It may have only been the fourth game of the season and a home opener, but it was obvious that the final outcome was much bigger than that.
As the final seconds ticked off the clock, the Aberdeen Central Golden Eagles celebrated a significant win 1-0 win over Sioux Falls Lincoln in non-conference boys’ soccer at Brownell Activities Complex Friday night. The last time Central did not lose to the Patriots came during a tie in 2020.
“Of games I’ve coached and now been the head coach of, that’s one of the guttiest, heart-performances that I’ve seen, and it was our fourth game into the season,” said Central coach Lance Mohr. “It says a lot about their character and their commitment to what they’re doing. It was a fantastic team effort.”
The win over Lincoln was not lost on the players, who understood what they had just accomplished.
“This team’s great. They’ve won state three times in a row. They’re going for four,” said Central junior Talon Hauge. “They’ve lost one game the last two years. We needed it.”
The Golden Eagles didn’t have many scoring chances in the contest, and it turned out all they needed was one.
Freshman Jamison Frericks scored the game’s lone goal in the 56 minute on a shot that just got past the Lincoln goalie.
“I see them get it down the sideline, just as we practiced. I see the cross coming in, I go up for the header,” Frericks said explaining the play. “I actually did miss the header, but I took the touch down, and scored a left-footed goal. It was amazing.”
Frericks wasn’t sure the ball would end up in the back of the net when he hit it.
“It wasn’t the best placement. I did hit it pretty hard, but it was not the best placement,” Frericks said. “The goalie did get a touch on it, so I was not sure if it was going to go in.”
Despite being outshot 9-3, the Golden Eagles were able to keep the Patriots off the scoreboard.
Lincoln fired a late barrage of attempts on the Central goal in the closing minutes, but the hosts were up to the challenge.
“I was so proud of them, because they were absolutely gassed and they just gutted it out all the way to the end,” Mohr said. “We had moments of the game where there’s no doubt we’re going to have to be better, but our ability to withstand and limit really good chances from them was a 10 out 10. It was fantastic.”
Koltin Swearingen recorded the shutout in goal for Central. He had plenty of help, including Hauge, who jumped up and punched a potential-game tying shot over the top of the goal in the closing moments.
“It’s just adrenaline,” Hauge said. “I was pumped.”
Hauge, who called the win the biggest of his playing days, said it took a total team effort.
“It was all of us. We all worked so hard,” Hauge said. “It was everything. It was hustling back and forth. Credits to our midfield. They track back so much.”
And it was Frericks, one of the youngest and shortest players on the pitch, who ended up scoring the game-winner, his third goal in the past two games in his first year on the varsity.
“I think it’s a lot of luck,” Frericks said, “but I worked a lot this summer, so it’s just nice to really have the work pay off.”
Central, now 3-0-1 to start the season, hosts Brandon Valley at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
Hauge said the squad needs to get ready for the next game up after its emotional win over Lincoln.
“We forget about it,” Hauge said. “We move ahead and we’re on to Brandon Valley. Just move on.”
Still, the win over the Patriots was a special one that the Golden Eagles will celebrate for a few days.
“It feels good to get this win, there’s no doubt about it. … I’m more proud of their effort,” Mohr said. “That was a full-throttle commitment effort from those guys, and I’m just super proud of them.”
Sioux Falls Lincoln 0 0 – 0
Aberdeen Central 0 1 – 1
First half: No scoring.
Second half: 1, AC, Jamison Frericks, 56th minute.
Shots: Sioux Falls Lincoln 9; Aberdeen Central 3.
Shots on Goal: Sioux Falls Lincoln 5; Aberdeen Central 2.
Goalies: Opland Sonnichsen (1 save); Aberdeen Central, Koltin Swearingen (5 saves).
