Staff photo by Ari Selvey New Ulm’s Piper Kapolczynski (right in purple) and Kiyla Kolden (left) celebrate with Allie Nelson (middle) after she scored a goal during a Big South Conference girls soccer game against Fairmont Tuesday at New Ulm High School.

NEW ULM — Though New Ulm came through with a big 5-0 win over Fairmont Area in a Big South Conference girls soccer game on Tuesday, it did not escape unscathed as it lost two of its starters to injury in the first half.

Jesalyn Skoglund scored the first goal of the game just a minute and a half in for New Ulm but was injured on the shot, leaving the game under her own power. Piper Kapolczynski suffered what seemed to be a non-contact leg injury 15 minutes later and had to be carted off the field.

“It’s unfortunate that we lost two players and one might be for the season,” New Ulm head coach Jonathan Johnson said. “We’re not sure yet. We’ll wait for the swelling to go down so they can evaluate more.”

Marlena Kral had two goals for New Ulm, while Skoglund, Allie Nelson and Yurida Fernandez all had a goal. Yurida Fernandez and Kiyla Kolden each had an assist, and New Ulm keeper Elizabeth Dake had nine saves.

Johnson said the team’s defense stood out as a highlight in the game.

“Our defense was pretty spectacular tonight,” he said. “They were pushing up and keeping them high up the field where they didn’t have too many chances to attack. They got a few shots off, but our defense kept them at bay, our midfield was controlling the ball really decent, and then we got a number of goals, one from a defender even from about 30 yards out. That was pretty impressive. It’s always good to get a win against a conference team. Very proud of the way the girls played.”

After Skoglund’s goal in the second minute, Nelson added to the score with a shot off of a rebound in the fourth minute to put New Ulm up 2-0. The Eagles kept up the attack, and with 15 minutes left in the first half, Kral got a shot off from far left of the goal that hit net, giving New Ulm a 3-0 lead. New Ulm had a chance to add onto the lead in the 37th minute as a penalty was committed in the Fairmont goalie box, but Fairmont goalie Addison Folkerts made the save. However, with 12 seconds left in the half, Kral got a through-ball and raced to the net for her second goal as the Eagles went into halftime up 4-0.

After the break, it took New Ulm 15 minutes to score its fifth goal, with Kolden passing back to defender Yurida Fernandez, who took a shot from 30 yards out for a score.

Both teams began to sub in their reserves after this. Fairmont got perhaps its best chance at a goal on the night with 11:30 to play as Dake had to come out to make a save, then was out of position for the rebound. However, New Ulm’s Yessenia Fernandez managed to deflect the second shot out of the goal, saving a score. Fairmont did see some steady offensive movement in the final 12 minutes, putting five shots on goal in the span, but were unable to come away with a goal.

New Ulm (1-1) plays the Wings United in Madelia on Thursday. Fairmont (0-2) hosts Waseca on Thursday.