After starting the season 0-2 against East Grand Forks, the Detroit Lakes boys' soccer team rang up a full count, then jacked it out of the park with a 3-2 overtime shootout victory in the first round of the Section 8-1A playoffs Thursday.
A switch to bolster the Laker attack with just 10 minutes in regulation and down 2-1, paid off dividends, as DL head coach Justin Wegleitner moved senior defenseman Tony Carlson up front to forward.
Immediately, the Lakers started putting more pressure on the East Grand Forks net and with four minutes left in the game, Carlson made a charge in the penalty area, but was stopped in his tracks on a hard takedown by a Green Wave defender.
That prompted a penalty kick, and senior Cody Jordan kicked it home to tie the game at 2-2 and force overtime -- which ultimately worked in the No. 5 seeded Lakers' favor over the No. 4 EGF squad.
"Our defense limited EGF to just two shots on net in the 10-minute overtime period, which forced a shootout," Wegleitner said.
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The dramatics continued through the shootout, as Jordan's first shot was good, while EGF's shot was high over the cross bar.
Carlson put DL up 2-0, while the Green Wave converted its second try and freshman Jonathan Hallisey kept DL ahead 3-1.
Junior goaltender Ethan VanOffelen deflected EGF's third attempt, but the Lakers couldn't capitalize on their fourth try to keep the shootout tally at 3-1.
In the fifth and final round, EGF pulled to 3-2, but senior attacker Travis Kienitz made sure there would be no comeback as he shot his penalty kick past the goalie and the 3-2 victory.
"It was very nerve wracking and I can't remember this group of players ever being in one," Wegleitner said. "Ethan came up with some big saves, much like he was during the week of practice prior. It was good to finally get the win like this during this time of year.
"The guys are peaking at the right time."
Kienitz put DL up early in the match, scoring two minutes into the affair, with the assist by sophomore midfielder Sam Bergren on a cross pass.
EGF scored the next two goals and held onto the 2-1 lead before Jordan's penalty kick tied it with four minutes left in regulation.
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"Our defense played well," Wegleitner said. "Christian Tigges and Stephen Sinclair were tough and Gunnar Michon really came in and did a great job keeping the pressure on EGF's attackers."
The Lakers traveled to No. 1 North seed Bemidji. The winner will face the victor between the South's No. 2 Little Falls (12-2-0) and No. 3 St. Cloud Cathedral (11-3-2) at the high seed Tuesday at 4 p.m.
The Section 8-1A championship will be at St. Cloud State University Thursday, Oct. 20.
