Kaden Haslach scored both of East’s first two goals, the first after a throw-in deep in New Ulm territory in the fourth minute and the second on a penalty kick after a handball in the box in the seventh minute.

“They have a method to how they play,” New Ulm head coach Tim Plocher said. “A lot of their goals historically come off their throw-ins and corner kicks, set pieces. They really work on those, and that’s how they got two of them in this game, the throw in and the PK … We knew coming into this they were going to be rough. Half my guys play with them in the summer, so there’s also that aspect to it.

“The first person we’ve got to beat is ourselves before we can focus on them, because we have to beat our own mistakes. We have to fix our own mistakes, we have to make it so we know what we are doing and are constantly aware of our situations that we’re in, and then we can transition to focusing on where we should be. On paper we should be a team that beats this team. We should have been a team that beat St. Peter, we should have been a team that beat [Tri-City United] or Orano, but we have to come out with 100%, 110%. We can’t relax or we’re going to lose games.

Ocampo scored both goals for New Ulm, with Junior Amoah assisting on one and Logan Goblirsch assisting on the other on a throw-in. Austin Krohn had eight saves for the Eagles.

Staff photo by Ari Selvey New Ulm’s Logan Goblirsch fends off two Mankato East defenders during a nonconference soccer match Monday at Kennedy Middle School in Mankato.

It was an important game for the Eagles, who haven’t earned a win in their last four games. Mankato East was a section opponent, and the Eagles were previously undefeated in Section 2AA. Now, New Ulm will have to await playoff seeding before its next game.

“We have a week break before our playoff game, so we have a lot to work on,” Plocher said. “Couple of things we’re going to work on we have ready and are ready. Intensity is a huge part of it. In practice, you practice how you play. If you’re going to relax, you’re going to play relaxed, you’re not going to play like your heart’s burning for soccer.”

After Hasalach’s goal, Ocampo scored his first in the 18th minute as Ocampo assisted him from the right. His shot went into the bottom right of the goal to cut the lead to 2-1. New Ulm had another chance soon after as a Mankato East defender got too handsy with a free-running Ocampo, drawing a free kick from just beyond the goalie box, but the shot went over the net. New Ulm stayed on the offensive, down to the final seconds of the half, but the Cougars defense held strong, deflecting the shot.

A flurry of goals followed out of the halftime break, started by East’s Luke Lebens in the 44th minute, then Ocampo again in the 46th minute off of a throw-in and an assist by Goblirsch. Finally, East’s Idris Daees cleaned up a shot in the 48th minute to extend the lead out to 4-2.

New Ulm had several chances to cut into the lead, with a double-header by Daniel Brownfield and Amoah just missing over the net after a corner kick in the 55th minute. Amoah had another shot on goal inside the box in the 62nd minute, but it was saved by East keeper Collin Pierskalla. Finally, New Ulm had two chances at a free kick late in the game, with the first by Ocampo glancing off the crossbar in the 75th minute and the second by Cole Frederick being saved by Pierskalla. In the end, no more goals were scored as East claimed the victory.

New Ulm finishes the regular season with a 12-2-2 record.