SIOUX FALLS – Aberdeen Central rallied from a two-goal deficit to end up in a 3-3 draw with undefeated Sioux Falls Roosevelt in non-conference girls’ soccer action on Tuesday evening.

The Golden Eagles gave up a goal late in the opening half and then came to life on offense in the final 40 minutes.

“The first half was really a back and forth. I thought we deserved a goal in the first half, we just didn’t get one,” said Central coach Merle Aske. “We gave one up late, but the girls did a good job of staying focused. They just kept playing the way we wanted to play and found a way to get the ball in and got a couple of goals.”

After the Rough Riders scored early in the second half, Central’s Addyson Salfrank went to work. She scored back-to-back goals to tie the game on assists from Espynn Kuhfeld and Lucy Fritz.

However, Roosevelt surged back ahead in the next minute before Salfrank scored her third goal of the contest to tie score again.

“We had at least probably 2-3 more opportunities in the last 2-3 minutes to go ahead,” Aske said, “the ball just didn’t go in for us.”

Aske was proud of the way his players kept battling on the road against one of the state’s top teams.

“After we gave up a goal right away late in the first half, and early in the second half, we came back and got that one to get us going and and then tied it up,” Aske said. “The girls just played a really good second half. I think the shots are pretty even, and it was a pretty even game back and forth. We just did a good job of staying in position and moving around.”

Aske talked about the performance of Salfrank in accumulating a hat trick.

“That was a good game. She was just in the right spots at the right time,” Aske said. “One of them was kind of on her own. The other ones, the girls just kept finding her. She just kept being at that far post when she needed to be there and tapping them in.”

Central, 4-3-1 on the season, continues a busy streak of soccer, hosting Brookings at 6 p.m. Thursday, before traveling to Tea Area on Tuesday and to Sioux Falls Lincoln two days later.

“The next three games are all just rapid fire,” Aske said. “We don’t get much of a break.”

Aberdeen Central (4-3-1) 0 3 – 3

Sioux Falls Roosevelt (4-0-2) 1 2 – 3

First Half: 1, SFR, Aubrey Gallipo, 34th minute.

Second Half: 2, SFR, Lilly Tadlick, 46th minute; 3, AC, Addyson Salfrank (Espynn Kuheld), 48th minute; 4, AC, Salfrank (Lucy Fritz), 71st minute; 5, SFR, Peyton Pearson, 72nd minute; 6, AC, Salfrank, 75th minute.

Goalies: Aberdeen Central, Ava Beck (13 saves); Sioux Falls Roosevelt, Katelyn Dunn (10 saves).

Shots: Aberdeen Central, 25 shots, 13 on goal; Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 26 shots, 16 on goal.