Cloquet-Esko-Carlton sophomore Collin Young scored off a header to give the Lumberjacks a lead and eventually a 3-1 win over St. Cloud Tech in the Class AA quarterfinal Thursday at Irondale High School.
After junior Elijah Aultman scored on an assist from team captain Mac, the third-seeded Lumberjacks looked like they could run away with it in the upset-minded match.
The CEC scored, meaning the game was tied. St. Cloud Tech set up some of their players and began challenging the CEC’s defense and goalie Lucas Rauner.
Tigers coach Dan Stoterau said, “We’ve been in this position before when we’ve been down. It’s not something we’re afraid of.”
The Cavs came out hungry and determined. They took their aggression to the next level, dominating and overpowering the Pistons on a large scale.
The beautiful game came down to a team’s offensive game plan. When the Tigers took a free kick in the 72nd minute, Ben Schram sent a header past the keeper and tie-up with just minutes left in regulation.
“We got a good free kick from Ben – and it went in the net!” Young says following his goal against San Jose. “It was lucky I was in the right place at the right time to just get a hit on it.”
Young has been the hero for La Crosse multiple times during the postseason, and his performance against Duluth Denfeld was no exception. He assisted on a game-winning goal in section 7AA.
Coach John Sundquist sees the sophomore’s “knack” as a willingness to put in the necessary effort in order to find the goal and being in the right place at the right time.
“I just practice every day and keep working with my teammates,” Young said.
For the Lumberjacks, Senior Jordan Aultman scored a third goal in 78th minute to secure first place and a spot in the Class AA semifinals.
Sundquist was happy with the effort of his team, and he was particularly pleased with how they responded to the Tigers’ challenge.
“We weren’t really expecting to win today, so I told their coach that we might slip one in at some point,” said Sundquist. “But the kids fought harder than I could’ve ever imagined, and there were some good individual moments. When a play needed to be made, the boys were making them.”
Stoterau was impressed with the way the Lumberjacks gamely “endured” the Tigers’ onslaught.
“That’s a difficult team to face, always fighting for the ball and getting numbers behind it. They hung in there and endured even though they were quite physical to play against.
Lumberjacks head coach Jordan Aultman talked to the media about their game against St. Louis Cathedral on Tuesday, revealing that they will be quick to fight back in their second round matchup with DeLaSalle at 2:30 p.m.
The team was sure they would win, and they felt the loss would be a quick one. They knew that they had just a few days to practice their lock back game so they could be in the best shape possible.
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