Raider soccer splits in BRC play

• Alyssa Claflin looks to distribute the ball

Hudson senior captain Alyssa Claflin looks to distribute the ball in the second half of the Raider girls’ soccer teams’ 2-0 loss at River Falls last Tuesday. Photo by Bob Burrows

Talk about it

The Raider girls’ soccer team split a pair of Big Rivers Conference matches last week before posting a 5-1 nonconference victory Saturday, May 19 at New Richmond.

Hudson dropped a 2-1 decision last Tuesday at River Falls while picking up a 2-0 road victory Thursday at Rice Lake.

The Raiders, now 5-4-1 in BRC play, 6-4-1 overall, hosted Eau Claire North this past Tuesday, May 22 and will travel to Chippewa Falls for the regular season finale on Thursday, May 24.

Last Saturday at New Richmond, Alyssa Claflin scored two goals and goalkeeper Megan Nelson played up front and scored a goal in a 5-1 Raider win.

“That was nice to see,” head coach Allie Knutson said about Nelson’s goal. “It’s too bad we don’t have another set keeper, as she is pretty good out on the field.”

Marki Thompson and Cassie Wurm also scored for the Raiders in the victory.

“The whole team played well, apart from their one goal where we were caught ball watching and not marking,” Knutson said. “Plus, it was a very nice goal by them.”

Last Thursday at Rice Lake, Maggie Koehler scored a pair of second half goals and Nelson made six saves to record her third shutout of the season in a 2-0 Raider victory.

“Our control in the first half was not very good,” Knutson said about the game. “The entire team played much better in the second half. Megan Nelson had a few nice saves and our backs, particularly Molli Bichrt, Alyssa Muller and Kristin Sobotka, played well. Hannah Wirth is also turning into a strong part of our center.”

Last Tuesday at River Falls, the Raiders and Wildcats played to a scoreless tie in the first half before River Falls got a goal off a corner kick in the 51st minute and added another goal with about six minutes remaining to make the final 2-0.

Knutson said she was disappointed with the loss, but happy with how the team played.

“I think we are starting to gel and do some good things,” she said. “As usual though, we have moments where we break down, and that’s when the other team can take advantage.”

Knutson said she is looking forward to a strong end to the season.

“We are really hoping to work hard and win the rest of the games this season,” she said. “I know the girls can, but they just need to do it.”

Tags: sports, soccer, raiders, prep