Breaking News
Local Sports

Skoglund scores 3, Eagles top Tigers

By Travis Rosenau 4 min read

NEW ULM -- Jesalyn Skoglund remembered the last time the Marshall Tigers were on the New Ulm Eagles soccer field before Thursday's matchup, and she wasn't interested in seeing a repeat of that.

Behind the senior forward's hat trick, the Eagles took down the Tigers 5-3 in a Big South Conference, nondivision girls soccer game at New Ulm High School.

New Ulm's (6-1-2) season ended last year the hands of the Tigers (3-2-3), who defeated the Eagles 2-1 in the first round of the Section 2AA playoffs in New Ulm.

While the Tigers were on the board first and led 2-0 in that playoff game last year, Skoglund said she remembers the Eagles were a little too comfortable at times, which hurt them. New Ulm took a 3-0 lead early on in Thursday's game, but the Tigers answered with two back. Eventually, the half came and the Eagles' lead was just 4-3.

"That's what they did to us last year in sections," Skoglund said. "We were pretty confident in ourselves and we kind of let off a little and they just used it and I think that's what happened today. We got a little confused, subbed some people in and sometimes when we're playing people in different positions, we get jumbled, but I think we did great getting refocused and scoring again."

While Thursday's regular season game didn't have as much at stake as playoff game, it was a chance for the Eagles to get a little payback and they wanted it.

The first goal came off a corner kick that Marshall goalie Tristynn Justesen knocked down, but it was deflected in after that and a goal was credited to Piper Kapolczynski for a 1-0 Eagles lead in the seventh minute.

Skoglund scored the next two goals unassisted for a 3-0 Eagles lead in the ninth and 10th minutes, respectively. But Marshall got on the board with a goal from Elsie Deutz that went high over the head and hands of New Ulm keeper Greta Berger in the 16th minute.

Minutes later, Madelyn Hoefer fought through the New Ulm defense to bury another shot in the net and have Marshall down 3-2 in the 17th minute.

A through pass from Grace Barie found Skoglund in the 28th minute for a 4-2 New Ulm lead.

"It's definitely a confidence boost," Skoglund said of her hat trick. "I love scoring. It's kind of my job as a forward to score, but I'm pretty fast, I think, so it's fun when teammates send perfect balls through."

Skoglund didn't have long to celebrate her hat trick with teammates before the Tigers were back on the attack. Another high shot from Hoefer less than a minute later had the Tigers down 4-3, which was the halftime score.

New Ulm didn't have many opportunities at the net in the second half, but a free kick from near midfield by Marlena Kral bounced through the Marshall defense and found Mallory Novak, who took it in and got it past a sliding Justesen for a goal in the 56th minute. That ended up being the final score of the night as a penalty kick by Deutz in the final minute hit off the crossbar to keep the game at 5-3.

Skoglund, who had to miss a few games to start the year due to a quad injury, is feeling good now and happy to be back contributing as one of New Ulm's senior leaders.

"My quad feels great," she said. "Marcus [Hopp], our trainer, is really great. I obviously didn't want to sit out three our four games, but it was definitely the right decision because now it doesn't hurt at all. My conditioning's fine, too, and it's just fun coming back with my team and we're all helping each other."

Berger finished the night with seven saves, while Justesen had nine saves.

New Ulm is at Worthington on Tuesday night.

Starting at /week.