The Minnewaska Area boys soccer team opened up 2022 soccer action with a 6-2 loss to Heritage Christian Academy at home, Saturday.  The Lakers trailed 2-1 after a very close first half, but Minnewaska Area ran out of steam in the second half as Heritage scored the final three goals for the victory.

The Lakers are set to host Prinsburg CMCS, Tuesday (tomorrow) and play at Fergus Falls, Thursday.  Minnewaska Area is coming off a 9-6 season from a year ago when the team placed second in the Granite Ridge Conference with a 7-2 record.

•  Members of this year’s Minnewaska Area varsity soccer team are seniors Alicia Boysen, Genaro Contreras Mondragon, Aaron Feigum, Brooke Kolstoe, Rhet Kuehne, Caleb Mahoney, Noah Palmer and Dalton Peterson; juniors Jose Contreras Mondragon, Ethan Curry, Blake Nelson, Thomas Poegel, Connor Quelle and Kody Ward; sophomores Tenzin Dahl, Ryan Greseth, Jackson Holmes and Riley Thorfinnson; and ninth-grader Connor Erickson.

•  The Heritage Eagles, of Maple Grove, entered the match with a 1-0-0 record after defeating Robbinsdale Cooper in their season opener.  

The Minnewaska back five yielded a goal only four minutes into the match as Heritage 2021 All-State forward Drew Pitzner broke through the Lakers back five and registered his third goal of the season. “Pitzner is a very talented player.  He is big, strong, fast, and technically very talented on the ball.  He is difficult to contain, and he broke us early,” coach Hill said. 

Pitzner recorded his second goal only seven minutes later on another brilliant individual effort, but with only eleven minutes gone in the match, Minnewaska gathered themselves and started to pressure forward looking to get back in the match.  

The Lakers would record shots from Connor Erickson, Aaron Feigum, Blake Nelson and Genaro Contreras Mondragon.  The Laker pressure also lead to seven corner-kicks in the first half.  

This offensive pressure would lead to the Lakers’ first goal of the 2022 season as senior Aaron Feigum lofted a corner-kick toward the 8-yard mark.  Junior Blake Nelson found himself un-marked and nodded a header past Heritage keeper Noah Goedjen.  

Minnewaska continued to pressure the Eagles back line throughout the rest of the half, and carried a majority of ball control for the final 20-minutes of the half. “Connor Quelle, Genaro Contreras Mondragon, Aaron Feigum, Connor Erickson, Ryan Gresseth, Blake Nelson and Dalton Peterson did a good job winning the ball and maintaining control for the Lakers,” coach Hill said.  “Our formation of 3-2-3-2-1 put a lot of pressure on the Heritage midfield and defense.  We were actually able to outshoot the Eagles for the first half.  Young players like freshmen Connor Erickson and Ryan Gresseth brought energy to our attack, and senior Dalton Peterson embraced his position up front as a knock-down player.”

With the Lakers trailing 2-1, the second half opened with the Laker eleven facing a newly energized offensive push from Heritage Christian.  

Pitzner would break down the Lakers back five before finding an unmarked teammate Josh Sokeye standing alone eight yards from goal.  Sokeye went one on one with Lakers keeper Tenzin Dahl to score for the Eagles.  “Tenzin, who had nine saves for the game, did everything right on the play,” coach Hill said.  “He is a good athlete who will continue to grow into his new position.”  

The Lakers answered back at the 13-minute mark of the half.  Juniors, Connor Quelle and Blake Nelson would team up for the Lakers.  Quelle drove a left-footed through-ball into space.  Nelson sprinted onto the ball, side-stepped Grant Neuharth and beat Goedjen low-and-far bar to bring the Lakers back to within one goal.  

With the Lakers trailing 3-2, the wheels came off for the home side.  The Eagles would put the match out of reach in the next seven minutes, scoring at 15:00, 20:00, and 22:00 to go up 6-2 and effectively end the match with 18 minutes left to play.  “We got very tired in the second half.  Our depth early in the season is not where we want it.  Our players competed hard, but just couldn’t stay with a deeper team.  This is an area that we will continue to work on,” said Hill.