Owatonna Girls Find Scoring Touch, Get First Soccer Win

The Huskies scored more goals in the first half Tuesday then they had in their first four games while on the way to a 4-2 victory over Mankato East. The win was the first for new head coach Nate Gendron and featured the first two career varsity goals for Anna Herzog.

Owatonna got rolling quickly with two goals barely four minutes into the contest. Malaika Young scored off a stellar flip throw on a throw-in by Sydney Kretlow, followed quickly by Jordan Whalen on a breakaway set up by Kaia Elstad. Mankato East pulled within 2-1 about ten minutes into the game.

Herzog notched back-to-back goals late in the first half for a 4-1 halftime advantage. The Huskies had three goals over their first four games which included a tight 2-1 loss to top-five ranked Minnetonka Saturday.

East scored eight minutes into the second half and had several other chances but goalkeeper Emilee Zirngible made several great saves and the defense diverted some other opportunities. Owatonna out shot the Cougars 11-9 and missed on a penalty kick in the second half.

Owatonna (1-4-1, 1-1-1 Big Nine) travels to Albert Lea Thursday and hosts Lakeville South Saturday.

In other Tuesday events, OHS boys soccer beat Mankato East 2-1, volleyball lost at No. 8-ranked Northfield 3-0 and girls tennis narrowly lost 4-3 to No. 8-rated Rochester Mayo. Owatonna's swimming and diving team got first place finishes from Burke Henderson in the 100 backstroke and Ali An in diving in their meet at Rochester Century.

Volleyball results:
Triton 3, Rochester Lourdes 1
Alden-Conger 3, NRHEG 0
Stewartville 3, Kenyon-Wanamingo 0
Kasson-Mantorville 3, Bloomington Jefferson 0
Cannon Falls 3, Hayfield 0
Lakeville South 3, Lakeville North 2
Eastview 3, Farmington 1
WEM 3, TCU 0