Senior midfielder Bryan Kennedy scored for Blake on Tuesday in its loss to Prior Lake. Photo by Loren Nelson
Prior Lake rallied to beat host Blake 7-6 on Tuesday in the season opener for both teams.
Completing his hat trick, sophomore Ben Ward scored at 5:05 in the final quarter to cut Blake’s lead to one. And while a hat trick is hard to overshadow, junior Cullen Sowder managed to do just that by scoring two goals in just more than two minutes to seal the win for Prior Lake.
The Lakers took an early two-goal lead in the first quarter on goals from sophomore Ben Ward and junior Taylor Kropp, but Bears’ sophomore Tom Bauer and junior Quinn Ellis tied it up before the start of the second quarter.
Ward scored his second goal early in the second, but Blake again responded, this time from senior Bryan Kennedy, 30 seconds later to tie the score.
Senior Sean Carlson put the Lakers ahead again in the third quarter, but a senior Johnny Curran goal and goal from junior Gus Austin heading into the final quarter handed Blake a late two-goal lead.
Austin left the game with about 30 seconds left with what appeared to be a hyper-extended knee, Blake coach Frank Clark said.