could send a perfect pass on the ground, and it would hit something and bounce up. The girls did a good job adjusting to it, settling the ball the best they could.
“Eighth graders Loisah Gay and Siri Konkel have been connecting very well over the season and have created a lot of opportunities for each other. It will be fun to watch the large group of eighth graders come through.”
Cal/SG/Hou Girls Soccer 2021
2-9-1 (1-8 TRC)
W vs. Plainview-Elgin-Millville 3-1
L at Cotter (Winona) 0-12
L vs Dover-Eyota 1-2
L vs. Stewartville 0-2
L at St. Charles/Lewiston-Altura 0-4
L vs. La Crescent-Hokah 1-2
L at Plainview-Elgin-Millville 4-0
L vs. Cotter 0-7
W Schaeffer Academy 11-0
L at Dover-Eyota 0-10
L vs. St. Charles/Lewiston-Altura 0-2
T at Cannon Falls 1-1
Tues. Oct. 5 at La Crescent-Hokah
Thur. Oct. 7 Triton
Sat. Oct. 9 at Lake City 1:30 p.m.