The Minnewaska Area boys soccer team is in the midst of a five-game losing streak after falling twice last week to Prinsburg CMCS last Tuesday at home (1-0) and at St. John’s Prep, Thursday (5-3).

The Lakers dropped to 2-6 overall and 0-4 in the Granite Ridge Conference with the two losses.

“We’re having a tough time scoring goals right now, but the guys are playing and practicing hard and we hope to turn things around soon,” coach David Vinje said.

Things won’t get any easier this week as the Lakers are set to host state-ranked and undefeated St. Cloud Cathedral, Tuesday (tomorrow) and Little Falls, Thursday.  The Lakers went 6-6-4 last year.

Minnewaska Area scored six goals in starting out the season 2-1, but has scored only five total goals in its last five games combined, all losses.

Overall, the Laker soccer team, which was 6-6-4 last year and graduated five key players, has scored 11 goals and given up 23 through eight games.

Prinsburg 1, Waska 0

The Lakers fell at home to Prinsburg last Tuesday night, 1-0.  The Lakers had their chances, but couldn’t find the back of the net, while Marshall Kopp did his best to keep his team in the game, stopping nine shots, including one early in the game.

“Marshall made a goal-saving save in the sixth minute,” Vinje said.  “When a CMCS player was through on goal, Marshall rushed off his line, got big and made an absolute goal-saving save.

“Otherwise, it was one of those games that was difficult to explain.  We dominated the ‘50-50 ball’ challenges, yet couldn’t find a way to manufacture high-quality scoring chances.”

SJ Prep 5, Waska 3

Two nights later, the Lakers found the back of the net three times, but St. John’s Prep scored five goals to beat the Lakers in another conference matchup, 5-3.

Oskar Haberl had five goals for SJP, but the Lakers were in the game for most of the contest despite his heroics.

The Lakers scored the first goal in the fourth minute when Ryan Greseth scored off an assist from a Jackson Holmes’ through ball.

Haberl scored at the sixth, eighth and 18th minutes of the game to put SJP up for good at 3-1, but the Lakers never gave up, cutting the deficit to 3-2 on a header by Tenzin Dahl, who scored off a Lane Curry corner kick at the 27th minute of the game.

Five minutes later, Haberl scored in the 32nd minute, but the Lakers went into halftime trailing just 4-3 after Lane Curry was credited with a goal after playing the ball directly into the mix on a corner kick and having the ball deflect off a SJP player into the goal.

“At the half, we found ourselves down one in a frantic, 4-3 back-and-forth game,” coach Vinje said.  “We talked about continuing to put pressure on the St. John’s defenders, knowing that our positive play had the ability to create quality scoring chances.  Defensively, we also ended the half with a bit more stability.”

Unfortunately, it was mostly SJP in the second half as Haberl scored his fifth goal of the game in the 62nd minute and the Lakers were held scoreless, giving SJP the 5-3 win.

Marshall Kopp had 8 saves in the game for Minnewaska Area.

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