It was only a matter of time before Detroit Lakes took command on the scoreboard after controlling nearly all of the opening 40 minutes against Pelican Rapids on the way to a sixth consecutive victory.
The Vikings are in their second season of varsity play and struggled to keep pace with the Laker offense, while DL had a tough time burying quality scoring chances early.
The Lakers have played only two goals in the past two weeks and got the offense moving as the game progressed.
“It was a good game; first half was a little bit bumpy but we made the adjustments in the second half,” said DL head coach Ben Aastuen.
Laker strikers buried two of 16 first half shots for a 2-0 lead at the half.
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Halli Pavek scored low left on Pelican Rapids keeper Grace Haugrud off a pass from Kate Stearns in the 12th minute.
Haugrud played well in net, holding the Lakers to just two goals off 16 shots.
Maddy Bowers tallied DL’s second goal with an assist to Annie Paulson.
Abby Larson had some tough luck in the first half sending a ball that was goalworthy but found the middle of the crossbar. A second Larson shot went off the left post.
Pelican Rapids had one scoring opportunity in the half when Chloe Paulson was fouled by Sasha Sekundiak on a breakaway. Paulson’s penalty kick was over the crossbar.
The early minutes of the second half were similar to the opening 40 minutes.
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Stearns set up Pavek with her second goal of the game and Bowers scored her second goal unassisted putting away a rebound off a Vikings defender for a 4-0 lead.
Stearns got loose and on the board with the Lakers fifth goal as DL continued to control play with the wind at their backs in the second half.
Kaydence Swiers added DL’s sixth goal and Stearns polished off a four-point night with her second goal of the game late in the half.
Ava Jones put a snowman on the scoreboard and Sophie Gunderson put up DL’s ninth goal scoring in the final five minutes.
Bowers recorded a hat trick as time wound down and DL surpassed 30 shots on goal.
The 10 goals tied the highest game total for the Lakers this season. DL put up 10 at Pelican Rapids (2-4) in the season opener.
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The Lakers have won six straight games to improve to 7-1 overall. DL travels to East Grand Forks for the third meeting between the teams. East Grand Forks (6-1) is the only team to hang a loss on DL winning 4-0 at Rotary Soccer Park on Sept. 1. The Lakers returned the favor winning on the road 3-1 on Sept. 17.
