The Bemidji boys soccer team ended its regular season Saturday with a 2-1 loss at Moorhead but the Lumberjacks will have the opportunity to regain their winning ways Tuesday when they host a first-round section playoff game.
Max Hazelton scored 45 seconds into Saturday's contest and Bemidji maintained the 1-0 lead at intermission.
Moorhead, however, controlled play in the second half and goals eight minutes into the stanza and 36 minutes into the period enabled the Spuds to earn the victory.
Isak Sommer drew the assist on Hazelton's goal when he headed a pass to Hazelton who was streaking toward the net from the left side. Hazelton gained control and beat the keeper on the lower right side.
"The game was a tale of two halves," said BHS coach Rick Toward.
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"We scored that goal early in the game but we had a couple of other chances that we didn't connect on.
"In the second half Moorhead controlled the middle and the center of the field is where everything takes place."
Lumberjack netminder Carl Graefe finished with six saves, including four in the second half. Bemidji fired seven shots at the Moorhead goalie.
The Jacks, who lost their first two games of the season, finished with a 12-4-1 record. They are expected to earn the second seed in the sub-section and host the No. 7 seed Tuesday at a time yet to be determined.
The official seeding will be today but Toward believes that Hillcrest Lutheran Academy will be the top seed and earn a first-round bye and Bemidji will be ranked second.
The coach also expects Detroit Lakes to be rated third, Alexandria fourth, East Grand Forks fifth, Crookston sixth and WHA seventh.
If those seedings prevail, Bemidji will entertain WHA, Detroit Lakes will host Crookston and Alelxandria will be home against East Grand Forks.
Bemidji would also have a home game for Thursday's second round if it wins Tuesday.
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"We are disappointed to end the regular season with a 2-1 loss at Moorhead," Toward said. "Obviously, we wanted to win Saturday but after an 0-2 start we'll take a 12-4-1 record. Whenever we lost this year we responded positively and hopefully Saturday's loss will provide a spark that will lead to another four-game winning streak that would take us to the state tournament."
The boys team had its best showing of the season Saturday and finished third in the 18-team Alexandria Invitational.
"It was our best race of the year," said BHS coach Ryan Aylesworth. "The guys are stepping up and running to their potential. We still have more in us and the boys know that but this was a great showing and a positive step."
Stillwater captured the team title with 62 points, Roseville was second with 139 and the Lumberjacks were third with 140. Rounding out the top five were St. Cloud Cathedral with 148 and Mounds View with 149.
Bryant Blahnik of Red Wing was the individual winner as he completed the race in 15:56.
Andy Berube paced the Jacks by finishing 11th in 16:35 and Alex Schoneberger was 15th in 16:53. John Buckanaga was 29th (17:08), Dan Clemenson 33rd (17:13), Jake Urban 52nd (17:28), Sam Carlson 70th (17:40) and Ryan Erickson 82nd (17:51).
"We took a major step in the right direction today," Aylesworth said.
Bemidji returns to action Tuesday at St. Cloud Tech.
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Bailey Drewes captured ninth place in a time of 15:35 to power the Bemidji girls cross country team to ninth place at Saturday's 18-team Alexandria meet.
The Lumberjacks also finished ninth in the team chase with 267 points. Monticello won with 44, Prior Lake was second with 88, Chanhassen had 115 for third, Roseville 138 for fourth and Mounds View 154 for fifth.
All but Mounds View are among the top-10 teams in the state.
Jamie Piepenberg of Alexandria was the individual champion as she finished in 14:20.
Other Bemidji results saw Kim Truedson place 16th (15:50), Dani Gronhovd 58th (16:52), Laura Edwards 88th (17:37), Mikayla Connel 91st (17:41) and Emma Brokl 96th (17:56).
Jenna Truedson, who is among the varsity team leaders, opted to compete in the junior high race and the eighth grader took first place with a time of 12 minutes over the 2-mile course.
"Overall we had a decent meet," Aylesworth said. "Most of the kids ran on par with their usual times against a very good field."
After earning a bye in the first round of the 8AA tennis tournament in Sartell Bemidji bounced Fergus Falls 5-2 to gain Tuesday's section semifinals.
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The Lumberjacks will play the No. 2 seed from the South 8 a.m. Tuesday in Sartell. Also advancing from the North is Brainerd which will battle the South's top seed.
Those winners will play 5 p.m. Tuesday for the 8AA title.
In Saturday's first round Alexandria dumped Little Falls 6-1, Brainerd blanked Detroit Lakes 7-0, Fergus Falls defeated Moorhead 5-2 and Bemidji had the bye.
The second round saw Bemidji top Fergus Falls 5-2 and Brainerd trim Alexandria 5-2.
"We had some tournament jitters but we overcame them," said BHS coach Mark Fodness. "You never know how high school kids will react in the first round of the tournaments but we played well."
Bemidji's singles winners were Jessica Solberg at second and Amy Frosaker at third. Cortne Solberg lost at first singles but the team victory had already been decided during her match. At fourth singles Claudia Bellew also fell.
The Lumberjacks swept the doubles. Emma Nielsen and Katie Ditmanson played their best match of the year and destroyed their first doubles opponents while Haley Pollock and Mackenzie Schultz rallied for a win at second doubles.
Claire Baumgartner and Francesca Huerd also won in straight sets at third doubles.
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Section 8AA also held its first round of individual play late Saturday but the matches were not finished by press time.
Cortne and Jessica Solberg were seeded No. 1 in doubles and received a bye. Nielsen and Ditmanson were ranked fourth in doubles and faced Brandi Bauer and Holly Kampa of Little Falls.
In singles play Frosaker battled the third-seeded Jenna Galstad of Alexandria while Bellew faced unseeded Sara Wennerstrand of Brainerd.
Section 8AA Team Tournament
First Round
Bemidji received a bye
Alelxandria 6, Little Falls 1
Brainerd 7, Detroit Lakes 0
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Fergus Falls 5, Moorhead 2
Second Round
Bemidji 5, Fergus Falls 2
Brainerd 5, Alexandria 2
Bemidji 5, Fergus Falls 2
Singles
Kimball (FF) def. Cortne Solberg 4-6, 6-1, (7-2)
Jessica Solberg (B) def. Nygaard 6-0, 6-2
Amy Frosaker (B) def. Marx 6-4, 6-1
Velde (FF) def. Claudia Bellew 6-2, 6-0
Doubles
Emma Nielsen and Katie Ditmanson (B) def. Jensen and Buck 6-1, 6-0
Haley Pollock and Mackenzie Schultz (B) def. Viane and Ouren 1-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2
Claire Baumgartner and Francesca Huerd (B) def. Schoeneck and Christianson 6-3, 6-4
