Goals Galore: Vikings Light Up the Scoreboard in Weekend Wins

Our Driftless region deserves more than postcards — it deserves a watchdog. Be that support. DECORAH — On Friday, May 1, the Decorah girls soccer team traveled to Guttenberg for a rematch against Clayton Ridge. The team put together an all-around dominant performance, as five players scored in a 5-0 win. Scoring for the Vikings were senior Nora Lesmeister; juniors Vivian Searcy; sophomores Kate Pattison and Claudia Dixon; and freshman Ellie DeLaRosa. Fifteen hours after that match, the girls returned Saturday, May 2, to host the North Fayette Valley TigerHawks in front of a packed home crowd. The Vikings used that home-field advantage to build momentum, playing most of the game on offense, putting up shots and forcing the TigerHawks into tough defensive plays. At the 26-minute mark, 14 minutes into the game, sophomore striker Claudia Dixon streaked down the middle of the field and drew a foul in the box that led to a penalty kick. Senior Nora Lesmeister lined up the PK and buried it in the bottom left corner of the net to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead. Ten minutes later, senior Ana Simon launched a ball over the defense that sailed above the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper, giving the Vikings a 2-0 lead going into halftime. In the second half, coach Teo Jubé moved players around to give Decorah the best defensive advantage while still maintaining an offensive attack. The girls played with a sense of urgency throughout the game, and while North Fayette Valley made a few runs of its own, it was not enough to catch up to the Vikings. Playing more aggressively on the offensive side has been part of the team's recent strategy. "The girls stay on the attack for longer periods," Jubé said. "With more numbers forward, we are able to drag the opponents back to their own half, which makes defending easier for us when we lose the ball in the attack." With more players committed offensively, Jubé said it is easier to recover possession. "That has been the key to our recent success," he said. After a tough start to the year, the Vikings have won three of their last four matches. This week, the team travels to New Hampton on Tuesday, May 5, and returns home Thursday, May 7, for senior night against Union. Both matches are scheduled for 5 p.m. More information about the schedule and statistics is available on GoBound. Discover what's happening near you! The free DecorahNews.com newsletter brings updates, inspiring stories, and practical tips right to your inbox.