Tigers tie with Winona, move to 8-2-3 on the season

Published 12:00 am Monday, October 2, 2006

It was a sunny and windy day below the bluffs on Paul Giel Field. If you missed five minutes in the middle of the first half you missed all the scoring, but not all the excitement as the Tigers and the Winhawks fought through 80 minutes of regulation and two five minute overtimes for Albert Lea&8217;s third tie of the season, 1-1.

Winona opened the scoring with a solo run by the Winhawk&8217;s Harper Giese, shooting on the run.

The Tigers responded driving deep into Winona territory.

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Jenna Christensen and Abby Arends kept edging the ball closer to goal while mixing it up on the near baseline with two Winhawk defenders.

In their attempt to clear, Winona knocked it out and set up the Tiger corner kick.

Whitney Wilson dropped a ball to the back post, just outside the penalty area.

Arends was waiting and poked it through.

For the balance of the game, each side alternated attacks.

Albert Lea seized the momentum in the second half and throughout the two overtimes;winning most 50/50 balls.

The offense created some exciting moments, but he finishing touch eluded the Tigers.

&8220;Like the old saying goes, it was d/jˆ vu all over again,” Albert Lea head coach Rick Barnhill said. &8220;Last year it was a cross from Whitney to Abbey on the far post that gave us the goal, this time it was a nearly identical corner kick. We&8217;ll take the tie, look at the film and see if we can have an even better outcome when they come to Hammer Field next Saturday.&8221;

In the run up to the varsity game, Albert Lea&8217;s junior varsity was victorious, beating the Winhawks 2-0.

The last two regular season opportunities to see the Tigers are Tuesday against Mankato East for Seniors&8217; Night and Saturday afternoon when Albert Lea hosts Winona at Hammer field.

Albert Lea will be graduating eight off the roster this year: Amanda Arends, Millie Haapala, Kendra Olchefske, Samantha Overgaard, Elyce Rehmke, Jaclyn Rehmke, Leah Walters and Whitney

Wilson.