RAPID CITY – The effort was there, but in the end, the results were not for the Aberdeen Central girls’ soccer team on Saturday afternoon.

Rapid City Stevens eliminated the Golden Eagles from the Class AA playoffs with a 2-0 victory in the quarterfinals of the playoffs.

“The girls played really well. We just didn’t find that way to get that goal. The girls played really hard. We did everything that we wanted to do,” said Central coach Merle Aske. “We made a couple of mistakes that cost us goals. But the rest of the game we were right there with them, shot for shot. We just didn’t find a way to get one in the net, but the girls did a tremendous job.”

The Raiders scored right away to start the contest on a goal by Ava Holzwarth just five minutes in.

However, the Golden Eagles regrouped and trailed by just one at the half.

“The girls did a good job of getting themselves back to together right after that goal,” Aske said.

Holzwarth then scored in the first 15 minutes of the second half to put major pressure on the Golden Eagles.

Aske said Central played much better than it did in the previous meeting with the Raiders.

“They play a really deep sweeper and they just keep absorbing the pressure, and absorbing the pressure,” Aske said. “We did a much better job this game of trying to get the ball in, and getting corner kicks and doing what we wanted to do. The finish just wasn’t there. That’s just part of soccer.”

While the Golden Eagles came up short and had their season come to an end, Aske was pleased with the team’s effort.

“We were playing our best soccer at the end,” Aske said. “I think a lot of that game we outplayed them, we just didn’t find that way to finish.”

Aske said the players did everything they were asked to do this fall.

“I’m proud of what the team has done this year. The girls stuck together all year,” Aske said. “They did everything we asked to them to do. That’s all that you can expect out of your kids.”

The contest marked the final one for a group of senior girls, which left its mark on the program.

“Our seniors, like I told them at the end of the year, they added to the legacy of what our program is,” Aske said. “They did everything we asked them to do in their careers, and sometimes you just come up short.”

Aberdeen Central 0 0 – 0

Rapid City Stevens 1 1 – 2

First Half: 1, RCS, Ava Holzworth, 5th minute.

Second Half: 2, RCS, Holzworth, 55th minute.

Goalies: Aberdeen Central, Ava Beck (9 saves); Rapid City Stevens, Norah Tucker (11 saves).

Shots on Goal: Aberdeen Central, 22 shots, 11 on goal; Rapid City Stevens, 20 shots, 11 on goal.