BLAINE &045; Four-on-four soccer was a new experience for six members of the Albert Lea Elks U-12 girls’ team.

They learned quickly.

After falling in the opening round of the MYSA Soccer Sizzle Tournament in Blaine, the locals won four impressive contests to walk away with the championship.

Having not played in this type of tournament, the locals were apprehensive in their first game, against Spirit White, and were frequently caught out of position while losing 4-2.

Game two was against the highly skilled Forest Lake Lightning Bolts and it turned into a battle of goalkeepers. After a 1-1 halftime tie, Albert Lea scored midway through the second half and won 2-1.

The Elks team built a 3-1 lead on Spirit Red and held on for a 3-2 victory.

Fatigue started to set in as Albert Lea faced another tough foe in the Forest Lake Flash, but the locals led 3-1 at halftime and cruised to a 5-1 decision.

A second-place finish in pool play earned the Elks team a spot in the championship game, a rematch with Spirit White.

Fatigue was again a factor as Spirit White had played only three games and had an hour of rest before the title game while Albert Lea had played four consecutive games.

Defense and goalkeeping dominated early, but Sophie Miller broke free late in the first half to tie it 1-1.

Spirit White regained the lead with a shot that deflected off an Albert Lea defender.

At that point Stephanie Ferguson came out of the net and provided a much-needed spark, scoring quickly to knot it 2-2. Morgan Stadheim shut out Spirit the rest of the way and an inspired Albert Lea crew scored three unanswered goals for a 5-2 triumph.

Ferguson, Stadheim and Miller rotated at goalie throughout the tournament while also playing field positions, joined by Abbey Arends, Jenna Bowman and Elizabeth Winkels.

The players capped off by attending a women’s United Soccer Association game between the Washington Freedom and Boston Breakers, an exhibition match that featured most of the top women soccer players in the U.S. Many players from the USA World Cup championship team were present and played and, after the game, the pros met with fans and signed autographs.