MOUNT VERNON – Defending district champion Lakewood fought off a late second-half rally to capture a 1-0 victory over Granite Falls Thursday in a winner-to-state District One Class 2A boys soccer game at Mount Vernon High School
The Cougars clinched at least the district’s No. 2 berth to the state tournament and play Sultan for the district title at 2 p.m. Saturday at Mount Vernon High School.
The Granite Falls Tigers (13-4), who had won just two games in the past three years, play Blaine in a loser-out game at noon Saturday at Mount Vernon.
“This is the first time we’ve made it this far and it’s the first time we’ve been shut out,” Granite Falls coach Bob Weinman said.
“Being in last place all the time and then finishing second, it’s an adjustment for these guys. So losing this game is very hard.”
Lakewood’s Curtis Hackworth, who scored the winning goal nine minutes into the game, eluded a handful of defenders before beating Granite Falls freshman goalkeeper Vern Nelson one-on-one to give the Cougars the game’s lone goal.
“He (Hackworth) went right through their defense,” said Lakewood’s first-year coach Vaughn Vandelac, whose Cougars are chasing their second consecutive district title and third straight trip to the state tournament.
“He really fought for it. I’ve been telling the boys that one goal is all we need.”
The final 71 minutes belonged to the Cougars’ stifling defense, which targeted Granite Falls’ standout goal scorer Kyle Nelson.
Nelson, who entered the game with 24 goals and 42 points, rarely got a good shot on net. In fact, nearly every time he touched the ball, Nelson was blanketed, usually by multiple defenders.
“No. 6 (Nelson) is their go-to guy,” Vandelac said.
“We talked a lot about shutting him down by shadowing him and not letting him get too much room. We did a good job. We wanted our defense to delay him. He’s got some good foot skills and if you let him go, he’ll hurt you. He’s their guy, he’s their big gun. But we shut him down.”
After getting just two shots on goal in the first half, the Tigers made their best surge in the final five minutes.
Though most of the close-range shots sailed wide, the Tigers’ best opportunity came on a Nelson throw-in with less than three minutes remaining. The throw bounced off a few defenders and fell behind Lakewood goalkeeper Ryan Clifton. With the ball lying near the goal line, a Lakewood defender emerged from the crowded goalie’s box and kicked the ball out of bounds.
“The last few minutes, Granite Falls really stepped it up,” Clifton said. “They put a lot of pressure on us in the final minutes of the game. I was a mess back there. But we were able to pull it out in the end. Our defense was extraordinary. They’re the ones who win every game for us. They keep the ball up front and keep me safe and we go home with another victory.”
Lakewood won for the fifth time in its last seven games, while the Tigers lost for just the second time in the last 11 games.
At Mount Vernon
Goals-Lakewood: Hackworth. Goalkeepers-Lakewood: Clifton. Granite Falls: Turner. Records-Lakewood 13-4 overall. Granite Falls 13-4.
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