Mixed Bag: Minnesota West draws Lake Superior College 4-4
Aug. 27—WORTHINGTON — The Minnesota West Bluejays men's soccer team experienced a mixed bag of emotions on the field against conference opponent Lake Superior College Sunday afternoon.
The Icehawks and Bluejays tied 4-4 after an action-packed game.
Lake Superior started the game fast — quickly netting two goals against the Bluejays defense.
But the Bluejays are a resilient bunch. And with 20 minutes to go, their first German-born striker and current Minnesota West star Anton Cordes scored through thick Icehawk traffic.
Prince Lebbi Jr. — who started the game as an outside defender — was moved forward to his natural position of outside winger. Lebbi scored the Bluejays equalizer with 11 minutes to go in the first half.
Minnesota West wasn't finished as Cordes netted himself a first half brace and secured Minnesota West its first lead 3-2.
"The ability to come from two down and finish three to end the half is amazing. Great job by our players to do that," said Minnesota West coach Jordan Balster. "We felt we were dangerous in the attack most of the game. But that's how it goes ... some go in; some — some don't."
In the second half the Bluejays built on their lead fast as Lebbi netted a second goal of his own — first beating his defender in a foot race and then the goalie with a shot into the left corner.
"There were some good plays, where we were able to exploit some space in behind with our speed up front," said Balster. "Which is fantastic."
Minnesota West were close to netting a fifth straight goal after Cordes was fouled by the last man just outside of the penalty area.
As the Icehawk defender was shown a yellow card, Eswin Hernandez and Cordes lined up together over the ball as potential takers. Cordes hit the ball on net — which was saved but not caught by the Lake Superior keeper. Ulises Barrera Garcia connected his head to the rebound but caught the wrong side of the goal post for a Lake Superior goal kick.
The Icehawks upped their intensity and quickly put a shot on net — which Bluejays goalkeeper Eli Robinson just adjusted high of the net. On the ensuing corner kick, Robinson was once again tasked with making a great save.
A Bluejays counterattack also fizzled out after Lebbi hit the ball high of the crossbar from a Cordes cross into the box.
The Icehawks carried momentum down the field and with just over 25 minutes to go the Icehawks turned a two-goal game down to one.
After the second half water break the game was tied up as the Icehawks capitalized on a Bluejays error inside of the penalty area and a normally offside player for Lake Superior was able to connect the equalizer past Robinson.
Minnesota West had chances to regain the lead — mostly from corner kicks. Francisco Gonzalez connected on a cross in from the corner but once again the Bluejays hit the wrong side of the post.
Edgar Carrillo took a shot from 18 yards out which turned into a Bluejays corner after the Icehawks' goalkeeper directed the ball out. In the ensuing corner Dalen Gonzalez connected his head on the cross in but the ball went high of the net.
"In the second half, I'd like (us) to be able to put the game away and go out with the win, but it's all learning experiences," said Balster. "We have a large freshman group. So it's great to get some of these games under the belt."
Minnesota West plays this Wednesday at 2 p.m. against Central Community College-Columbus. The Bluejays have a season record of one win and one tie.
Minnesota West 3 1 — 4
Lake Superior 2 2 — 4
