The Superior High School boys soccer team opened its season at home Tuesday evening with a 4-0 loss to the Cloquet Lumberjacks.
The Lumberjacks took control of the game quickly and dictated play for the majority of the first half. The first Cloquet goal came during the 21st minute by Landen Straub.
Spartan junior keeper Kyle Ilenda was beaten again in the 31st and 32nd minutes of play. The Spartans were unable to regroup at the half, allowing another quick goal in the 41st minute.
Ilenda finished the game with 16 saves before being replaced by Eric Berger in the 35th minute. Berger tallied six saves for the Spartans.
Cloquet keeper Jordan Tucker earned the clean sheet with nine saves.
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"We have a lot of catching up to do with the Minnesota schools," said fifth-year SHS coach Aaron Ashley. "Wisconsin soccer started a week later than Minnesota and Cloquet already had a couple of games in on us and we're just starting our second week."
The 2008 Spartans only returned a handful of players for this season including just six seniors. The challenge for the Spartans this year will be to rebuild their defense and midfield with only a few returning varsity players that filled 80 minute playing roles last season.
Half of the varsity roster is comprised of first-year varsity players. The Spartans are further hampered by injuries in the midfield to two key returning players.
"It's a long 24-game schedule," Ashley said. "We have an ensemble cast, we just need to find a couple of players who want to step up and be that spark to get the whole team going."
The Spartans travel to Eau Claire on Thursday to play a doubleheader against Eau Claire North and River Falls. The first game begins at 1 p.m.
Cloquet-Esko-Carlton 3 1 -- 4
Superior 0 0 -- 0
First half -- 1. Landen Straub (Ben Seheuer), 21st; 2. Dan Toivonen, 31st; 3. Josiah Barrett, 32nd.
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Second half -- 4. Colton Roy, 41st.
Saves -- Jordan Tucker, CEC, 9; Kyle Ilenda, S, 16; Eric Berger, S, 6.
Superior High School
2008 Boys Soccer Schedule
Tue., Aug. 26 vs. Cloquet, L 4-0
Thur., Aug. 28 at ECN Invite, 1 and 3:30 p.m.
Tue., Sept. 2 vs. Hermantown, 5 p.m.
Thur., Sept. 4 at Duluth Marshall, 4:30 p.m.
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Sat., Sept. 6 at Hibbing, 1 p.m.
Mon., Sept. 8 at Proctor, 4:30 p.m.
Thur., Sept. 11 vs. Two Harbors, 6:30
Sat., Sept. 13 vs. Grand Rapids, 11:00
Tue., Sept. 16 at Duluth Central, 5 p.m.
Thur., Sept. 18 at Hermantown, 5 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 20 at Rice Lake , 11 a.m.
Mon., Sept. 22 vs. Spooner, 6:30 p.m.
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Tue., Sept. 23 vs. Osceola, 5 p.m.
Thur., Sept. 25 at New Richmond, 5 p.m.
Tue., Sept. 30 vs. Duluth Denfeld, 5 p.m.
Thur., Oct. 2 vs. Ashland, 5 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 4 at River Falls Quad, 10 a.m.
Thur., Oct. 9 at Spooner, 6:30
Sat., Oct. 11 at Chippewa Falls Quad, 10 a.m.
Thur., Oct. 16 vs. Washburn, 5 p.m.
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Superior High School
2008 Boys Soccer Roster
6. Pat Dalbec Sr. F
7. Dave Zastrow Jr. D
10. Tony Ledin Sr. M
11. Kyle Halom Jr. M
12. Ethan Walpole So. M
14. Keegan Ilenda Sr. M
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15. Jordan Britton Jr. F
16. Kyle Wilander Jr. M
17. Andy Fitzgerald Jr. M
18. Rob Kraft So F
19. Jeff Schmidt Sr. D
20. Andre Anderson Jr. F
21. Bob Johnson Jr. D
22. Brent Engstrom Sr. M
23. Malcolm Vann Jr. M
25. Ryan Zimmerman Jr. D
27. Aaron Emmert Jr. D
28. Jake Swanson So. D
31. Matt Miller Sr. M
46. Dan Kolenda Sr. D
98. Eric Berger Jr. G
99. Kyle Ilenda Jr. G
