WILLMAR -- An early goal from Karis Rogers didn't hold up for Willmar as Mankato East scored twice in the second half to sneak past the Cardinals 2-1 in a non-conference girls soccer match Saturday afternoon.
Rogers beat the defender to the ball after Sara Kallhoff split the defense with a pass and put it past Mankato East goalkeeper Sarah Brozik from just inside the 18-yard box in the game's sixth minute to give Willmar (0-2) an early 1-0 lead.
"They scored so early and they thought it would be easy, but their intensity level dropped from there," said first-year Willmar coach Jeff Winter. "They picked it up after halftime, but they weren't playing as well as Thursday and I told them to pick up their intensity."
Mankato East tied the game 7½ minutes into the second half. Both squads were then held scoreless for nearly 30 minutes before Mankato East struck again with just five minutes remaining.
The Cardinals, who were outshot 24-10, play at Alexandria at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in their Central Lakes Conference opener.
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Mankato East 2, Willmar 1
Mankato East..........................0 2 -- 2
Willmar.....................................1 0 -- 1
FIRST HALF - Wil: Karis Rogers (Sara Kallhoff) 6:00
SECOND HALF - ME: not available ... ME: not available
Shots on goal - Mankato East: 24 ... Willmar: 10
Goalie saves - Mankato East: Sarah Brozik 9 ... Willmar: Chelsey Wierschem 22
Defensive saves -- Mankato East: none ... Willmar: none
