Bemidji boys improve to 7-0-1 with one-sided victory against Walker

WALKER – The season-opening unbeaten streak for the Bemidji boys soccer team reached eight games (7-0-1) Saturday as the Lumberjacks blanked Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 5-0.

BHS coach Rick Toward used Saturday’s contest as an opportunity to reward some of his reserves with extended playing time.

Among those who took advantage of the opportunity were Felix Hoefer who scored his first goal as a Lumberjack, goalkeeper-turned forward Connor McNallan who tallied twice and Ryan Greendahl who scored on a penalty kick in the final minute.

“We had a ton of kids who don’t usually play much receive a ton of minutes Saturday,” Toward said. “It’s good for the program to have a chance to see some of the younger players and to try some things that we normally don’t do.”

Hoefer opened scoring 17 minutes into the action when he camped in front of the goal and tapped home Neiko Gale’s crossing pass.

About eight minutes later McNallan, who caught a touchdown pass Friday to help the Jacks football team bounce Duluth East 14-7, tallied his first of two Saturday goals by heading in Greendahl’s corner kick.

McNallan struck again a minute later with an 18-yard shot that found the net inside the left post.

Bemidji maintained the 3-0 lead at intermission and capped the scoring with Riley Brooks’ goal at 54 minutes and Greendahl’s penalty shot at 79 minutes.

Bruno Cheney, who normally tends the net for the junior varsity, stopped four shots on way to the shutout. The Lumberjacks put 15 shots on WHA goalkeeper Seth Kimball.

Bemidji hosts Hibbing Thursday before visiting Brainerd on Sept. 22.

Bemidji 3 2 - 5

WHA 0 0 - 0

First Half

B-Hoefer (Gale). 17:00

B-McNallan (Greendahl). 25:00

B-McNallan (unassisted). 26:00

Second Half

B-Brooks (Nelson). 54:00

B-Greendahl (penalty kick). 79:00

Saves

Cheney (B) 2 2 - 4

Kimball (WHA) 5 5 - 10