Alexandria spoils Detroit Lakes home opener with convincing win – Detroit Lakes Tribune

DETROIT LAKES — The sun was shining and the wind was pleasant as the Detroit Lakes boys soccer team welcomed Alexandria to the Rotary Soccer Fields for the Lakers’ home season opener on Saturday, Aug. 24.

The Cardinals welcomed the Lakers to the Central Lakes Conference with a dominant 10-1 victory, thanks to six goals by Alexandria’s Otto Anderson. Detroit Lakes fell to 0-2 earlier in the season.

Alexandria scored early and often in the first half. Before the Lakers could blink, they found themselves in a 2-0 hole after Anderson and Sawyer Blair scored the first two goals of the game.

“We’re definitely still finding our feet as a team,” Detroit Lakes coach Jessie Olson said. “I thought we played well throughout the first half, especially the first 20 minutes. Everything Alexandria did, we can improve on. We know what we need to work on, that’s for sure.”

The Cardinals kept their foot on the gas in the first half. Their attacking attack gave Detroit Lakes’ defense a hard time with exceptional passing and positioning. After a Lakers miscue, Anderson found the back of the net for his second goal, giving Alexandria a 3-0 lead after 14 minutes.

Anderson kept the momentum going, scoring his third less than a minute later after a shot deflected off Detroit Lakes goalie Owen Lipton. The Cardinals built a 4-0 lead 20 minutes into the first half.

“Alexandria immediately figured out how to break down our defense,” Olson said. “They saw the passing lanes and executed them perfectly, giving them some really good opportunities. We’re a young team with very little experience, but to their credit, they’re a great team and they showed it tonight.”

The Lakers scored their only goal of the game in the 19th minute, Grayson Kohler splitting the Alexandria defense and slotting the ball into the net.

Detroit Lakes’ defense improved late in the first half. They rushed the ball and did everything they could to keep the Cardinals in front of them. Lipton used his long frame to make some nice saves.

The Cardinals were not held scoreless for long, as Anderson received a perfect pass from his teammate to score Alexandria’s fifth goal of the game. Alexandria scored one more goal before the end of the half, winning 6-1.

Alexandria’s defense didn’t break down in the second half as Detroit Lakes struggled to keep the ball in their own half. The Cardinals’ offense continued where it left off, scoring four goals in the second half. Anderson scored twice, completing a double hat trick. Rogan Anderson and Patrick Klecker each scored a goal.

“The result wasn’t what we were hoping for, but it was nice to get some younger guys in and get some experience,” Olson said. “We’re going to work a lot on movement and fluidity. They’re still figuring out their style of play. It’s hard to be rigid in football. There’s a lot of creativity, so we have to give the guys space to find their groove.”

The Lakers will have their struggles as the season progresses. All teams do, but Olson believes her team will fight through adversity and continue to work hard. She wants her team to make mistakes because those mistakes will become learning opportunities, and that will only make the team better in the long run.

“We have to continue to work together and grow as a team,” Olson said. “We’ve been pushing them hard in practice to really challenge themselves and find that maximum threshold and keep getting better.”

ALEXANDRIA 10 LAKES DETROIT 1

ALEXA – 6 4 – 10

DL-1 0-1

FIRST HALF POINTS – 1, GOAL ALEXA, O. Anderson, 2′; 2, GOAL ALEXA, Blair, 10′; 3, GOAL ALEXA, O. Anderson, 13′; 4, GOAL ALEXA, O. Anderson, 14′; 1, GOAL DL, Kohler, 19′; 5, GOAL ALEXA, O. Anderson, 27′; 6, GOAL ALEXA, Klecker, 36′

SECOND HALF POINTS – 7, GOAL ALEXA, O. Anderson, 42′; 8, GOAL ALEXA, R. Anderson, 48′; 9, GOAL ALEXA, O. Anderson, 56′; 10, GOAL ALEXA, Klecker, 73′

Cooper Kanthak is a sports reporter for the Detroit Lakes Tribune, Perham Focus and Wadena Pioneer Journal. Cooper graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in journalism and minors in digital and social media. A native of Pipestone, Minnesota, he has a passion for all things sports. You can contact Cooper at [email protected].