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Chisago Lakes 2, Monticello 0

The Wildcats used a few tricks up their sleeves, scoring two second-half goals after two throw-ins by senior Ross Jones, beating the Monticello Magic, 2-0 Monday, October 2 at Chisago Lakes. The Magic is the top team in the Mississippi Eight Conference.

The Magic had an excellent scoring opportunity in the 55th minute. A wide-open Magic forward received a through ball near the top of the Wildcat penalty area. But before he could get off a shot, Wildcat senior defender Troy Aadland smothered him and played the ball out of bounds to end the scoring threat.

Chisago Lakes got on the board in the 65th minute. Jones’s throw-in from the left side deep in the Magic zone found senior Chris Golv. Golv passed the ball to senior Mark Eagan, who made a nice effort in the penalty area and scored in a crowd, putting the Wildcats up 1-0.

The Wildcats had a plethora of scoring opportunities over the next 10 minutes. In the 74th minute, Jones took a quick throw-in from 35 yards out on the left side. The well-placed ball rolled through to the center of the field near the top of the penalty area. Golv beat the goalie to the ball, got around him and pushed into the right corner from 10 yards out to give the Wildcats a two goal lead and making the final score Chisago Lakes 2, Monticello 0.

Wildcat goalie Tommy Fitzer made eight saves in recording his eighth shutout of the season.

“I was pleased with the way some of our seniors stepped up in this game,” said Wildcat head coach Mark Leigh. “Ross Jones, Troy Aadland and Mark Eagan each played one of their best games of the season, and it’s important that we play well heading into the section playoffs.”

CL 7, Columbia Heights 1

The Wildcats scored four goals in the first eight minutes against the overmatched Columbia Heights Hylanders and cruised to a 7-1 victory in a conference matchup Tuesday, October 3 at Chisago Lakes.

Chris Golv led the way with two goals and four assists for the Wildcats, while Mark Eagan had two goals and two assists. Christian Swanberg, Zak Vrudny and Zach Lukas each had a goal, and Troy Aadland recorded one assist.

Spring Lake Park 2, CL 0

The Wildcats hosted conference leader Spring Lake Park to end the regular season, losing 2-0 as they headed in to the Section 3A playoffs.

The Wildcats had several good scoring opportunities throughout the game, but were unable to convert any of them. One of their best opportunities came in the 37th minute as the Panther goalie barely beat Christian Swanberg to a through ball, pouncing on it to prevent the shot.

The Panther goalie punted deep, and a Panther midfielder played a through ball for one of his forwards. Wildcat goalie Tommy Fitzer raced to get to the ball first, but the Panther player got off a quick shot, to put the Panthers up 1-0. The Panthers nearly took a 2-0 lead just one minute later. After some Wildcat pressure, the Panthers burst out of their zone and ended up with a three-on-two after a Wildcat defender fell down. Halfway into the zone, a Panther player sent a pass toward his wide-open teammate streaking down the left side. But Wildcat defender Brandyn Johnson made a great play as he anticipated the pass, cut the ball off and sent it out of bounds.

The Panthers scored their second goal to put the game away in the 65th minute. They put a pass through to a wide-open player in the center of the penalty area, and he beat Fitzer low and to the left with a quick shot to make the final score Spring Lake Park 2, Chisago Lakes 0.

SECTION PREVIEW

By virtue of an undefeated record against section teams, including a 1-0 win over number two seed Mahtomedi, the Wildcats received the number-one seed in the Section 3A playoffs. CL will have home field advantage as long as they continue to advance through the section playoffs.

The Wildcats will open the playoffs in a quarterfinal matchup this Saturday, October 14 at 1 p.m. against the winner of the opening round game between eighth-seeded Humboldt and ninth-seeded Simley. If the Wildcats win their quarterfinal game, their semifinal opponent will likely be St. Agnes/St. Bernard’s or Mounds Park Academy next Tuesday, October 17.

St. Agnes/St. Bernard’s (7-4-7 overall) may be the most intriguing team in the section, having lost to the tenth-seeded North Branch Vikings 2-0 earlier this season, then beating fifth-ranked Breck 1-0 in their final regular season game.

The section final will be played at the home of the highest remaining seed next Thursday, October 19.

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