SUPERIOR, Wis. - The Yellowjacket men's soccer team returned to action Saturday, opening their best-of-three series at the NBC Spartan Sports Complex. Prior to today's contest, there was a small blanket of snow on the pitch, making one think today's match would be slow-paced. However, this was not the case, as both teams put on a display of red hot offense to melt away the white stuff on the playing surface, and set the stage for what should be an electrifying finish to the playoff series.

Blake Perry (Anoka, Minn./Anoka) continued his incredible offensive play this fall, netting his second straight hat trick and adding an assist for Built Different, while Nicolai Stokker (Klokkarstua, Norway/St. Hallvard) scored twice for Earn It as the teams played to a 5-5 draw.

The first 17 minutes featured tremendous defense on both sides. Neither team allowed the opponent an open opportunity to score. That all changed in the 18th minute, however, when Blake Doyea (Ramsey, Minn./Anoka) found the back of the night to put Built Different on top 1-0. Doyea took a feed from Perry and put a shot with the right foot into the back of the net.

The lead didn't last long as Stokker scored his first of the match to tie it. Stokker hit a right-footed shot off of a pass from Archie Gjerdrum (St. Paul, Minn./Como Park) in the 22nd minute to even things up. Four minutes later Built Different's goalkeeper came off of his line to deflect a shot, but Sam Waylee Jr. (Abidjan, Ivory Coast/Morning Glory International School) found just enough space to send a shot under the keeper to put Earn It in the lead at 2-1.

Built Different didn't let the deficit last long. In the 32nd minute Philip Ericksen took a feed from Protus Babaya (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) and fired a shot home to tie things up 2-2. Minutes later Built Different regained the lead when Perry scored his first of the game, converting a feed from Doyea in the 36th minute.

In the final minute of the half, a shot deflected off of the goalkeeper leading to a rebound, and it was easy pickings for Blake Hanson (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior), who put the ball home to send the teams into the break tied 3-3.

The second half continued to show stellar offense from both sides. Earn It earned its second lead of the match in the 52nd minute when Stokker scored his second of the afternoon in the 52nd minute, converting a perfect crossing pass from teammate Miguel Ocampo (St. Louis Park, Minn./St. Louis Park), making it 4-3.

The back-and-forth continued, and in the 60th minute Perry answered Stokker, scoring his second of the match, firing a shot with his left foot into the back of the net to tie it once again, 4-4. Alex Sulzer (Eau Claire, Wis./Eau Claire Memorial) started the play and make a perfect play into open space, setting up the play ofr Perry to score.

Both teams played aggressive defense for the next eight minutes until freshman Adam Wilson (Menomonie, Wis./Menomonie) scored his first goal of the Super Series, sending a shot to the back corner of the goal, and Earn It once again tooke the lead, 5-4 with 22 minutes left to play.

Earn It continued sto show exceptionally on defense, making it difficult for Built Different to create a good scoring opportunity. But when it needs a goal, Built Different knows it only need find Perry and he will usually get the job done. In the 78th minute a pass from Babaya set up Perry from ten yards out, and the junior made no mistake, taking advantage of the short distance and completing the hat trick, tying the match at 5-5.

Neither team was able to muster the offensive play needed to pull ahead the rest of the way, and they were forced to settle for the draw.

With today's tie, both sides will now prepare to take the series lead when the teams meet again. The next match in the best-of-three playoff series is set for Friday, October 25. The opening kick off is set for 5:00 p.m. at the NBC Spartan Sports Complex in Superior.