New Richmond softball team opens up its offense against Baldwin-Woodville

• Tina Montpetit

New Richmond’s Tina Montpetit (right) gets a hug from teammate Kaycie Anderson after Montpetit scored the first goal in the Tigers’ 5-0 win over Baldwin-Woodville last Tuesday.

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The string of one-goal Middle Border Conference games ended for the New Richmond girls soccer team last week.

The Tigers snapped the string with their biggest offensive night of the season, rolling past Baldwin-Woodville 5-0 on the Tigers’ home field last Tuesday. Unfortunately, the Tigers suffered their first loss that wasn’t a one-goal margin two days later. The Tigers suffered their first multi-goal MBC loss of the season on Thursday when they went to Superior and suffered a 3-1 defeat.

Last week’s games left the Tigers directly in the middle of the MBC standings. The Tigers were in fifth place with a 4-6-2 record among the nine conference teams.

The win over Baldwin-Woodville was a revelation for the Tigers. The Tigers were repeatedly able to get behind the Blackhawk defense for excellent scoring opportunities. The Tigers capitalized for the first time in the 10th minute of the game. Kaycie Anderson rolled a lead pass to Tina Montpetit, who took off on a breakaway. Montpetit charged right at the B-W goalie, firing a low shot that got past the keeper before she had time to react.

The offense continued to roll with Anderson scoring twice and Dani Juhl and Sydney Simpson each scoring once. Anderson delivered the goal that crushed any ideas of a B-W comeback when she scored with 10 seconds left in the first half to put the Tigers ahead 3-0.

When the Tigers built the lead to 5-0 in the second half, coach Steve Tesar tried many of his players in different positions to get them a better overall knowledge of the team’s attack.

Tesar said he hoped this game would give the Tigers faith that, when they are aggressive on offense, good things can happen.

“We saw what we are capable of,” Tesar said.

When the Tigers went to Superior on Thursday, it was the first three minutes that decided the game. Superior scored twice in those opening minutes, on almost identical plays, as the Spartans topped the Tigers 3-1.

Superior’s Amber Holt scored all three of the Spartan goals. On her first two goals, scored in the first and third minute, Holt was able to work around a Tiger outside defender. She then cut toward the net and finished the play with a strong shot at the net.

“We dug ourselves a hole in those first three minutes,” said Tesar. “After that we went on a tear.”

The Tigers were able to produce a number of scoring chances, but seemed to shoot the ball right at the goalkeeper, especially on breakaways.

The Tigers got back into the game when Juhl scored 2:31 into the second half.

Anderson fed a pass to Hannah Hagen, whose shot was blocked by the Superior keeper. Juhl got control of the rebound, dodged the goalie and two defenders before depositing the ball in the goal.

Midway through the second half the Tigers suffered an injury that threw off their alignment. Stopper Abby Skoyen was kicked in the ankle, knocking her out of the game. The Tigers were never able to get back into their normal rhythm.

“We had to totally readjust our defense and that threw us into panic mode,” Tesar said.

Superior was able to take advantage, getting Holt free for her third goal at the 66:54 mark.

Schedule

The Tigers continue their conference schedule this Thursday with a game at Amery. The Tigers venture outside the conference on Saturday when they host Hudson. It is back on the road next Tuesday for the Tigers, with a game at Barron.

Tags: sports, tigers, soccer, prep