The Elks U-13 girls’ soccer team has never lost a game to a Rochester team in the last four years and it has turned into a great rivalry.

On Wednesday night Rochester came to town hoping to put an end to their losing streak.

The local girls wouldn’t cooperate. The game was played mostly in the midfield with both teams getting very limited shots on goal. Halfway through the first half, Albert Lea’s Madi Passinghim took a shot that bounced off a defender and into the path of Abbey Arends. Arends sent an awkwardly bouncing ball past the keeper and into the net to pazut Albert Lea up 1-0.

Late in the first half Morgan Stadheim drove the ball up the middle and sent a long hard shot into the up left corner of the net to end the half with Albert Lea up 2-0. The teams traded a few shots on goal in the second half, but neither team could score.

Albert Lea went on to win the game 2-0.

On Monday the girls faced off in Rosemount against a Dakota Rev team. This was another great game with each team making drives towards the net and being repelled by a strong defense. Late in the first half, Sophie Miller intercepted a midfield pass and went the distance to score for Albert Lea.

Sophie scored her second goal of the game in the second half on a direct free kick from just outside the penalty box. Dakota Rev scored a goal late in the game off a deflected shot. Albert Lea’s defense held and they went on to win 2-1. The girls are now 4-0 on the season and next face Shakopee at home.