Spartan soccer team blanked in home opener

The Ashland Oredockers spoiled the Superior High School boys soccer team’s home opener with a 5-0 victory Thursday evening at the SHS soccer fields.

Superior seemed to control the first couple of minutes and then played even with Ashland until the Oredockers scored goals 34 seconds apart midway through the first half.

After that it was all Ashland, which went on to score two more goals in the first half and the only goal in the second.

Thomas Whiting and Jared Heino combined in the clean sheet for Ashland (3-2), finishing with five saves.

Nick Hesselgrave made nine saves for Superior, which falls to 1-4 on the season.

Johnny Sechen and Brett Hulmer gave Ashland a 2-0 lead with Greg Lesneski assisting on both goals.

Alex Wilson scored with an assist from Zach Whiting with 2:50 left in the first half and Hulmer scored again on a free kick 1:07 later.

Zach Whiting scored the only goal of the second half with a helper from Wilson. The final goal came on a free kick about 30 yards from the Superior goal. After two fakes, Wilson finally moved the ball to the right and centered to Whiting, who beat Hesselgrave with 25:07 remaining in second half.

The Spartans host New Richmond at 11 a.m. Saturday and play at Cloquet at 4:30 p.m. Monday.

Ashland (4-2-1) 4 1 — 5

Superior (1-4) 0 0 — 0

First Half: 1. Ash., Johnny Sechen (Greg Lesneski), 20:57. 2. Ash., Brett Hulmer (Lesneski), 20:03. 3. Ash., Alex Wilson (Zach Whiting), 2:50. 4. Ash., Hulmer (free kick), 1:43.

Second Half: 5. Ash. Whiting (Wilson), 25:07.

Saves: Thomas Whiting, Ash., 2-2-4. Jared Henio, Ash., x-1-1. Nick Hesselgrave, SHS 4-5-9.

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