The Albert Lea girls’ soccer team got scoring from a variety of sources Saturday as the Tigers continued their reign of champions at the Albert Lea Invite at Hammer Field

Albert Lea (6-2, 1-2 Big Nine) breezed to a pair of wins over New Ulm and Worthington to win its own tournament for the fifth consecutive year.

Taylor Friehl, who entered Saturday with one goal on the season, scored three times in a 6-1 win over the Eagles while a group of other players found the back of the net.

Having Friehl find the back of the net was big for the Tigers. Last season she finished with 10 goals and it’s been slow going through the first six games for her in the scoring department.

“We take pride in winning our own tournament and we don’t it lightly,” Albert Lea head coach Rick Barnhill said. “We take a lot of pride in winning a trophy together as a team.

“I was pretty pleased with the overall body of work between the two games. There were a lot of steady performances.”

The Tigers defeated Worthington 3-0 in the championship game for the second straight year as Friehl added her fourth goal of the day at the 29th minute.

Mariah Maras extended the lead to 2-0 quickly in the second half on a left-footed rocked from about 15 yards out 2 minutes into the second half and Sophie Miller tallied the other goals 6 minutes later when she dribbled through the Trojan defense and ripped a left-footed shot from 8 yards out.

It was Maras’ goal that deflated Worthington and helped propel Albert Lea to the victory.

“Her goal was good timing,” Barnhill said. “It really gave us a boost.”

It was yet another big goal for Maras, who has had a few in the past two years, including the game-winning penalty kick goal against Willmar last year in the section championship and a penalty kick goal against John Marshall in the Byron tournament last season.

“Mariah’s a big game player and she’s been that way in the past,” Barnhill said.

The Tiger attack was fluid and players looked composed with the ball at their feet and were able to effectively pass around the Worthington defense.

“The rhythm of the passing and the combination of the passing that we were able to put together in the second half was a good sign to see,” Barnhill said. “Some of that was a result of their fatigue, but some of it was a result of our composure. We’re establishing more composure on the ball.

Allison Stark was a big part of that with her play from the center forward position, a spot Barnhill moved her to Saturday from her right midfield spot.

“My main motivation was her ball control,” Barnhill said. “I think she’s got a good touch.”

Albert Lea outshot the Trojans 33 to 7 in the game.

Miller tallied two goals and an assist in the tournament and Ariel Christensen had a goal and two assists.

The two wins came against section opponents, which was important as the Tigers are trying to defend their section championship for the second straight year.

“We kind of take the attitude that it’s a good preview of section play because you have to earn the right to stay on the stadium field,” Barnhill said.

The tournament victory was just the kind of momentum Albert Lea needs as it heads into a difficult week of competition. The Tigers host Mankato West Tuesday and travel to Owatonna Thursday for two conference contests.