SIOUX FALLS – The Aberdeen Central girls’ soccer team got off to a bit of a slow start, but quickly made up for it the rest of the way en route to a 5-1 win over Sioux Falls Roosevelt Thursday night.
The top-rated Class A Golden Eagles got that goal back and many more, scoring five unanswered goals.
“We just kept the pressure on them and put balls in good positions and spread them out,” said Central coach Merle Aske, noting that Roosevelt plays on a longer field than most teams. “It’s a real long field and we were able to stretch them a little bit, and put pressure on them by quick counter attacking and get the ball in behind them.”
Morgan Fiedler and Abigail Witte each scored in the opening half before the Eagles tacked on three more goals in the final half, two coming from Jayda Hammer and another on a penalty kick from Deshani Peters.
“In the second half we just kind of relaxed and started playing a little better,” Aske said. “We started possessing the ball a little better. We kind of wore them down a little bit.”
Aske pointed out the play of outside back Alana Hansen in the contest.
“She had a really good game making runs forward and putting balls in places and just being that extra person to keep the pressure on them,” Aske said. “She did a lot of work tonight just helping keep the pressure on them so our midfielders didn’t have to do quite as much work.”
The Eagles, 3-0 on the season, take on Brookings in their home opener at noon on Saturday at Swisher Field.
Aberdeen Central 5, Sioux Falls Jefferson 1
First Half: SFJ, Emma Behm, 10th minute; AC, Morgan Fielder (Taryn Hettich), 21st minute; AC, Abigail Witte, 27th minute.
Second Half: AC Jayda Hammer (Ivy Schanzenbach), 47th minute; AC, Deshani Peters, 73rd minute; AC, Hammer (Kailyn Poppen, Peters), 76th minute.
Goalies: AC, Paige Burlivich (8 saves); SFJ, Ruby Brunken (10 saves).
JV: Aberdeen Central won 7-0.
