SARTELL -- Willmar's Badal Ali scored the eventual winning goal less than a minute after the game resumed from a 30-minute lightning delay Tuesday as the Cardinals edged Sartell 2-1 in the Central Lakes Conference.
Jerry Eligio netted a goal 1:31 before the first half ended to give Willmar (5-2-1, 7-2-1) a 1-0 lead. Heavy rain opened the second half and lightning in the vicinity forced the match to be postponed 12 minutes into the half. When play resumed Ali put a shot past Sabres' goalkeeper Andrew Worzala to put Willmar ahead 2-0.
"We made a defensive mistake on their goal, but overall we had a good defensive effort," said Willmar coach Richard Courtney. "It's a difficult place to play because its a football field, which is shorter. But the kids did what we needed them to do."
Steve Kluver piled up 13 saves for Willmar, which is at Minnewaska on Thursday.
Willmar 2, Sartell 1
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Willmar (5-2-1, 7-2-1) 1 1 -- 2
Sartell 0 1 -- 1
FIRST HALF - Wil: Jerry Eligio (Trent Fader) 38:29
SECOND HALF - Wil: Badal Ali (Abdi Abdinasir) 53:09 ... Sar: Joshua Rostad 67:10
Shots - Willmar: 27 ... Sartell: 29
Goalie saves - Willmar: Steve Kluver 13 ... Sartell: Andrew Worzala 11
Defensive saves - Willmar: none ... Sartell: none
