Wildcats remain unbeaten with three more victories

The Wildcats improved their record to 5-0 on the season, with a series of big wins over the last week.

Chisago Lakes 3, Cambridge-Isanti 1
The Wildcats scored three times in the first seven minutes of the game against Cambridge-Isanti and that was all they needed as they went on to beat the Bluejackets 3-1 last Thursday, September 5 at Cambridge-Isanti High School. Zack Pautz scored twice and assisted on Trevor Gervais’ goal. Tory Copeland picked up an assist on Pautz’s first goal and Nick Pautz got an assist on his older brother’s second goal.

Chisago Lakes 3, Forest Lake 0
Zack Pautz and Trevor Gervais each had a goal and an assist to lead the Wildcats to an impressive 3-0 shutout of Forest Lake in a noon matinee last Saturday, September 7 at Chisago Lakes High School. Peter Wilson scored with three minutes to go, assisted by Gervais. Joey Dutcher assisted on Pautz’s goal. “We hit the pipe about four times against Cambridge,” said Wildcat head coach Mark Leigh, “and we gave up a goal late in the game. We finished better against Forest Lake, keeping them off the scoreboard and scoring a late goal ourselves.”

Chisago Lakes 2, Buffalo 0
Buffalo packed it in to try to prevent the Wildcats from scoring. But the Wildcat offense scored twice and the defense rarely let Buffalo out of their own half of the field as the Wildcats beat the Bison 2-0 this past Tuesday, September 10 at Chisago Lakes High School. Midway through the first half, Joey Dutcher crossed a ball to Trevor Gervais in the Bison box and Gervais scored to put the Wildcats up 1-0. The Wildcats finally added an insurance goal and gave themselves a little breathing room with eight minutes to go in the game. The Wildcats crossed a ball into the Bison box from the right side. The Bison goalie knocked the ball out of the the front left side of the box. Trailing the ball, it looked like Zack Pautz would trap it and make a pass back. But he left the ball roll a few more feet to Logan Delmont. Delmont stopped the ball and ripped a left footed shot.

The goalkeeper never had a chance as the ball hooked into the upper right corner of the net to put the Wildcats up 2-0. With four minutes left, a Bison forward broke free in the left side of the Wildcat box and started to bear down on Wildcat goalkeeper Ian Lawlor. Wildcat defender Cole LaValle raced over, slid and knocked the ball out of bounds to thwart the scoring opportunity without incurring a foul and possible penalty kick. “He got past me and I wasn’t sure what he was going to do,” said LaValle. So I took a risk and did the slide tackle right between his legs. I was surprised he was still standing up after the tackle.” Wildcat goalkeeper Ian Lawlor had to earn the shutout late in the game.

With 20 seconds remaining, a Bison forward moved into the top of the Wildcat box and unleashed a shot to Lawlor’s left. A charging Lawlor reach quickly to his right to tip the ball away and preserve the shutout. The shutout was the third of the season for both Lawlor and the Wildcats. Lawlor and the Wildcat defense have allowed just two goals so far this season. “That was a very physical game,” said Wildcat head coach Mark Leigh. “That’s not generally our style, but we have to be able to win all types of games in order to have a successful season. We have dominated most of the teams we have played so far this season, and I think it’s only the second time we have started off the season with five straight wins.” The Wildcats play at Princeton tonight at 5 p.m. They will face their biggest test of the season when they host Mahtomedi this Saturday at noon at Chisago Lakes High School. And the Wildcats will head up County Road 14 to take on the North Branch Vikings next Tuesday at 7 p.m.