WILLMAR - Four goals in less than a span of 10 minutes late in the first half carried the Willmar boys soccer team to a 5-1 Central Lakes Conference win over Alexandria on Tuesday.
The visiting Northern Cardinals scored first - nine minutes into the match - but Willmar found a groove just moments later. Sakawe Shador from a Jesus Nevarez feed tied the match at 1-1 in the 24th minute and three minutes later a Ben Gonzalez goal assisted by David Gomez put Willmar in front.
Shador then scored less than a minute later and Gomez struck in the 33rd minute to give Willmar a 4-1 advantage at halftime.
Gomez added a goal early in the second half to give goalkeeper Manny Obregon more insurance. Willmar outshot Alexandria 17-8 and Obregon finished with seven saves.
“We played with nice patience and didn’t panic when we got behind,” said Willmar coach Jeff Winter. “Overall the team played a nice passing game, moved the ball well and were able to finish.”
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Shador finished with three points as he assisted on Gomez’s first goal. Nevarez assisted on both of Shador’s goals and Diego Millan notched an assist on Gomez’s second tally.
Willmar is at St. Cloud State University on Thursday to play St. Cloud Tech at 7 p.m. and hosts Section 6A foe Big Lake at 3 p.m. on Saturday for Senior Day.
Willmar 5, Alexandria 1
Alexandria (2-3-2, 5-3-2) 1 0 - 1
Willmar (4-1-1, 7-2-1) 4 1 - 5
FIRST HALF – Alex: Kagan Foster (assist not available) 9:00 ... Wil: Sakawe Shador (Jesus Nevarez) 24:00 ... Wil: Ben Gonzalez (David Gomez) 27:00 ... Wil: Shador (Nevarez) 28:00 ... Wil: Gomez (Shador) 33:00
SECOND HALF – Wil: Gomez (Diego Millan) 49:00
SHOTS ON GOAL – Alexandria: 8 ... Willmar: 17
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GOALIE SAVES – Alexandria: Zach Harstad 12 … Willmar: Manny Obregon 7
DEFENSIVE SAVES – none
CENTRAL LAKES GIRLS
Alexandria 2, Willmar 0
Willmar had chances against a strong Alexandria team but couldn’t convert and fell in a Central Lakes Conference match on Tuesday in Alexandria.
Willmar goalie Laura Christianson played well, turning back 13 Alexandria shots.
“Laura really played well,” said Cardinals co-head coach David Vinje. “And her save weren’t just the ball rolling and her picking it up. She made some really good saves.”
Willmar’s Hannah Johnson played through double-teams but the Cardinals couldn’t break through, Vinje said.
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“Hannah created good opportunities,” he said. “Unfortunately, it was one of those nights when the ball doesn’t go in the net.”
The Cards play a Homecoming week match against St. Cloud Tech at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Kennedy School pitch.
Willmar (1-5-1, 2-7-1) 0 0 - 0
Alexandria (6-1, 7-3) 1 1 - 2
FIRST HALF – A: Sonja Olson 24th minute
SECOND HALF – A: Hailey Burns 42nd minute
SHOTS ON GOAL – A: 16 ... W: 5
GOALIE SAVES – Alexandria: Emma Ziegler 5 … Willmar: Laura Christianson 13
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DEFENSIVE SAVES – None
NON-CONFERENCE GIRLS
Little Falls 8, Melrose 0
Esmerelda Ambriz Raya made 24 saves for Melrose on Tuesday at Little Falls.
