Warrior boys get first soccer win

WILLMAR -- The Brainerd Warriors boys' soccer team got a big lift from the foot of Aaron Thelen Tuesday night.

The sophomore scored his first varsity goal and the first goal of the season for the Warriors as they drubbed the Willmar Cardinals 6-1.

"It was nice to get our offense clicking," Brainerd coach David Devine said. "With two losses, this was a game we needed. I'm very pleased."

Jesse Bates did his part in the revitalization of the offense with two goals and an assist. Defensively, the Warriors were near perfect until giving up a late goal and goalie Joe Phelps collected two saves.

Brainerd 3 3 -- 6

Willmar 0 1 -- 1

First half -- B, Aaron Thelen (Jesse Bates) 22:00; B, Aaron Thelen (Mark Bublitz) 34:00; B, Jesse Bates (Allem Barrantes) 37:00

Second half -- B, Dusten Olejnicak 49:00; B, Jesse Bates (Rusty Caughey) 71:00; W, Kyle Grunder (Jonathan Lopez) 78:00; Barrantes (Peter VanDerHagen) 80:00

Shots on goal -- B 4-7--12, W 0-3--3

Goaltenders -- B, Joe Phelps (2 saves) W, Travis Michelson (6 saves)

Conference -- B 1-1. Overall -- B 1-2 . Next game -- Brainerd hosts Little Falls 5 p.m. Monday.