Comets Come Out Flying in 4-1 Win Over Pelican Rapids

The Comets did not ease into the season on Saturday afternoon. The Comet Girls came out flying against Pelican Rapids, scoring four goals from four different players, forcing turnovers across the field, turning a 2-0 halftime lead into a convincing 4-1 season-opening victory. It was a fast and physical start for the Comets, and for a team with several new pieces in the lineup, the team looked remarkably confident.

The Comets are building off the momentum of last season, but this is not simply last year’s team running it back. New players have stepped into meaningful roles, returning players are carrying more responsibility, and Hillcrest is beginning to take on a different shape. What has not changed is the grit.

Even in the heavy heat and humidity brought by Minnesota’s change to fall, the Comets kept pressing. Captains Alexa Ewan, Paisley Garvin, and Mckinlee Ballweg helped set the tone, and Hillcrest spent much of the afternoon playing on the front foot. The Comets closed space quickly, won second balls, and turned Pelican Rapids’ mistakes into immediate scoring threats.

The first breakthrough came through the midfield. Grace Carpenter moved the ball to Ewan outside the 18-yard box, and the senior captain did not hesitate. Ewan drove a shot toward goal, caught a deflection off a Viking defender, and put Hillcrest on the board.

Then the Comets showed another weapon: speed. Ewan slipped a through ball behind the Pelican Rapids defense, and Kaia Fiskness took off. With open grass in front of her, Fiskness separated from the back line, went one-on-one with the goalkeeper, and finished to give Hillcrest a 2-0 advantage heading into halftime.

Two goals. Two different scorers. And Hillcrest was only getting started.

The Comets came out of the break with the same pressure. Outside winger Cecelia Wachlarowicz won possession in Hillcrest’s half and turned the turnover into a full-field attack. She drove through the Viking defense and finished the run herself, stretching the lead to 3-0.

Hillcrest’s fourth goal began with its defense. The Comets held their line high, squeezed Pelican Rapids into another mistake, and created the opening for striker Dakota Campbell to explode through the defense and finish the fourth goal of the afternoon. That sequence captured much of what made Hillcrest effective.

The Comets were not waiting for offense to happen. They were creating it with defensive pressure. Maggie Mark and Avery Uselmen were especially strong along the back line, repeatedly breaking up attacks and forcing turnovers before Pelican Rapids could build sustained pressure. That allowed Hillcrest to keep numbers higher up the field and spend more time attacking than retreating. Ewan was at the center of much of it. In addition to scoring the opening goal and assisting on Fiskness’ finish, she controlled the midfield and continually found ways to push Hillcrest forward.

Behind the defense, Ballweg made sure the Vikings never found a way back into the match. The Comet goalkeeper finished with six saves and surrendered just one goal, giving Hillcrest stability when Pelican Rapids did manage to break through.

Last year gave the Lady Comets something to build on. Saturday showed they have no intention of standing still. Hillcrest is faster, deeper, and growing in confidence. And through one game, the Lady Comets are already flying.

The Comets travel to Walker on Tuesday afternoon for their next match.