The Minnewaska Area boys soccer team improved its record to 5-5 overall with a pair of wins last week.  The Lakers edged Zimmerman last Tuesday night, 2-1, getting the winning goal by Ryan Greseth in the 66th minute.

Two nights later, Genaro Contreras Mondragon scored in the 5th minute against St. John’s Prep and that was enough for the Lakers to win for the third-straight time and fifth time in the last seven matches.

The Lakers, who are also 4-2 in the Granite Ridge Conference, have a pair of tough home matches on tap this week.  Minnewaska was set to host St. Cloud Cathedral, Tuesday (tomorrow), and Little Falls, Thursday.

Lakers 2, Zimmerman 1

Sophomore Ryan Greseth’s first career goal in the 66th minute gave Minnewaska a 2-1 victory over Zimmerman during a Granite Ridge Conference matchup at Zimmerman last Tuesday.

The Lakers took an early lead in the 15th minute on a goal by Blake Nelson, assisted by Aaron Feigum.

The score stayed 1-0 for the next 37 minutes until Zimmerman tied it up with a goal in the 52nd minute by Aiden Carver.

With less than 14 minutes to go in the game, Greseth got his game-winning goal off a feed from Feigum, who one game earlier had scored four goals for the Lakers.

Tenzin Dahl stopped three of the four shots he faced in net for Minnewaska, which outshot the home team 12-4.

“We started the season with a lot of moving pieces; we had new starters, we had new formations and we had a new assistant coach,” coach Hill said.  “In our first four matches, we gave up 16 goals, but in our last six matches, we have given up only six goals.  Our back five defensive players have come together to build a formidable defensive wall for the Lakers.”

Minnewaska 1, SJP 0

Tenzin Dahl recorded his third shutout of the season and Genaro Contreras Mondragon scored the game’s only goal during a 1-0 victory at St. John’s Prep (St. Benedict’s in St. Joseph), Thursday night.  The Lakers outshot the home team, 12-5, with Dahl making five saves.

It was the second goal for Mondragon, who also has four assists.  “Genaro Contreras Mondragon is a very good player with the ball at his feet,” coach Ted Hill said.  “He is quick and deceptive moving the ball on the dribble and an excellent passer.”

Aaron Feigum earned his eighth assist for the season on the goal by Mondragon, which came in the fifth minute of the game.  There would be no more scoring the rest of the way as the Lakers’ defense continued its great play as of late, having given up just three goals in the last five games combined.

“We controlled about 66 percent of the touches and I’m happy about that because this was the biggest turf we’ve played on,” coach Hill said.  “We also led possession time of about 58-42 percent in the second half.  We struck two posts again, one just before we scored and again early in the second half, and their goalie made two very, very good saves.

“Our defenders were never put under pressure and (goalie) Tenzin Dahl was able to pick up his third shutout of the year.

Waska 2, at Zimmer 1

Minnewaska (4-5) 1 1 — 2

Zimmerman (1-7) 0 1 — 1

First half:  (1) Min-Blake Nelson (Aaron Feigum) 15th minute

Second half:  (2) Zim-Aiden Carver (Hunter Fiedler) 52nd minute . . . (3) Min-Ryan Greseth (Feigum) 66th minute

Shots on goal:  Minnewaska 12, Zimmerman 4

Goalie saves:  Tenzin Dahl, Min 3 saves; Alvaro Guiterez, Zim 10 saves
——————————————————–

Minnewaska 1, at SJP 0

St. John’s Prep (1-6) 0 0 — 0

Minnewaska (5-5) 1 0 — 1

First half:  (1) Min-Genaro Contreras Mondragon (Aaron Feigum) 5th minute

Second half:  No scoring

Shots on goal:  Minnewaska 13, SJP 5

Goalie saves:  Tenzin Dahl, Min 5 saves; Charlie Wang, SJP 12 saves