With a big target on its back heading into the playoffs, the Northland Pines varsity boys’ soccer team worked through the regional round last week, which ended with a regional championship plaque in hand. The Eagles defeated No. 5-seeded Washburn 3-2 at Sam Larsen Field in Eagle River on Saturday afternoon. They also shut out Regis in the regional semifinal last Thursday to open their playoff run.
“I think we played a really good match with high intensity. Both teams played aggressively for the full 80 minutes. I was very pleased with how the boys continued to play their game and keep a positive mindset, letting distractions go. We had really good offensive pressure for much of the game,” Northland Pines Head Coach Jamie Remme said after the regional final win.
After losing a tough regional final game last season, the Eagles got the best of their opponent this year to advance to the sectional round for a second time in three years.
Northland Pines opened the scoring early in the first half after being awarded a penalty kick. Senior Ryan Rydeski put them ahead 1-0 in the 11th minute before Sam Shrock doubled the lead about eight minutes later. Washburn got one back in the back half of the opening half. After the 1-1 tie, each team tallied one more goal to make it a 3-2 game at halftime. Neither side scored in the second half.
Northland Pines controlled possession a lot in the first half and continued to dominate it in the second half. Pines held the line defensively and possessed the ball with intent to close out the win. Pines finished the win with 23 shots, and senior Easton Otto finished a strong performance in the net with 11 saves.
This win was the second of the playoffs, as the Eagles shut out Regis in the regional semifinal to open the playoffs on Oct. 22. Rydeski scored all five goals for Northland Pines in the win. Pines led 2-0 at halftime, and increased the lead to 5-0 within the first 20 minutes of the second half.
“Ryan found himself in the right place at the right time throughout the evening,” stated Remme. “I was very happy to get more of our guys on the depth chart playing time and experience in a playoff game.”
The Eagles will have had four days of practice ahead of hosting No. 3-seeded Amery in the sectional semifinal this Thursday, Oct. 29, at 4 p.m. These two teams met back on Sept. 26, with the Eagles coming away with a 3-1 win after two second-half goals broke a 1-1 halftime tie.
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