BEMIDJI 鈥� As Logan Larsen stomached the Bemidji High 歪歪漫画 girls soccer team鈥檚 1-0 loss against Cloquet/Carlton on Thursday night, he knew there鈥檇 be plenty to learn from when he gets to watch the tape.
In a battle of the Lumberjacks, Cloquet鈥檚 eighth-minute goal was the difference.
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Natalia Hernandez put Cloquet ahead on a shot from distance. Standing on the 20-yard line near the BHS bench, Hernandez lobbed a ball toward the goal. It slipped through goalkeeper Brynn Klaers鈥� hands and in.
That was the only shot on target that crossed the goal line for either team.
鈥淭hey played a direct style, and they made it work,鈥� Larsen said. 鈥淎t the end of this game, we learned how to combat that. I don鈥檛 know what we can do right now besides learn from it. For the most part, we were able to adjust to their style of attack. But we didn鈥檛 attack well enough, and that鈥檚 the second game in a row where that鈥檚 an issue.鈥�
Despite giving up a goal in the opening eight minutes, BHS finished with the majority of offensive chances. Bemidji held a 5-3 edge in shots on target, with three of them coming in the second half.
Izzy Renn sparked a chance for Bemidji in the opening minutes of the frame. She fed a through ball to Kate Corradi, who narrowly held up onside before taking a low shot. Cloquet keeper Rylee Senich turned it aside, then corralled a rebound shot from Renn.
Taylor Merschman nearly scored on a set-piece chance in the 67th minute. Miika Novak鈥檚 corner kick created chaos inside the 18-yard box. Merschman had the best look, booting a low-angle shot that was stopped by Senich.
Renn had another chance in the closing seconds. Corradi carried the ball deep into the box. The ball came back out to Renn, who took a shot from distance that was stopped by Senich for her fifth and final save.
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鈥淩espect to (Cloquet) for handling the pressure we brought,鈥� Larsen said. 鈥淚 think with that is just learning how to win a one-on-one around the corner or hitting a ball through the middle that we can finish on. This was good film to get. It wasn鈥檛 against a section opponent, just a good game to learn from.鈥�
Bemidji had a few chances to equalize in the first half as well, specifically in the 19th minute. Stella Schoonover led a charge through the midfield, then Corradi fed a crossing pass to Mya Thompson to the left side of Senich. Thompson鈥檚 far-side shot was bobbled by Senich but controlled before Corradi could tie the game near the goal line.
Cloquet nearly doubled the lead in the 36th minute. Lauren Hughes caught a break on a misplayed ball from a BHS defender. With Klaers charging out, Hughes pushed the ball wide.
鈥淲e played a decent game in terms of winning the battle in the middle,鈥� Larsen said. 鈥淚n the second half, we really fought for that. Our center mids were good. We gave them three chances, and they scored one goal. If we play them again, there鈥檚 a good chance we win. But that鈥檚 not how this works.鈥�
The loss bumps Bemidji to 1-3-1 this season. More importantly, Thursday night was a chance for inexperienced players to play under the lights on turf without starters Clara Bieber and Matjea Malterud, who were sidelined with injuries.
鈥淏eing on turf, some of the younger players look uncomfortable,鈥� Larsen said. 鈥淏eing under the lights, playing at night, you can tell the confidence isn鈥檛 there as much as it is when they鈥檙e on a grass field. It鈥檚 just a learning curve, and that鈥檚 what the regular season is for.鈥�
Cloquet/Carlton 1, Bemidji 0
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CC 1 0 鈥� 1
BEM 0 0 鈥� 0
Bemidji 鈥� No scoring
Cloquet/Carlson 鈥� Hernandez 鈥�8.
Saves 鈥� Klaers (BHS) 2; Seitz (BHS) 0; Senich (CC) 5.
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