Challeen’s early goal not enough as Blue Jays fall to Minot North, 4-2

Gracelin Challeen gave Jamestown the start it wanted, but Minot North turned the match with a late first-half surge and pulled away for a 4-2 win at Sentinel Stadium in Minot.

Challeen scored in the ninth minute off a setup from Layla Becker, putting the Blue Jays in front early and briefly forcing the Sentinels to chase the game. Jamestown also held a 10-8 edge in shots on goal, a sign the Blue Jays created chances throughout the night even as the result slipped away.

Minot North answered before halftime when Morgan Orth scored at the first-half buzzer to give the Sentinels their first lead of the match. That goal sent Minot North into the break up 2-1, and the Sentinels kept control after halftime by adding two more goals to finish off four unanswered scores.

Kohlee Roberts, Brengiei Lonning and Julia Lewis also scored for Minot North. Anistyn Perrin set up three of the Sentinels’ goals, helping fuel the comeback after Jamestown’s early breakthrough.

Belle Sjostrom made four saves in goal for Jamestown, while Minot North keeper Camryn Guy stopped eight shots. The Blue Jays’ early pressure and shot total showed they were competitive, but the opening goal was not enough to keep pace once Minot North settled in.

The loss left Jamestown at 0-3-1 overall and 0-2-1 in Western Dakota Association play. It also continued a difficult opening run that began with a 5-2 loss to Grand Forks Red River on March 28 and a 0-0 draw at Bismarck High on March 31.

That early stretch stands in contrast to last season’s finish. Jamestown went 9-6-3 in 2025 and reached the NDHSAA state tournament for the third straight year and fourth time in five seasons, giving the program a recent track record of winning that makes the slow start stand out.

The 2026 roster includes returning players such as Anna Lunde, Layla Becker, Sjostrom and Challeen, with Colton Altringer listed as head coach. Jamestown’s next chance to reset came quickly, with Bismarck Legacy on the schedule for April 14.