Jordan Ross’s (6) hat trick propelled Maple Grove to a 4-3 victory over Park Center Tuesday evening. Ross added an assist in the Crimson’s Northwest Suburban Conference victory over the Pirates. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine
Throughout Tuesday night’s game, it appeared Maple Grove was going to cruise to victory, holding two-goal leads on multiple occasions in the second half.
Park Center would not go away. Sidike Jabateh scored two late goals, part of his hat-trick, but Maple Grove, with Jordan Ross’ hat-trick, clinched a 4-3 win over its Northwest Suburban Conference rival at Park Center High School.
“Every time we play these guys it's just a battle,” Maple Grove head coach Gregg Leininger said. “These games get like that. ...We just go at each other.”
Maple Grove's Carter Sheard (9) controls the ball as Park Center's Drew Harinen (5) battles for position in Tuesday evening’s Northwest Suburban Conference match at Park Center HS. The Crimson defeated the Pirates 4-3. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine
Jordon Ross scored three goals, leading the Crimson past the Pirates 4-3 Tuesday night at Park Center High School.
Ross scored two goals in the first half, with junior Aaron Badillo assisting on both plays. The senior’s second goal at the 25 minute, 59 second mark gave the road team a 2-0 lead. Park Center got on the board when senior Sidike Jabateh scored a goal in the 33rd minute.
Maple Grove, ranked No. 4 in the Class 4A coaches' poll released Sept. 12, and Park Center combined for four goals in the second half. Junior Carter Sheard scored a goal in the opening minutes of the second half to build another two-goal lead for the Crimson before Jabateh responded with a goal in the 66th minute.
It looked like the game was out of reach for Park Center when Ross scored his third goal of the game in the 76th minute, securing a 4-2 lead. The Pirates responded yet again when Jabateh found the back of the net for the third time in the 79th minute.
The Crimson (5-0-0, 5-0-0) defense, led by goalie Holden Waldrum, held off Park Center (3-1-1, 3-1-1) in the final minute to grab the win.
Park Center's Sidike Jabateh (10) scored three times against Maple Grove Tuesday evening. The Pirates fell to the Crimson 4-3 at Park Center High School. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine