Playing its third game in as many days, Eden Prairie made sure to leave Fargo on a high note.

After about 33 minutes of evenly-matched play in their game with West Fargo Sheyenne, the Eagles erupted for four goals in the final seven minutes of the half to take a four-goal lead into halftime. They tacked on three more second-half scores on their way to an 8-1 win.

Sean Kurtenbach, who finished with three goals, gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead less than 10 minutes into the contest.

The Mustangs responded to tie the game thanks to a goal from Samuel Kramer in the 17th minute of action. West Fargo Sheyenne’s Leonard Dunor got the play going with a steal in Eden Prairie's zone. His initial shot was blocked but Kramer was in perfect position to convert on the rebound.

It seemed as though the Mustangs had gained some momentum in the minutes leading up to that goal and in the minutes that followed, they put pressure on Eden Prairie's defense.

Fresh off a 2-0 win over Fargo South Friday night, there were times throughout the first half where the Eagles, the No. 9 team in the Class 2A coaches' poll, looked very much like a team that was on its third game in three in three days.

Then they seemingly flipped the switch and put the game out of reach early.

“There are going to be times where you just can’t go max effort. We had that lull and once we got that momentum back, we were able to score four goals in seven minutes,” Eden Prairie coach Vince Thomas said.

Eagles senior midfielder Axel Romo echoed his coach's sentiments.

“First half we were struggling a little bit, struggling to possess the ball,” Romo said. “We’re used to playing on turf. Once we got used to it we started playing better.”

Romo scored two goals in the game and was one of three Eagles to turn in a multi-goal performance. Joey Kolleh scored two in the four-goal flurry late in the first half and Sean Kurtenbach notched a hat trick.

Justin Bohlig got the run started by scoring on a penalty kick in the the 33rd minute of the first half. Moments later, Romo forced a turnover and buried a shot from the left of Mustang goalie Sonde Oestgaard-Rygg.

“We were just talking to each other saying we have to get possession in the middle,” Romo said. “We always get possession in the middle. We talked about that. Told our defense not to wait for the ball and once we did that we kind of got control.”

Scoring hasn’t been a big issue for the Eagles this season and that quick-strike ability allows them to survive the ebbs and flows of a typical game. Flipping the switch is something they can do and with as many capable scorers as they have, they can put distance between themselves as the opposition more than typical soccer teams.

“We can do that,” Thomas said. “We like to move the ball, get out and play fast and get shots.We have the kind of firepower where if we’re on our game and play the game we want to play, we can do that.”

The Eagles improve to 7-2 overall while the Mustangs drop to 2-6-2 on the season.

Eden Prairie beat West Fargo Sheyenne 8-1 Saturday at Fargo South High School, getting multi-goal games from seniors Sean Kurtenbach, Axel Romo, and Joey Kolleh. 

The Eagles, who are ranked No. 9 in the Class 2A coaches' poll, all but put the game away late in the first half when they scored four goals in the final seven minutes of the half. Justin Bohlig converted on a penalty kick. Romo scored moments later after forcing a turnover in Sheyenne's zone and Kolleh tacked on a pair in quick succession. 

Kurtenbach, who finished with three goals, started the scoring early, giving the Eagles a 1-0 lead less than 10 minutes into the contest. The Mustangs (2-6-2) responded to tie the game thanks to a goal from Samuel Kramer. 

Eden Prairie (7-2, 1-2) added three more goals in the second half, as Kurtenbach scored two and Romo added one.

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