Eagan Boys Soccer Blanks Owatonna 3-0

A.J. Albers scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season and the Eagan boys soccer team beat Owatonna 3-0 Saturday.

Juan Sjoberg and Brad Davidson also scored for Eagan (4-1-1, 1-1-0 South Suburban Conference), which has won three of four. Austin Stoesz teamed with Brady Martin in goal for the shutout.

Owatonna (2-5, 2-0 Big Nine Conference) has lost three of four.

“It’s always a challenge to kind of get everybody plugged into the right spots,” said Eagan coach Kurt Virgin. “I think we’re kind of getting that rotation down that we’re pretty comfortable with.”

It sure looks that way on the scoreboard. Eagan has scored 14 goals in its past four games, twice tallying five markers, including a 5-0 win over Lakeville South two days earlier. The Wildcats average 3.17 goals per game.

“We’re moving the ball really well. We’re swinging both sides, getting the ball moving,” Virgin said. "We’re a pretty unselfish team.”

Eight players have goals this season, paced by nine from Albers. Sjoberg has three and Max Turnstedt two.

“A.J. Albers is doing a lot of work up there; he’s making good runs,” said midfielder Tom Lee. “We’re just feeding him the ball and he does the rest.”

A perfect example was in the game’s 58th minute when Turnstedt sent a long, looping pass for Albers, who had a step on the defender at the top of the box. Albers quickly controlled the ball and put it into the Owatonna net.

Less than four minutes later, Jake Punch used a perfect cross to feed Brad Davidson in front for his first goal of the season, and a 3-0 Wildcat lead.

“We’ve been moving the ball, we’ve been playing good through balls and we’re just concentrating in front of the net,” Albers said. “We’ve got so many guys that can put the ball in the back of the net. We’re solid all around.”

Eagan’s first goal came when Wyatt Wagner charged in and forced Owatonna goalkeeper Carter McCauley to mishandle the ball. The ball went right to Sjoberg who had an empty to shoot at.

The Wildcats had three or four more excellent opportunities, but were stopped by McCauley.

“We’re getting some good midfield play, setting up some pretty aggressive, fast forwards in Albers, Sjoberg and Wagner,” Virgin said. “Max Turnstedt has really been distributing the ball well and Tom Lee has done a nice job for us. Those two are really good ball strikers and they’re getting the ball to the guys with a nice touch. … I like how we’re progressing.”

Eagan is at Bloomington Kennedy Tuesday before welcoming Eastview to Wildcat Country at 7 p.m. Thursday.