Alexandria boys' soccer: Cards fall to Flyers

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Battling scoreless through regulation, it was Little Falls who broke the deadlock in overtime, handing the Cardinal boys’ soccer team a 1-0 loss in Central Lakes Conference action Tuesday night.

“To those who know soccer, this game was about as good as it could get,” said Alexandria head coach David Vinje. “We knew going in that Little Falls had an exceptional goal scorer/playmaker in junior Grant Bell, so we chose to mark him for the entire game.

“Junior Clayton Cozad was given this task, and here’s the remarkable thing. This is Clayton’s first season playing soccer; this was his first game, and he was asked to follow and shut down one of the premier players in the state.

“He was able to do just that in the first and second halves,” Vinje pointed out, “making Bell virtually nonexistent for a scoreless 80 minutes.”

The Cardinals were able to keep the ball in the Flyers’ territory for the first 10 minutes of the game, then battled throughout, winning the majority of the 50/50s and stepping into passing lanes.

“Junior Aaron Billberg did a great job of controlling the center of the field, with defenders Nickolas Schlapkohl, Zach Van Orsdel and Matt Young giving great support and not allowing the Flyers any quality scoring chances,” said Vinje.

Alexandria was unable to find the net as the second half whistle blew, sending the game to overtime.

In the first five minute half, Alexandria came out firing.

THINK PINK

The Card boys’ soccer team will hold its “Think Pink” night benefitting Kicks for Breast Cancer on Thursday, September 30

“However, if you don’t take your chances when you have them, you’re not going to score,” said Vinje. “In one moment of brilliance, Little Falls’ Bell slipped free for a half step and fired past keeper Scott Hennen, putting the Flyers up 1-0, a score that would remain going into the final whistle.”

Alexandria is now 3-4-2 on the season.

GAME STATISTICS

LITTLE FALLS 0 0 1 1

ALEXANDRIA 0 0 0 0

OVERTIME

LF – Grant Bell 83:15.

GOALIE SAVES – Mike Stumpf, LF, 6; Scott Hennen, Alex, 15.

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