Comets fall to Vikings, 7-1, in regular-season finale

By John Burbridge sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — Deficits in soccer are scaled like dog years.

For instance, a 5-goal lead is somewhat equivalent to a 15-run lead in baseball.

So when Decorah went up 5-0 a little more than a half into the first half against Charles City during the Comets’ final regular-season match of their first-ever regular season, the Vikings were in good shape in securing an eventual victory.

But the Comets managed to quell Decorah’s attack, that consisted of long passes over the Charles City’s defense that opened the field for the Vikings’ speedy forwards, and finished the game with one of their best halves of their inaugural season.

“We came out a little lazy and intimidated because we were playing a team like Decorah,” Charles City head coach Brad McKenzie said after his team lost, 7-1. “We played much better in the second half.

“We’ve improved throughout the year, but we still have trouble playing 80 minutes of our best soccer.”

Two goals apiece from Decorah senior Andrew Kozelka and sophomore Spencer Peterson gave the Vikings a 4-0 lead less than 10 minutes into the game.

Then with some ESPN Top 10 Plays of Day-caliber execution, Carston Krieg’s indirect kick assisted a header score from Willem Hawley-Bourcier 15 yards in front of the goal to put Decorah up, 5-0, at the 22:40 mark.

Playing much more aggressive and physical defense from that point on, Charles City would hold Decorah scoreless for more than 40 minutes while generating some offensive pushes of its own.

After several point-blank scoring opportunities that went awry, the Comets finally got on the board nearly 5 minutes into the second half when Hayden Pleggenkuhl’s hard shot on goal was blocked by Viking keeper Avery Dugger only to have senior striker Nate Baltes clean it up with a sliding kick to put Charles City on the board.

Decorah capped the scoring later in the match with Corban Rowley assisting Lucas Sweet with an indirect kick before Rowley scored himself with less than 3 minutes remaining in regulation.

Next up for Charles City is the first round of Class 1A districts where the Comets will travel to play Independence, 7 p.m. Monday.

The Mustangs are 6-10, but one of those wins was against Decorah.

The Comets (0-10) are hoping that the postseason will the opportune time to record the program’s first-ever win.