MANKATO — The Fairmont Area Cardinals girls soccer lineup displayed its resiliency on Saturday.

Senior striker Joni Becker produced the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal to complement netting an assist to help power Fairmont Area to a hard-fought 2-1 nonconference triumph over the Mankato East Cougars at the Kennedy Elementary soccer fields.

After losing a nail-biting 2-1 decision to St. Peter to end its seven-game winning streak on Thursday, the Cardinals demonstrated their collective mettle by bouncing back for a one-goal victory of their own two days later.

Mankato East’s Julia Fischer opened the clash of Section 2A titans on Saturday by converting an assist from Samantha Prybylla into the game’s initial goal at the 6:08 juncture of the opening 40-minute half.

Fairmont Area, however, answered at 1:36 before intermission as forward Rayah Quiring kicked home a rebound off Joni Becker’s deflected original shot to produce a 1-1 score.

Joni Becker then worked her way into an open seam on the turf along the left wing, took a pass from teammate Emma Schultze, and buried a 10-yard blast to stake the Cardinals to a 2-1 advantage with 9:37 remaining in regulation.

Fairmont Area goalkeeper Cadence Becker and the Cardinals’ defense did the rest, keeping Mankato East off of the scoreboard for the duration to net the win.

Cadence Becker registered a dozen saves to garner the win for Fairmont Area, while Mankato East netminder Emily Eckheart stopped 12 of the Cardinals’ 14 shots on goal.

Fairmont Area (8-2, 5-2 Big South), which moved to the No. 5 spot in the minnesotascores.net’s Section 2A QRF rankings with the win, plays host to Waseca at 7 p.m. tonight in a conference game.

Mankato East (7-2), which holds the No. 2 spot in the section’s QRF rankings, plays host to Northfield on Tuesday.

Fairmont 1-1–2

Kato East 1-0–1

Scoring Plays

1st Half

ME–Julia Fischer (Samantha Prybylla), 6:08.

FA–Rayah Quiring (Joni Becker), 1:36.

2nd Half

FA–Joni Becker (Emma Schultze), 9:37.

Shots on goal: Fairmont Area 14; Mankato East 13.

Saves: Cadence Becker (FA) 12; Emily Eckheart (ME) 12.

Mankato East edged Fairmont Area in junior varsity action, 1-0, Saturday in Mankato.

Angel Smith and Kalie Hanna shared goaltending duties for the Cardinals.

Charli Clow collected one goal and one assist to help engineer Fairmont Area’s 2-0 victory over Mankato East during C-squad action Saturday in Mankato.

Clow netted a goal off an assist from Kennedy Baarts before Clow set up teammate Elayna Anderson’s goal to cap the Cardinals’ offensive production.

Netkeeper Madi Stromberg recorded 12 saves to earn the shutout victory for Fairmont Area.

Boys Soccer

Albert Lea 2, Fairmont Area 1 — The Tigers converted a 13-4 shots-on-goal advantage into a narrow one-goal nonconference victory over the Cardinals on Saturday in Albert Lea.

Fairmont Area goalkeeper Tyson Geerdes turned in another solid performance between the pipes by recording a game-best 11 saves.

Striker Kaleb Hoye staked the Cardinals to a 1-0 lead by drilling home a penalty kick 12:45 into the opening half.

The Tigers, however, netted the equalizer with just 17 seconds remaining in the first half before scoring the eventual game-winning goal only 32 seconds into the second half.

Fairmont Area (3-5-1) travels to New Ulm on Tuesday night.

Fairmont 1-0–1

A. Lea 1-1–2

Albert Lea captured a 3-0 victory over Fairmont Area during junior varsity action Saturday in Albert Lea.

Bryant Armitage recorded four saves for the Cardinals, who matched the Tigers in corner kicks with 4 apiece.