The Big Lake Girls Lacrosse team traveled to St. Cloud Friday evening, then returned home for a JV match Saturday against STMA.

Varsity vs. St. Cloud

In preparation for their game against a tough opponent in St. Cloud, Head Coach Lindsey Hartfiel determined her team would have to try to shut them down early in order to be successful. 

“With that mindset we decided we would stack our defensive end to start the game,” she said. “Unfortunately this was not enough to contain the high scoring offense of St. Cloud. 

St. Cloud went up 4-0 within a few minutes of the game in which Hartfiel decided to call a timeout to change her game plan back to our usual defensive set up. 

“This seemed to be more effective holding St. Cloud to only four more goals during the remaining two thirds of the half, making it 8-0 at halftime, she said. “At halftime, we divided our offense and defensive groups to try and regroup to see how we could slow St. Cloud while also getting ourselves on the score sheet.” 

The second half, Big Lake’s defense and goaltender played outstanding holding St. Cloud to less goals compared to their first half. 

“We also found the score sheet with a goal from Amelia Gardner making the score 12-1 at the time,” said Hartfiel. 

St. Cloud would sneak one more goal in before the match was complete making the final score a 13-1 loss. 

“I think by changing our systems prior to game time was a tall order to ask our girls to execute on the game field,’ said Big Lake’s Coach. “I am proud of the way they never quit,. They continued to pressure the opponent and during halftime and sideline discussions they were engaged in generating ideas of how we could do better. Bottom line we just couldn’t capitalize on the few chances we did get against a talented opponent.” 

Hartfiel believes her players can use this information in the closing games of the season playing a couple tough opponents to finish out their regular season schedule. 

JV vs. St. Cloud

Though the Hornets went down 2-0 early in this match, they battled back, tying it up by halftime with two unassisted goals by Kaelyn Besler. 

At halftime the only adjustment Hartfiel discussed was tightening up the defensive end to decrease the scoring chances for St. Cloud. 

In the second half, St. Cloud scored to go up 3-2, but the Hornets generated a scoring opportunity with shot and goal by Belle Nehwah making it 3-3. 

“Following that goal our girls dug deep,” said Hartefiel. We added another goal with a free position shot from Mckenna Sofka making it 4-3.” 

With a few minutes remaining St. Cloud called a timeout, during which the Hornets discussed the key of holding possession of the ball and they accomplished that goal for the most part until they lost the ball, and St. Cloud tied the game with less than 10 seconds left to make it a 4-4 tie. 

JV vs. STMA

Opening the game, Big Lake got a goal by Kaeyln Besler to go up 1-0. Shortly after, the Hornets had another goal made off a free position shot by birthday girl Ava Wellberg making it 2-0. They would score another goal by Danilyn Wemple assisted by Belle Nehwah making it 3-0. 

STMA finally found the scoresheet, getting one goal, but Big Lake answered with a goal from Layla Aasen, assisted by Kathleen Jones making it 4-1. 

STMA would get another goal before the half finished up with a lead of 4-2. 

The second half started with goals from Wellberg, Ellie Dixon, and Alivia Kiffmeyer goal assisted by Jones making the score 7-2. 

STMA would have another push with two unanswered goals before the Hornets put a couple more in the net with another goal by Besler, and another goal from Kiffmeyer assisted by Aasen making the final a 9-4 win.