Lions post a shut-out against the Cardinals

(Above) Clear Lake’s Conner Morey and GHV’s Isaac Knutson battle during Monday night’s game.  -Reporter photo by Chris Barragy

by Marianne Gasaway

Clear Lake shut out the GHV boys soccer team Monday, May 6, by a 2-0 score.

“We came out ready to play from the first whistle with great energy and intensity. We were able to possess the ball well and the team was communicating well,” said Clear Lake Coach Zach Hall.

The Lions had several good chances at goal in the early going, but couldn’t get anything in until Will Finn curled a left-footed shot to the back corner of the net with six-seconds left in the first half.

GHV Coach Joe Albertson said Finn’s sideline kick in the final seconds of the half was “deflating.”

“We had some golden opportunities for a couple of goals in the first half, but same up short,” said Albertson.

The second half was another good half of intensity and playing together as a team for the Lions.

Hunter Nielsen was able to get a ball past GHV goalkeeper  Logan Dalbeck with 12:28 left in the second half for Clear Lake’s second goal.

Finn and Nielsen were each credited with an assist, as well as a goal, on the night.

GHV took six shots on goal, but was denied by keeper Joel Groeneweg.   Jared Shaw made two attempts, while Kevin Meyers and Austin Bahensky took one apiece.  Jared Graham took four corner kicks and Shaw had one.  Graham was also turned away on a penalty kick.

Logan Dalbeck spent 77-minutes in goal for GHV and surrendered both Lion scores.

“The bottom line is that Clear Lake played with more energy and were able to make more plays than us,” said Albertson.  “We will have to learn from this game and put forth a better effort in our next one.”

Coach Hall said the Lions were at least somewhat inspired to avenge an earlier loss to the Cardinals.

“The boys came ready to play after losing at home to GHV last week and put together a complete 80 minutes of good team soccer,” said Coach Hall.  “We had plenty of attacks on goal with 15 shots on the night as a team.”

Columbus Catholic 7, CL 0

The Lions were faced with the tall task of hosting the number one ranked team in Class 1A, Waterloo Columbus Catholic, on Thursday, May 9.  Clear Lake gave it their all, but the Columbus machine prevailed, 7-0.

“We came out well organized and playing together the first 10 minutes of the game with a couple good chances at goal.  Columbus is a very technical team and they were able to get through our midfield and defense several times in the first half for a 3-0 half time lead,” said Coach Zach Hall. 

The second half was more of the same.

“Columbus is well organized and passed well with each other, putting in four goals in the second half. We did not play badly as a team, creating multiple chances at goal, but at the end of the night were unable to compete to the level that Columbus brought tonight,” said Coach Hall.

Lion goalkeeper Joel Groeneweg had seven saves.

Will Finn, Sam Badger, Hunter Nielsen, Jacob Petersen and Conner Morey all had shots on goal for Clear Lake.