Graff scored once in the first half, then twice in the second, taking the game out of reach for the Eagles.

Mankato East took a 9-2-1 record into the matchup, with the only losses coming against Class AAA schools Shakopee and Rochester Mayo and a draw against Class AAA school Rochester Century.

New Ulm’s lone goal game in just the third minute as Jesalyn Skoglund gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead. But the offense never struck again, getting just three total shots on goal.

“They were controlling the middle a little better than we were,” New Ulm head coach Jonathan Johnson said. “I thought we did a really good job today. The score doesn’t indicate how we played, that’s for sure, because I thought we held with them really good. A couple of really good shots, and that’s the way it goes …

Staff photo by Ari Selvey New Ulm’s Morgan Zimanski shields the ball from a Mankato East defender during a nonconference girls soccer match Monday at New Ulm High School.

“The girls were trying hard. A lot of the subs we’d usually pull up are gone, so they’re running a little extra more than usual. They were getting tired out there. But I don’t really want to use that as an excuse. All and all, it was a good game.”

New Ulm goalkeeper Ellie Dake had 15 saves on the day.

After Skoglund’s goal in the third minute, Mankato’s East Ava Tibodeau scored in the 14th minute as she out-sped the defense. New Ulm’s Josie Nelson deflected another shot to prevent the tiebreaker in the 17th minute, and New Ulm’s defense stood strong, drawing several offsides calls. However, the line broke as Graff broke away for her first goal, getting behind the defense and scoring for a 2-1 Mankato East lead.

Skoglund put another shot on goal with five minutes to go, but it was saved. New Ulm made a few more attacks late in the half, but nothing came of it as the game went into halftime.

Graff scored her second goal two minutes after the break, then 12 minutes later, Emily Mulenburg made it a 4-1 game. Graff completed her hat trick with 14:34 to play for a 5-1 lead. Dake made two difficult saves on a breakaway attack with eight minutes to play to prevent further damage.

New Ulm (7-3-2) travels to Tri-City United on Tuesday.