GROTON – Groton scored early and often to open up the Class A girls’ soccer playoffs on Tuesday.
The Tigers racked up 11 goals, five in a 12-minute span, on the way to an 11-1 victory over Vermillion.
Brooklyn Hansen, Laila Roberts, Jerica Locke, and McKenna Tietz each scored a pair of goals for Groton. Faith Traphagen, Kayla Lehr, and Kennedy Hansen each found the back of the net once in the victory.
“It felt as though our space and opportunities were one right after the other and we made the most of them with a flurry of five goals in 12 minutes right after the halftime break,” said Groton coach Matt Baumgartner. “With that said, we found time to rotate bodies and still play smooth and clean throughout the attacking third.”
The Tigers will now advance to the semifinals on Saturday when they host Dakota Valley. The two squads had a tight battle last month that saw Groton come away with a 1-0 win on a corner kick goal in the 75th minute.
“The girls know how fast and quick Dakota Valley can be transitioning up the field,” Baumgartner said, “so we will have to hone in on our defensive structure and bring our shooting boots back out Saturday.”
Vermillion 1 0 – 1
Groton 4 7 – 11
First Half: 1, G, Faith Traphagen (Jerica Locke), 6th minute; 2, G, Brooklyn Hansen (McKenna Tietz), 15th minute; 3, Laila Roberts (unassisted), 35th minute; 4, G, Locke (B. Hansen), 38th minute; 5, V, Taylor Reuvers, 40th minute.
Second Half: 6, G, Tietz (unassisted), 46th minute; 6, G, B. Hansen (Tietz), 50th minute; 6, G, Locke (unassisted), 54th minute; 6, Kayla Lehr (Tietz), 55th minute; 10, Roberts (Jaedyn Penning), 57th minute; 11, G, Kennedy Hansen (Locke), 68th minute; 12, G, Tietz (Traphagen), 75th minute.
