The Big Lake girls lacrosse team opened their season with a road game in Duluth, on Friday, April 14. This was the first meeting between the two clubs, but a glimpse of last season’s score sheets laid proof of these being fairly evenly matched opponents. And that synopsis was correct, as a good battle ensued, and the Wolfpack emerged victorious, by a 14-9 final tally.

Several Hornets made their debut Varsity starts: seventh-grader Kaelyn Besler, eighth-grader Hvsotte Yahola, freshmen Ava Wellberg, Katia Slater, Keren Cortez-Sanchez, Sloane Griesert, and sophomore Melanie Cano. 

The temperature in Duluth was circa 30 degrees cooler than what it was in Big Lake. There was speculation that thunderstorms were looming, so both teams elected to begin early. Duluth started out the scoring with a couple of quick goals, but the Hornets got things rolling and scored on an unassisted goal by junior attacker Amelia Gardner. The Big Lake girls picked up their play and were gaining more possession of the ball midway through the first half. 

“We followed that with goals from senior captain Autumn Grunewald, assisted by senior captain Ella Beach, and another goal from Amelia Gardner, assisted by junior Amber Grunewald,” said Head Coach Lindsey Hartfiel. 

Senior Jade Sager procured her first Varsity goal, on a beautiful Autumn Grunewald assist. The Hornets tickled the twine once more, on an Amber Grunewald goal, assisted by Amelia Gardner, to finish the first half. 

“Our entire defensive group, which included defenders junior Abby Polacec, junior Mackenzie Dembinski, senior captain Alynna Acosta, senior captain Madison Farnsworth, freshman Ava Wellberg, and goaltender junior Eleona Dixon, played outstanding in the first half,” said Hartfiel. “Without their strong defensive positioning, communication, and timely saves, we wouldn’t have been sitting in the position we were for the first half,” 

Score at the hiatus was Big Lake 5, Duluth East 9. 

The second half started very strong for Big Lake, as they controlled play and maintained possession in the attacking end. Opening the second half scoring was Autumn Grunewald, unassisted, on a nice shot that eluded the Duluth goaltender. Then, the girls concocted a picturesque passing play from Amelia to Autumn, for a net-side goal. That was followed by an Amelia goal, assisted by eighth-grader Sunny Yahola, for her first Varsity point. The Hornets’ final goal came from Amelia, on yet another Autumn assist. 

Big Lake’s point-getters ended with a combined total of 16 team tallies: Amelia four goals, two assists; Autumn three goals, two assists; Amber one goal, one assist; Jade one goal; Ella Beach one assist; Hvsotte (Sunny) one assist. Hornets’ goaltender Eleona made great saves all evening long, including some from multiple free-position shots. 

“I am not sure we have had a better showing in an opening game, than we played last night,” said Coach Hartfiel. “Our coaches were very proud of the girls’ play, effort, and ability to compete, and we all have high expectations for the rest of their season!”