Kawecki’s late score pushes Fairmont past New Ulm
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FAIRMONT - Last season's Big South Conference Girls Soccer Championship game between Fairmont Area and New Ulm went to a shootout. As the two teams repeated as representatives of the Gold and Black divisions, it was only fair that Thursday night’s rematch was another nail-biter.
Olive Kawecki was the hero this time around for head coach Matt Nielsen and his Cardinals team, striking a shot past netminder Greta Berger with eight minutes left in regulation to seal the 2-1 win. It's the second straight season Fairmont took home the conference title. Both instances were hard-fought matches against a familiar foe.
"It was just exciting," Nielsen said. "Looking at all the fans still here, it was just really exciting to have that win in front of the fans in a nice crowd. ...We grinded tonight. That was a hard game against a really, really tough opponent. If we gave that effort and lost, I'd still be as pleased as can be. The effort was unbelievable tonight."
"This was the most physical game we've played all year. It was a clean kind of physicality. If I have any players who played and are not going home sore tonight, they're a special kind of athlete. Because I'm sore just watching them."
The Cardinals’ defensive strategy revolved heavily around New Ulm's front line, particularly Jesalyn Skoglund. Skoglund entered Thursday with an individual school record of 25 goals. The rest of the team notched 54 more.
Nielsen's plan to "drape" a single player on Skoglund, as well as forcing additional help from his defensive line, worked for most of the night. That is, except for the 29th minute of the opening half.
Piper Kapolczynski, who notched two scores in the previous September 1 matchup, dribbled through the top of the penalty area looking to create offense. Her swift pass to the left found Skoglund next to the net and facing open space. The senior winger's quick strike went past goalkeeper Addison Folkerts for an Eagles lead.
New Ulm outshot Fairmont 4-0 entering the halftime horn, controlling a chunk of possession and making things difficult for Nielsen's offense. Nielsen said the biggest shift on that side of the pitch came from assistant coach Dominick Driano's challenge during intermission.
"Coach Driano talked to them at halftime about embracing the physicality, rolling with it, and winning the aerial game," Nielsen said. "He had worked really hard with them on winning those uncomfortable balls."
Winning a few extra possessions helped change the game's momentum. It gave the Cardinals more possession in enemy territory while putting pressure on New Ulm's defense. The tone at Jeffery Kot Fields shifted three minutes into the second half.
Fairmont captain Mollie Leiding possessed the ball down the left sideline. Continuing to dribble with speed, Leiding booted the ball towards the opponents’ net, hoping to find a teammate on the receiving end.
And a teammate she found. Berger missed a save attempt on her initial charge outside the goal area. The ball fell directly in front of an awaiting Abbie Simpson, who perfectly struck her shot into the open net and equalized the score.
Folkerts and the rest of the Cardinals’ defense kept Fairmont in the game with a swarming performance. Folkerts picked up five of her eight saves during the second half, corralling a couple of strong New Ulm looks at the 15- and 13-minute marks.
"Addie did a fantastic job tonight," Nielsen said. "She really picked up her voice in the second half. In the second half, she was barking out calls and orders, and that's what we needed. I was really proud of her for that. ...I'd really like to note that Avery Chambers and the entire defensive line were great."
Mackenzie Gerhardt got the offensive spark going for Fairmont's final goal. After working for possession outside the right penalty area, Gerhardt continued moving forward through New Ulm's defense. She found a cutting Kawecki from the opposite side. Her pass left Kawecki with nothing but open space to finish.