Lakers lose in double-OT to Melrose in playoff opener
Sports | Published on October 16, 2023 at 2:39pm CDT
After scoring 10 combined goals during their final two regular-season games, the Lakers were held scoreless during a 1-0, double-overtime home loss to Melrose Area, Thursday night during the opening round of the Section 8A Soccer Tourney.
It was a heart-breaking loss for the Lakers, who had their chances during the game. Just when it looked like the game would be headed to a shootout to decide the winner, Melrose scored the winning goal with 1 1/2 minutes left in the second 10-minute overtime session.
The Lakers were seeded second in the south half of the section and had defeated (2-0) and tied (1-1) with the Dutchmen earlier this season. Minnewaska Area had ended the regular-season with a 5-1 win over Prinsburg followed by a 5-0 win over St. John’s Prep.
That didn’t matter much to the Dutchmen, who played a very deliberate and physical style against the Lakers looking for a few, rare scoring chances. The game was played under cold, windy and (in the second half) rainy conditions.
The Lakers ended the season 6-6-4 overall and 2-4-2 in the conference. St. Cloud Cathedral, ranked in the top three in state, won the conference title with a perfect 8-0 record, followed by Little Falls-LPGE (3-3-2), Minnewaska (2-4-2) and Melrose Area and St. John’s Prep (both 2-5-1).
Hillcrest Lutheran and St. Cloud Cathedral are set to meet in the finals, Tuesday (tomorrow) at Sauk Centre. Hillcrest was the top seed in the north and beat Pelican Rapids 2-1 in one semifinal, Saturday, while SCC was the top seed in the south and beat Melrose in the other semifinal, 5-1.
The Lakers were the first team to score a goal against the Crusaders during a 3-1 loss Sept. 21 at SCC. The Lakers also tied with Hillcrest and Pelican Rapids during the third and sixth games of the season this fall so it has to be tough for the Lakers to watch the semifinals and finals from the sidelines after such a great season.
Seniors lost to graduation from this year’s team are Blake Nelson, Thomas Poegel, Connor Quelle, Ethan Curry and Jose Contreras Mondragon, who missed the end of the season due to an injury.
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