Soccer roundup: Willmar is fit to be tied vs. Alex

WILLMAR — The Willmar boys soccer team tied Alexandria 1-1 in double overtime Tuesday night at Willmar High School.

It didn’t leave the home team all that happy.

“It was a tie where they were excited to tie and we were disappointed to tie,” Willmar head coach Jeff Winter said.

Alexandria opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Tripp Shatek scored. That stood until Willmar’s Idd Ali scored off a pass from Miguel Altramirano Toruno in the 26th minute.

There was no scoring for the rest of regulation and then in the two overtimes.

“They have a 6-8 goalie (Nick Borden) who is pretty good,” Winter said. “He’s huge. Some of his punts were to the 30 (yard line) on the other side of the field.”

Willmar is now 3-0-1 in the Central Lakes Conference and 5-0-1 overall. Alex is 3-1-2 in the conference and 4-1-2 overall.

“I thought we played pretty well,” Winter said. “It was pretty even in that we were better skilled and moved the ball well and they (Alex) just played their butts off.

“They were able to win hard tackles. In an odd sort of way, it was an evenly matched match.”

Willmar’s next match is at 7 p.m. Thursday in Brainerd.

Alexandria (4-1-2)................. 1   0   0   0 — 1
Willmar (5-0-1)....................... 1   0   0   0 — 1

FIRST HALF – (1) A: Tripp Shatek, 15th minute … (2) W: Idd Ali (Miguel Altamirano Toruno) 26th minute
SECOND HALF – No scoring
OVERTIME – No scoring
SHOTS ON GOAL – A: 7. W: 8
GOALIE SAVES – Alexandria: Nick Borden, 7 saves … Willmar: Andrew Ziebarth 6 saves

Little Falls got goals from Jake Schneider and Garrett Lindbergh to beat Minnewaska in a Granite Ridge Conference match at Little Falls.

Little Falls led 1-0 when Minnewaska tied it up on a Blake Nelson goal in the 58th minute. The score was assisted by Aaron Feigum.

“We hit a post with our next shot and that would have tied it up,” Minnewaska head coach Ted Hill said. “Those things happen.

“We didn’t play exceptionally well and they didn’t play exceptionally well to be honest.”

The Flyers are coached by Chris Backhaus, Hill’s former assistant at Minnewaska.

The Lakers play host to Melrose at 7 p.m. Thursday in Glenwood.

Minnewaska (2-5)................. 0   1 — 1
Little Falls (3-4).................... 1   1 — 2

FIRST HALF – (1) LF: Jake Schneider (Koda Brastad) 19th minute.
SECOND HALF – (2) LF: Garrett Lindbergh (Coltin Johnson) 50th minute … (3) M: Blake Nelson (Aaron Feigum) 58th minute.
SHOTS ON GOAL – M: 12. LF: 6
GOALIE SAVES – Minnewaska: Tenzin Dahl, 4 saves … Little Falls: Ethan Yourek, 11 saves

Five first-half goals carried Central Minnesota Christian to the victory at Melrose.

The Bluejays are scheduled to play at 7 p.m. Friday at Pelican Rapids.

CMCS (3-1)...................... 5   2 — 7
Melrose (0-3)................... 0   2 — 2

Alexandria improved its overall season record to 6-1 with the victory at Alexandria.

“Tonight, Willmar worked hard with only one sub the whole game,” Willmar head coach Rebekah Clearly said. “They never stopped playing the game. The girls should be proud of that.

“Alexandria is a high-scoring team every game.”

Willmar is host to Brainerd at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Willmar (2-5)........................ 0  0 — 0
Alexandria (6-1)................... 1  0 — 1

FIRST HALF – (1) A: Alexa Eggebraaten (Mackenzie Jurchenko) 21:52
SECOND HALF – No scoring
SHOTS ON GOAL – W: 2. A: 21
GOALIE SAVES – Willmar: Kianna Eichorst, 20 saves … Alexandria: n/a, 2 saves

Rocori rallied from a 1-0 deficit to beat Willmar in double overtimes Monday at Cold Spring.

Sophia Quinn gave Willmar a 1-0 lead with her goal at 35:15 of the first half.

Rocori tied it up with a goal from Brooklyn Hofer early in the second half before getting the match-winner in overtime.

“Tonight, Willmar passed and worked as a team incredibly well,” Cardinals head coach Rebekah Cleary said. “Our need for finishing and putting balls in the back of the net is still evident on the team.”

Willmar ................. 1   0   0   0 — 1
Rocori ................... 0   1   0   1 — 2

FIRST HALF – (1) W: Sophia Quinn, 35:15.
SECOND HALF – (2) R: Brooklyn Hofer, 44:43.
FIRST OVERTIME – No scoring
SECOND OVERTIME – (3) R: unavailable
GOALIE SAVES – Willmar: Kianna Eichhorst, 6 saves … Rocori: n/a