Cardinals gain Section 2A soccer semifinals
FAIRMONT — A single-season record 13th victory established on the 13th of October during the program’s 13th year.
Jenna Lee Gustafson’s decisive second-half goal, Joni Becker’s first-half score and Cadence Becker’s game-high 23 saves propelled No. 3-seeded Fairmont Area to a 2-1 triumph over No. 6-seeded Northfield during Saturday’s Section 2A soccer quarterfinals at Kot Soccer Complex.
The Cardinals (13-2-2) advance to play host to No. 7-seeded Holy Family Catholic (11-4-2) in a 7 p.m. sectional semifinal on Tuesday night in Fairmont. The Fire upended No. 2-seeded Waconia by a 4-2 decision in a shootout after the two teams battled to a scoreless tie through regulation and a 10-minute overtime.
Fairmont Area’s one-goal decision Saturday proved two-fold in that it eclipsed the program’s mark for wins in a campaign, and it matched the Cardinal girls team’s deepest run in the postseason by reaching the sectional semifinals.
“No triskaidekaphobia here,” Fairmont Area head coach Matt Nielsen said jokingly in reference to the superstitious fear of the No. 13.
Nielsen, however, was truly more concerned about another number — shots on goal — during the playoff clash’s opening half. With a southerly breeze at their back, the visiting Raiders generated a 16-4 edge in shots during the initial 40 minutes of play.
Fortunately for the Cardinals, the Beckers — junior forward Joni and freshman keeper Cadence — kept the home team even on the scoreboard despite being outshot by a 4-to-1 ratio.
Senior midfielder Sofie Nelson drilled a 12-footer from the doorstep after settling Lily Hanlon’s centering pass from the left end line to stake the Raiders to a quick 1-0 lead with 36:02 remaining in the opening segment.
Cadence Becker and the Cardinals’ defensive secondary of McKayla Chambers, Kady Pedroza, Lily Hohensee, Mikayla Stradtman, Carissa Saxton and Kaylean Thingstad then slammed the brakes on Northfield’s point production for the final 76 minutes of regulation.
Cadence Becker denied a pair of offensive opportunities by Northfield midfielder Mya Wesling at the 26:42 and 24:45 junctures, respectively, in the first half to keep Fairmont Area’s deficit at one. Becker corraled Wesling’s breakaway riser off a left-wing rush before knocking away both the initial shot and ensuing rebound on the Raider sophomore’s next fastbreak inside the goalie’s box.
“We definitely made efficient use of our shots on goal in the first half,” Nielsen said with a wry smile.
Ironically, Joni Becker converted the Cardinals’ first shot of the playoff game into the equalizing goal at the 18:55 juncture. Becker settled the soccer ball close to midfield, weaved in and out of traffic along the left wing, sprinted by the Raiders’ last line of defense and hammered the tying goal inside the right post.
Despite running head-first into the wind during the second half, Northfield’s Erin Morris, Lily Hanlon and Nelson managed to generate the first five shots after intermission, with Cadence Becker denying each and every one to maintain the tie.
Fairmont Area striker Isabelle Lenort’s free kick from 25 yards was short-hopped by Northfield netminder Mariana Rosas Arenas at the 31:50 mark before the Raiders’ sophomore goalie denied Joni Becker’s left-wing blast and ensuing rebound only one minute later to keep the score at 1-all.
Gustafson then provided the heroics by battling her way to the left corner to retrieve the soccer ball, lofted a left-to-right shot from 25 yards away and watched it evade Rosas Arenas’ fingertips to find the twine in the top shelf for the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal at the 23:33 juncture.
“It’s always the quiet ones,” a grinning Nielsen said in reference to his demure senior midfielder. “What a huge goal for us in the playoffs.”
Cadence Becker then denied Hanlon on a blast from the top of the box at the 30-minute mark before the Fairmont Area forwards, midfielders and defenders kept the ball out of harm’s way down the stretch.
Rosas Arenas recorded 13 saves for Northfield, which ended its season with a 10-5-2 record.
Northfield 1-0–1
Fairmont 1-1–2
Scoring Plays
1st Half
NOR–Sofie Nelson (Lily Hanlon), 36:02.
FA–Joni Becker (unassisted), 18:55.
2nd Half
FA–Jenna Lee Gustafson (unassisted), 23:33.
Saves: Cadence Becker (FA) 15-8–23; Mariana Rosas Arenas (NOR) 3-10–13.
Shots on goal: Fairmont Area 4-11–15; Northfield 16-8–24. Corners: Fairmont Area 3; Northfield 8.
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