LEBBI LEAP — Fairmont Area’s Prince Lebbi (red jersey 10) outleaps St. Peter’s Tate Winkelmann to head the soccer ball away during Big South Conference action Thursday night at Kot Soccer Complex in Fairmont. The Cardinals’ Benjamin Heinze (12) and Isaiah Lockwood (second from right), along with the Saints’ Colton Abels (5), Marty Anderson and Abdirahman Osman (right), look on. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT – Matthew Kotewa converted Prince Lebbi’s assist into the 2021 Section 2A boys soccer semifinal’s only goal to propel Fairmont Area to a 1-0 playoff victory over St. Peter last fall.

Fast forward to Thursday night’s season-opener at Jeffery Kot Soccer Complex, and the Cardinals and Saints resumed their down-to-the-wire rivalry in Fairmont.

Midfielder Will Elias delivered the Big South Conference clash’s first goal in the first half before setting up teammate Marty Anderson’s eventual game-winner during the second segment to pace St. Peter’s 2-1 win over Fairmont Area.

“We got the chance to avenge last year’s close playoff loss to them (the Cardinals) and got the job done tonight,” said St. Peter head coach Tanner Nadeau. “It’s always good to open the season with a win over a quality team like Fairmont (Area).”

“We always seem to play close games with St. Peter and tonight we came up a little short, but we were a little short-handed, too,” Cardinals head coach Brady Meyer said in reference to Kotewa, Adrian Sanchez and Sutton Bohlsen, who were all unable to hit the field in the opener. “Hopefully, we’ll be full strength the next time we play, but it will probably still be close.”

Trailing 2-0, Lebbi demonstrated his quick-strike prowess by hammering home a hooked penalty kick into the left corner of the net to draw the Cardinals within 2-1 with 7:11 remaining in regulation.

Lebbi later utilized his vapor-trail speed to outrun the Saints’ defensive secondary to a long lead pass, slashed to the middle and drilled a potential game-tying blast just high and wide of the right post.

Fairmont Area senior Jack Kosbab, who made his soccer debut between the pipes, then denied St. Peter state-qualifying sprinter Brooks Reicks from restoring a two-goal lead with a dive and a second-effort scoop on a breakaway chance with 2:40 remaining in the second half.

Elias tallied the initial 40-minute half’s only point by settling a long pass near midfield, drove the point and nailed a low skidder inside the left pipe with 3:13 left before halftime.

Elias then traded roles and proved the playmaker by working the left end-line before threading a perfect crossing pass to Marty Anderson on the doorstep for the tap-in goal at the 8:30 juncture in the second half.

Fairmont Area defenders Carson Pomerenke and Wyatt Luhmann swept away a number of potential set-up passes to limit St. Peter to eight shots-on-goal. Kosbab recorded six saves in his varsity soccer debut.

Saints sophomore goalkeeper Eli Stoll notched five stops to net the win.

Fairmont Area (0-1) hits the road to New Ulm on Monday for another league match, while St. Peter (1-0) plays host to New Ulm at 10 a.m. Saturday.

St. Peter 1-1-2

Fairmont 0-1-1

Scoring Plays

1st Half

STP-Will Elias (unassisted), 3:13.

2nd Half

STP-Marty Anderson (Will Elias), 8:30.

FMT-Prince Lebbi penalty kick, 7:11.

Shots-on-Goal: St. Peter 2-6-8; Fairmont 2-4-6.

Saves: Jack Kosbab (FMT) 6; Eli Stoll (STP) 5.