NORTHFIELD &045; It was hot and humid and the Albert Lea Tigers were facing a very physical Northfield High School girls’ soccer team.

They kept their cool and their composure.

The Tigers answered an early goal with four consecutive goals and then held off the Raiders 4-3 in a nonconference game at Northfield Saturday.

&uot;It was a very physical game, and the girls overcame that and some of the other happening on the field,&uot; said Albert Lea coach Todd Lange. &uot;They were able to tough it out on a hot, hot day.&uot;

The Tigers also reached the .500 mark at 2-2-2 but, more importantly, picked up a victory against a Section 2A opponent, which could have a bearing on postseason tournament seeding.

Amy Ravenhorst scored on an assist from Amy Marka to tie it 1-1 about 18 minutes into the game and it remained knotted until 13 seconds left in the first half, when Laura Hillman scored on an assist from Amy Marka.

The Tigers took control in the second half, scoring twice within the first 15 minutes to take a 4-1 advantage.

Brittany Arendt made it 3-1 on an assist from Marka, who deflected a free kick by Katie Dooley that glanced off the crossbar.

Dooley scored on a free kick with about 26 minutes remaining.

Northfield battled back and pulled within a goal on a penalty kick with six minutes left, but the Tigers dominated from there and the Raiders never got another shot on the Albert Lea net.

The Tigers outshot Northfield 16-13 but, according to Lange, it wasn’t that close.

&uot;Most of the game was played in Northfield’s defensive end,&uot; said Lange. &uot;We really controlled the ball at midfield, I felt.&uot;

Lange praised the play of goalie Liz Reynen, along with Ravenhorst, Arendt, Dooley, Marka, Mandy Ardolf and Sydney Staloch.

The junior varsity played to a 0-0 tie while the C-squad won 2-1.

The Tigers are off until Thursday, when they entertain Austin in a 7 p.m. Big Nine game at Hammer Field.