Nathan Beitler/MDN Sentinels’ eighth grade Kai Prescott chases the ball down the pitch in their home game against the Braves on Thursday night, October 2.

The Minot North Sentinels triumphed over the Mandan-St. Mary’s Braves during their last home match of the regular season 5-3 on Thursday night, October 2.

Thursday’s high scoring match started off early in the first half. The Sentinels scored after a struggle at the Braves’ goal when sophomore Jayden Marshall was able to force the ball past the line, giving Minot North the early lead in the eleventh minute of the match. The Braves did not let Minot North go unanswered, as they scored their own goal in the 24th minute of the match when Mandan junior defender Caden Wondra sent the ball into the top right corner on a free kick. The game would not stay tied for long, as in the 27th minute of the first half, Emerson Ries scored on a penalty kick, slipping the ball just past the goalie’s gloves. The Sentinels kept up the pressure, scoring again in the 28th minute. His time, it was junior Logan Ovitt widening the Sentinels’ lead unassisted. The Braves were able to sneak in another goal for themselves in the 37th minute of the match when junior Conner Lundeen was able to put the ball into the back of the net, assisted by junior defender Zachary Weiler. The score at the end of the first half was 3-2 for the Sentinels.

Just one goal behind heading into the second half, the Braves were quick to even the score. Just four minutes after halftime, Conner Lundeen scored his second goal of the game and brought the score to 3-3 in the 44th minute. After some back and forth between the two teams, Logan Ovitt scored his own second goal for the Sentinels on a long cross-pitch shot into the far corner of the net to give the Sentinels the lead for the third time that match. The Sentinels’ new lead was finally cemented in the 56th minute of the match when Emerson Ries scored once again to bring the score to 5-3. Emerson’s second goal would be the match’s last, leaving 5-3 the final score and giving Minot North their first win since their five-match losing streak began on Thursday, September 16. The Sentinels will go back on the road for their last game of the regular season as they take on Jamestown on Saturday, October 11.