BEMIDJI 鈥� Games between the Bemidji High 歪歪漫画 girls soccer team and East Grand Forks were traditionally section matches until the 2021-22 season.
And even though the Lumberjacks jumped up to Section 8-3A, lingering tension between the Highway 2 rivals still exists on the pitch.
ADVERTISEMENT
鈥淲hen we play EGF, it鈥檚 one of our most intense games of the season,鈥� BHS junior Kate Corradi said. 鈥淭hat edge, intensity, rivalry is just there.鈥�
Winning these battles, whether they come against current or former section opponents, adds a cherry on top to standard victory spoils. It鈥檚 a feeling that circulated up and down the Jacks鈥� roster on Tuesday at Chet Anderson Stadium after Bemidji鈥檚 3-1 triumph.
鈥淚t feels great to get some wins,鈥� Corradi said. 鈥淎s a team, I felt like we really connected out there in this game. EGF is a great team to play against for us. I feel like we have some of our best games against them.鈥�
In the 26th minute, Beltrami County鈥檚 dry skies turned into a heavy downpour. The sudden change of conditions hardly moved Corradi, as she beat the East Grand Forks goalkeeper from roughly 10 yards out. Isabel Renn assisted on the goal, which came from the only shot on goal by either team in the first half.
鈥淪he鈥檚 unfazed,鈥� Lumberjacks鈥� head coach Logan Larsen said of Corradi. 鈥淚t made me think of (a game against) Brainerd two years ago where we played in extreme conditions. As a freshman, she played almost the whole 80 minutes.鈥�
Despite not getting any shots on target in the first half, East Grand Forks generated several rushes with its attack, only to be thwarted by BHS defenders. Makayla Meza halted chances near the BHS goal in the first 24 minutes. Tahia Hatlen reversed a play to set up Corradi鈥檚 goal before Matjea Malterud stuffed a Green Wave equalizing push in the 35th minute.
For Meza, who is only one of five seniors for the Jacks, Tuesday night鈥檚 defensive stands were business as usual.
ADVERTISEMENT
鈥淪he saved our butt a bunch of times,鈥� Larsen said of Meza. 鈥淲e only played three defenders against a team that does play fast. When she had to step, Matjea covered for her. But over and over, (Meza) saved us. I think she鈥檚 a huge leader back there for us.鈥�
Corradi returned the favor to Renn in the 44th minute. A Bemidji crossing pass pinballed near the goal before Corradi鈥檚 kick landed on the foot of Renn, who settled the ball and buried the only clean shot of the sequence.
鈥淪he鈥檚 always been driven,鈥� Larsen said of Renn. 鈥淓ven though we pulled her up (to varsity) at the end of the season last year, she鈥檚 someone I鈥檝e had eyes on for a long time because her work ethic can鈥檛 be matched. I鈥檓 glad to see her get rewarded for all of the time she鈥檚 put in.鈥�
The Green Wave (2-1-0) cut its deficit in half in the 69th minute. Rylin Wagner recorded EGF鈥檚 first shot on goal, which beat the left arm of Clara Bieber and snuck inside the right post.
Corradi added her second of the game nine minutes later with an assist from Alivia Thompson, regaining the Lumberjacks鈥� two-goal cushion.
鈥淚 just thought, 鈥榃e need to score a goal,鈥� Corradi said. 鈥淭hat was it. We need to beat EGF, and we have to score a goal to win. That鈥檚 all it is.鈥�
After dropping its opening two games this fall, BHS is back to .500 at 2-2 with nine goals in its last two games. And they did it with a goalkeeping carousel.
ADVERTISEMENT
Finding a goalkeeper has been a tricky process for Bemidji. Bieber, a sophomore, moved from forward to play the first two games this season in goal for the Lumberjacks. Freshman Hayden Seitz earned the only previous win this season for the Jacks with a clean sheet win in Detroit Lakes on Sept. 1.
Bieber returned to the goal area on Tuesday, making one save and earning her first varsity win as a keeper.
鈥淚t鈥檚 game-to-game,鈥� Larsen said of who plays goalkeeper. 鈥淚 haven鈥檛 committed to who gets it each time. They both have their strengths and weaknesses. Clara is probably better at avoiding chips, while Hayden is super great laterally. They both have things they can work on, and both can shine.鈥�
Corradi is happy to see Bieber in any position as long as she鈥檚 on the field.
鈥淐lara has done so well in goal,鈥� Corradi said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 really done well this year, even though it鈥檚 her first year. She鈥檚 definitely going to keep improving and keep being a big part of this team for us no matter where she is on the field.鈥�
Bemidji 3, East Grand Forks 1
EGF 0 1 鈥� 1
BHS 1 2 鈥� 3
Bemidji 鈥� Corradi 26鈥� (Renn), 78鈥� (Thompson); Renn 44鈥� (Corradi).
East Grand Forks 鈥� Wagner 69鈥� (S. Lukach).
Saves 鈥� Bieber (BHS) 1; Anderson (EGF) 2.
The Trust Project
