Alexandria girls' soccer: Cardinals fall to Moorhead 3-1

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For once, the Cardinal girls’ soccer team did not have to battle the wind and the Moorhead Spuds, but the Spuds proved to be enough of a test for Alexandria as they fell in a 3-1 contest on the road Monday afternoon.

“Moorhead was flying pretty high, coming off a 7-2 win over Apollo two days earlier,” said Cardinal head coach Tom Roos. “Despite that, the Cards played a strong first half with the only Spud shot to get behind goalkeeper Sara Bruzek coming on a free kick from 25 yards out that a Moorhead attacker was able run to and knock in for the first goal.”

The Cardinals were able to respond with a late goal that came with just one minute remaining in the first half as Chelsea Mistele hit a corner kick to Claire Illies that took some unusual bounces.

“Claire Illies headed the corner kick, only to have it deflect off Mo Eigen and right back to Chelsea [Mistele], who again sent it into the mix for Mo to finish with a header,” said Roos.

The second half was a different game entirely as the Spuds stepped up to dominate the play, keeping the pressure largely in the Alexandria end.

“Despite their [Moorhead’s] two goals in the second half, Bruzek continued to be very strong and kept Alex in the game,” said the Card coach. “Alex had a couple of good opportunities in the second half.

“Gabby Koel’s pressure on the Moorhead defense created a turnover deep in the offensive corner, enabling her to dribble toward goal and send in a nice pass through the Moorhead goal box, but just out of range of any Alex attackers,” he added. “A little later, Claire Illies made a strong play on a header that just went wide of the Spud net.”

MOORHEAD 3, ALEXANDRIA 1

ALEXANDRIA 1 0 1

MOORHEAD 1 2 3

FIRST HALF

MHD – Ashley Heinz, free kick, 14:00; ALEX – Marisa Eigen (Chelsey Mistele) 39:00.

SECOND HALF

MHD – Bianca Clark 5:00; MHD – Heinz.

GOALIE SAVES – Sara Bruzek, Alex, 17.

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