FAIRMONT – Maiya Dietz’s persistence in the box paid pivotal dividends for the Fairmont Area soccer team on Monday night.

Knotted at 1-all at halftime despite outshooting visiting New Ulm by an 11-1 margin in the opening 40 minutes, Dietz cashed in Brooke Hunwardsen’s rising rocket off the crossbar for the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal with 29:12 remaining in the second half.

Isabelle Lenort delivered an insurance goal 10 minutes later, while Myah Lytle converted Grace Higgins’ assist into the Cardinals’ first-half goal to pace a 3-1 Big South Conference triumph over the visiting Eagles at the Kot Soccer Complex in Fairmont.

“My halftime speech was simple and to the point. I told them, ‘Keep doing what you’re doing, and you’ll end up with a tie,'” said Fairmont Area head coach Matt Nielsen. “After that, our defensive line tighten up, our midfielders flowed better from side-to-side and our forwards kept the pressure on the ball during the second half, and we came away with the win.”

Hunwardsen attacked early and often, but her shots missed by mere inches from finding New Ulm’s net. The Cardinals’ junior striker drilled a laser off the left pipe at the 34:48 juncture of the first half before Lytle reached the scoreboard 3 minutes later.

Higgins drove the left wing and was knocked down by an Eagle defender as she released her shot on goal. Lytle alertly picked up the loose ball and hammered it into the right corner of the net for a 1-0 lead at the 31:37 mark.

Paige Kalis then delivered the equalizer for New Ulm. Kaye Rysdahl worked a pass through traffic to Kalis, who lofted her shot over an outstretched Taylor Eicholz to tie the game with 21:21 left in the first half.

The Cardinals had a chance to take the lead when Lexi Lunn unleashed a rising shot from the left wing, but Eagles netminder Emily Schotzko made a solid two-handed save with 17 minutes left before intermission.

Schotzko then made one of her game-high 14 saves off of Abby DeWitt’s scorched end-line blast, catching the low liner to keep Fairmont Area off of the scoreboard at the 36:30 mark of the second half.

The ball-hawking Hunwardsen, however, forced the issue 6 minutes later by stealing the ball along the left wing and hammered a liner that hit the bottom side of the crossbar and caromed straight down. The fleet-footed Dietz maintained her composure and chipped in the putback for a 2-1 lead with 29:12 remaining in regulation.

Lenort then utilized a subtle stop-and-pop maneuver along the left wing to find the right corner of the net at the 19:13 juncture for a 3-1 Fairmont Area margin.

Eicholz then made a clutch save when Kalis rattled a breakaway shot off the crossbar and tried to punch home the follow-up. Eicholz alertly leaped and batted the carom away for the key save at the 21-minute mark.

Schotzko then displayed her tenacity by catching Hunwardsen’s right endline missile with only 1:50 remaining in regulation to keep the Eagles’ deficit at 3-1.

Fairmont Area (4-4-1) plays host to Big Nine opponent Mankato West at 7 p.m. tonight at Kot Soccer Complex.

New Ulm (2-5) plays host to Mankato Loyola at 5 p.m. tonight at Martin Luther College fields in New Ulm.

New Ulm 1-0-1

Fairmont 1-2-3

Scoring Plays

1st Half

FA-Myah Lytle (Grace Higgins), 31:37.

NU-Paige Kalis (Kaye Rysdahl), 21:21.

2nd Half

FA-Maiya Dietz (Brooke Hunwardsen), 29:12.

FA-Isabelle Lenort (unassisted), 19:13.

Shots on goal: Fairmont Area 11-6-17; New Ulm 1-4-5.

Saves: Taylor Eicholz (FA) 0-4-4; Emily Schotzko (NU) 10-4-14.

Anna DeWitt tallied two goals to help steer Fairmont Area to a 5-1 victory over New Ulm during junior varsity action Monday in Fairmont.

Kaylene Lindquist, Kady Pedroza and Emma Schultze each contributed goals to the Cardinals’ winning ways, while Claudia Bleess distributed an assist.

Goalkeeper Kaiden Boerner recorded 10 saves to net the win for Fairmont Area.

Boys Soccer

New Ulm 7, Fairmont Area 2 – Wyatt Huard and Nate Miller combined to account for all of the Eagles’ scoring in a five-goal victory over the Cardinals during Big South Conference action Monday at Martin Luther College’s field in New Ulm.

Huard delivered a four-goal performance to top New Ulm, while Miller contributed a hat trick.

No individual or team statistics were reported for Fairmont Area.

Fairmont Area (5-4) travels to Worthington tonight for a 6:30 p.m. conference game.

New Ulm (2-5) hits the road to Mankato Loyola at 5 p.m. today.

New Ulm defeated Fairmont Area, 6-2, during junior varsity action Monday in New Ulm.

Joey Flohrs and Alex Alvarado produced goals for the Cardinals, while Campbell Krusemark and Alvarado distributed assists.