Warriors shutout Sabres

BAXTER - With the Central Lakes Conference title locked up, the Brainerd Warriors played for pride Thursday.

The proud bunch didn't disappoint themselves as Brainerd downed the Sartell Sabres 2-0.

Both Stacy Tetreault and Melissa Boggs scored on first-half rebounds and the Warrior defense held Sartell to five shots, which keeper Cami Andersen gathered.

Warriors 2, Sartell 0

Key: Stacy Tetreault and Melissa Boggs were in the right place at the right time

Conf: Brd 10-1, S 6-5-2

Overall: Brd 10-4-2, S 8-7-2

Next: Brainerd vs. Moorhead at Baxter 1 p.m. Saturday

A clean effort and a much different one than Brainerd fans saw during the Warriors' first two games of the season.

"In the beginning none of us really connected together because we hadn't played on the same field at the same time," said Boggs. "We've learned that some people work better together. On the inside we have some people that go good together and are able to get balls through to Becca (Gervais) and Tetreault. We're just learning how to play better together."

Tetreault has found her stride as she landed her third goal in the last two games. The junior forward pounced on a rebound of Madison Smith's shot attempt and buried it into the net.

"She was in the right place at the right time and when she gets that foot on the ball she knows the bounce of the ball and has a way of just putting it on," said Warrior head coach Sara Rojas. "It was about where you are in accordance to where the ball is and she connected with it."

Eighteen minutes later, on another Smith shot attempt, Boggs collected the rebound and snuck it past the Sabres' keeper.

"Maddie crossed and the goalie went to get it, but she dropped it and we all just scrambled," said Boggs, one of six seniors on the roster.

Boggs bought into the playing for pride message Rojas gave the team at halftime after a lackluster first half, but then Boggs' has a lofty goal for her team.

"We want to make it to state this year because everybody said it was going to be a rebuilding year," said Boggs. "We want to prove to everyone that we're better than that."

Playing better than that is the Warriors defense. Despite graduating the entire unit except Tori Saxum, Brainerd's defense has held opponents to 1.4 goals against. This after Stillwater dropped four goals in the first game and Wayzata scored seven in the second game of the season. Since those two games, the Warriors have allowed just 10 goals compared to the 35 they've scored.

"Defense, there are a few things that I would like to clean up as far as getting rid of the ball and up field better," said Rojas. "Jenna (Rabas) did a great job on her side of playing calm and up with no panic.

"We are communicating better and our defense has kept our opponents to 10 shots or less in the majority of our games. That's pretty good. Tonight (Sartell) only had two shots on net in the first half and they weren't great shots."

Brainerd outshot Sartell 12-5.

The Warriors will close out the regular season Saturday at home against Moorhead - a Section 8-2A opponent. A win would give the Warriors a boost in the seeding votes.

"I'm very happy with the progress of the team," said Rojas. "They have had to find themselves as a team and as a unit. They've done that. They are working well with one another and some work better with others and I've put those people together. They're finding each other. I'm proud of that and very proud of the progress that they've made."

Sartell 0 0 - 0

Brainerd 2 0 - 2

First half: Brd-Stacy Tetreault (Madison Smith) 11:34; Brd-Melissa Boggs (Smith) 24:43

Shots on goal: Brd 8 4 - 12, S 2 3 - 5

Goalkeepers: Brd-Cami Anderson (5 saves); S-Ema Hunt (10 saves)

JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5856.