Northfield boys soccer snaps drought with 2 wins

The Northfield High School boys soccer team (3-5-2, 1-4-1 Big 9) snapped a seven match winless streak over the past week thanks to a pair of wins over Albert Lea and Kasson-Mantorville.

To start its current two-match winning streak, Northfield collected a 2-0 victory at Big 9 rival Albert Lea on Friday, Sept. 20. The match was a scoreless draw at the intermission before two quick goals by Northfield’s Kyle Bulfer and Sebastian Perez provided the winning margin for the Raiders.

Goalkeeper Theo Menk then added his second consecutive shutout with a solid 4-0 victory over rival Kasson-Mantorville on Monday, Sept. 23 at Memorial Field in Northfield.

In the team’s first non-conference match-up against a Section 1AA opponent in 2024, Northfield relied on a strong first half effort to gain the upper hand in the contest. The Raider defense was impressive thanks to strong centerback play from Kian Morsching and Rafa Bustos Ramirez along with defensive help Marcos Gallardo, Jared Meneses Dominguez, Perez, Marius Pedersen and Anthony Baez.

In addition, Menk kept the sheet clean with several key saves throughout the evening including two highlight reel stops in the second half that kept a surging Kasson-Mantorville off the scoreboard.

“All of our center back play has been very solid. Kian Morshing and Rafa Bustos Ramirez, they do a great job of covering for each other and they got better throughout the game,” NHS coach Cale Steinhoff said.

He also added his insight into the outstanding play of Menk in the nets, “Theo (Menk) had three ridiculous saves today. In a game where we controlled most of the game and most of the opportunities, they (Kasson-Mantorville) took their chances really well and Theo saved us. It is the type of game where if they hit three of those shots and they go in, we are looking at a lot tighter game.”

The Raiders opened the game’s scoring with 30:00 left in the first half as Bulfer scored on a hard shot from a tight angle that was set up with an assist on a through ball by Jael Quiroga.

Northfield then padded its lead to 2-0 with 26:28 left in the half when winger Josue Lazaro scored on a penalty kick. He was tripped inside the box after making a decisive run thus forcing the Kasson-Mantorville error.

To complete the first half scoring, Gallardo connected on a long shot from 25 yards out that beat the K-M netminder to make it 3-0.

“It was from a cross, I think Joandy (Carranzo Garibo) played it to me and it was just the perfect ball, and I just one-timed it with my inside foot and I really drove it,” Gallardo said of his scoring strike.

Northfield finished its scoring late in the game as Carranza Garibo scored on a perfect chip shot over the head of the K-M goalkeeper with 1:56 left in regulation play. He was set up on the play with a cutting through pass from Perez.

The Raiders hosted Austin on Tuesday, Sept. 24 and will return once again to Memorial Field on Thursday, Sept. 26 for a 7 p.m. game against Big 9 foe Owatonna.