Goodhue's Christianson Unlocking Goal-Scoring Potential In Senior Season

You’ve seen her name in local basketball rankings as well as all-area teams in both basketball and softball. If there are any soccer rankings yet to incorporate Lola Christianson, it’s time adjust accordingly.

The Goodhue senior plays for Cannon Falls and its three-team co-op which includes Goodhue and Randolph. It’s one that is still new, forming just a few seasons ago. Christianson was one of a handful of Goodhue kids to give soccer a try then.

In her previous two seasons on the pitch, Christianson was learning as she went. Just like the others from Goodhue that joined with her, it was all a work in progress for all things soccer.

This season she has used her athleticism to become of the area’s top scorers. Her eight goals in five games are more than she’s had in any previous season.

Scoring at this pace was not what she envisioned when she first joined soccer.

“We didn't know what we were getting into right away,” Christianson said. “Definitely the best that could have happened.”

She scored a hat trick in the first game of the season, a 3-1 win over PEM. Then she recorded a second consecutive hat trick with three in the second game, a 5-1 victory over Mankato Loyola. She cooled off some as Christianson went without a goal in the third game but was right back in the offensive attack in the fourth game at home against Kasson-Mantorville.

Early on it seemed as if Christianson was going to score multiple goals against K-M. Her first shot, a sharp-angled shot with only the goalie in front of her, was stopped with an overhead save. She came close to receiving a couple of through balls.

Finally in the first half, Christianson crowded the front of the goalie box and had a shot redirect off the crossbar right her for a tap-in goal.

Head coach Erika Schwede said she’s hoping for more rebound type goals from Christianson. For now, the team will ride the scoring stretch she’s on.

“She somehow plows through people, even when there is two of them and still controls the ball,” Schwede said. “Teams that play a higher defense, she's our biggest threat because of how fast she is. Last year we started transitioning her to attacker halfway through the season. She's still working on her shots.”

Christianson began as a midfielder. That position handles most of the offensive setup for Cannon Falls. With her speed, it made sense to take advantage of that by stretching opposing defenses. Have any midfielder send a ball into space with Christianson there to run it down.

“Our team this year is mostly returners. Them knowing how each other work is really helping,” Schwede said. “They know if Lola is where she's at, I'm going to send a through-ball right here because they know she's going to beat that last girl on defense and get there. Our middle sets up a lot of our offense and then attackers on the outside with the mids make things happen. They end up waiting to see where Lola is and then know when to send her.”

In the team’s latest matchup Saturday, a Section 2A battle with Fairmont, Christianson had the only goal for the Bombers in a 1-1 draw.

Speed, an improving shot and position change all have benefited Christianson. She said isn’t due to those aspects as much as. She believes her consistent scoring has come from confident ball handling. She’s no longer afraid to have the ball passed to her. She goes after it and doesn’t sit back, waiting for the ball to come to her.

“Not being so flustered when it's at my feet,” Christianson said. “It's a big field and one ball, you feel like a lot of pressure is on you. But I feel like as a team, and me individually, we've gotten used to that and just knowing someone is going to be there for you to get (the ball) to.”

Christianson displayed her awareness of her teammates and passing opportunities in the game against the KoMets. She got the ball, saw plenty of space ahead, and took it up the sideline. As one defender closed in, she made a touch pass to a midfielder running to her right. Once the KoMet defender bit on Christianson still having the ball, she sped past them and received the ball back.

Simple plays made easier thanks to her want to have the ball.

“She could play in college if she truly wanted to,” Schwede said. “It'd be working with her with more footwork, but it would come because she's an athlete and she cares and wants to do her best all the time.”

Currently, Christianson leads the Bombers with eight goals in five games.