HIGHLIGHTS: Goals In Each Half Help Bemidji Girls Defeat Spuds

Lily Paquette and Hannah Voge supplied goals on either side of halftime, and a second clean sheet of the season sent Bemidji to an important 2-0 victory over Section 8AAA girls soccer rival Moorhead on Tuesday afternoon at the Bemidji Middle School.

Matching up with their Section 8AAA rivals for the only time this regular season, the Jacks controlled much of the afternoon’s play but toiled much of the game to turn it into decisive finishing in attack. Their dominance in possession led to a dozen corners in the game, but none of them produced a goal in the crowded penalty area.

Voge was frequently Bemidji’s greatest threat going toward goal, attacking down the right flank and producing both crosses and her own efforts at goal that troubled the Spuds’ back line. She teed up fellow striker Paquette for a decent chance midway through the first half that ultimately did not produce a shot.

Moorhead rarely put together consistent opportunities in its own attacking third, but found its best chances through Hallie Steen’s running down the right. She produced the visitors’ best look of the match with an effort that glanced off the crossbar before Bemidji’s Clara Bieber was finally able to gather up as the game remained goalless.

Another cross from Voge–this time on the left–produced a huge look late in the first half for Isabel Renn, but the sophomore’s first-time volley missed wide from close range and left the Lumberjacks agonizingly without the breakthrough again.

Their wait to find the game’s first goal would not last much longer, as Voge swept a tall delivery into the penalty area with less than three minutes to go in the first half. Kate Halden was able to poke the ball to the edge of the six-yard box, where Paquette swept in her first goal of the season to put Bemidji in front.

The Jacks continued to press for a second early in the second half when Voge hurriedly mis-controlled a cross that fell her way in the middle of the area.

A series of chances then fell to Bemidji on an effort off the crossbar by Kate Corradi and a sharp-angle shot by Paquette that struck the post, with Moorhead eventually clearing to stay down by just a goal.

Somewhat fittingly, a looping cross-shot from Voge in the 57th minute was the goal that providing breathing room by doubling Bemidji’s lead. The senior created room from a Corradi pass by cutting outside of her marker before clipping a lobbed effort into the far corner from inside the 18-yard box.

Bieber posted her first clean sheet in goal by notching four saves as the Jacks doubled up Moorhead 8-4 in shots on goal.

Bemidji (3-3) will next visit Hillcrest Lutheran on Thursday for a 4pm match.