SIOUX FALLS – Aberdeen Central scored two goals in three minutes and held Sioux Falls Jefferson scoreless for the last 66 minutes on the way to a 3-1 non-conference girls’ soccer victory Tuesday night. The contest was delayed for an hour and half because of the heat.
Once play got started it didn’t take long for the action to start. Central scored in the ninth minute when Addison Salfrank found the back of the net off a feed from Kaylee Kiesow. Jefferson tied the game five minutes later.
The Golden Eagles then scored back-to-back goals late in the second half to secure the win. Lucy Fritz scored on a throw-in from Espynn Kuhfeld in the 66th minute before Salfrank scored her second goal three minutes later.
“We had a lot of pressure on them most of the game and we got one in. It was actually off a throw in and their defense just kind of stopped because they thought well she’s actually offsides, but you can’t be offsides on a throw-in,” said Central coach Merle Aske. “Espynn just threw the ball over the top of their defense and Lucy was coming from the far side and they just all stopped, and Lucy got right inside the six and just tapped it in.”
Central’s final goal ended up just getting past the Jefferson keeper.
“The second one, Salfrank broke in and shot it, and the goalie almost had a save, but it rolled into the net as she was trying to pull it out,” Aske said.
Outside of one possession in the opening half, Central’s defense was solid.
“We just kind of had a defensive breakdown on their goal,” Aske said. “That’s kind of the way it goes. It was ebb and flow. We were kind of holding pressure on them and I think we got a little content.”
However, despite missing several starters due to injury, the Golden Eagles prevented Jefferson’s offense from getting many opportunities, outshooting the Cavaliers by a wide margin.
“We did a really good job of holding pressure on them and making them feel our pressure. Other than that one, we did a good job of stopping them and getting forward, counter attacking and having numbers up,” Aske said. “The girls did a really good job of playing together and doing what they needed to do to get the job done on a hot day.”
Central, 1-1 on the young season, plays at Harrisburg next Tuesday.
Aberdeen Central 1 2 – 3
Sioux Falls Jefferson 1 0 – 1
First Half: 1, AC, Addyson Salfrank (Kaylee Kiesow), 9th minute; 2, SFJ, Grayson Gerdes, 14th.
Second Half: 3, AC, Lucy Fritz (Espnn Kuhfeld), 66th minute; 4, AC, Salfrank, 69th.
Shots: Aberdeen Central, 34 shots, 18 on goal; Sioux Falls Jefferson, 15 shots, 9 on goal.
Goalies: Aberdeen Central, Ava Beck 8 saves; Sioux Falls Jefferson, 14 saves.
