Playing with the inspiration of a fallen teammate, Aberdeen Central put together its most complete performance of the season Thursday night.

The Golden Eagles were quicker to the ball, played with a purpose, and handed Pierre its first loss of the season with a 2-0 Eastern South Dakota Conference girls’ soccer victory.

Central was without senior captain Espynn Kuhfeld, who was injured in Tuesday’s contest.

“We talked about that. We had the energy. We had the drive,” said Central coach Kendra Hanley. “In Tuesday’s game we had the unfortunate accident with Espynn, and it came down to heart for the team. That win was for her tonight.”

The Golden Eagles possessed the ball most of the game and finally broke through in the second half when Chloecherie Heagley buried a shot off a pinpoint pass from Brianna Fischer in the 60th minute.

“Bri was dribbling down the sideline,” Heagley said. “It was a cross and I just went to it and hit it.”

It was a textbook goal and it gave Central the only score it would need.

“Perfect pass from Bri and then a beautiful strike,” Hanley said. “No spin on the ball. It was beautiful.”

The Golden Eagles added another goal 12 minutes later when Keyana Stillman found the back of the net on a difficult angle from the corner.

“That was a beautiful goal,” Hanley said. “She rips shots all the time and you just love when it falls for them. It was a great shot.”

Meanwhile, Central’s stellar defense was once again up to the task, not allowing a single Pierre shot on goal in the contest.

“I think our defense and the whole team in general knew what they needed to do put a stop to their winning streak,” said Central’s Greta Peterson, “and we just stepped up to the plate and had a team win.”

Peterson was all over the field for the Golden Eagles and her effort did not go unnoticed.

“She really stepped up tonight,” Hanley said. “Every time I took her out, I think I was just as giddy to see her playing at her top notch. That was great soccer.”

Central received major contributions from a variety of players on the way to the key victory.

“It’s fun to watch girls step up into a role when needed,” Hanley said, “and we had lot of girls across the board step up tonight.”

Hanley has told her players that despite a solid record this season, the squad needs to prove itself against every opponent it faces. The message has gotten through.

“Each of us takes that to heart,” Peterson said, “and just come and do what each position needs to do and play together.”

Hanley said the team’s performance against the Governors was the most complete effort of the season.

“It was fun soccer to watch,” Hanley said, “and to see them all come together like that and compete for the full 80 minutes again, against a solid soccer team, it feels great.”

The victory should give the Golden Eagles some confidence heading into their final two regular-season games and the upcoming postseason.

“We’re definitely more motivated,” Heagley said, “and we’re ready for upcoming games.”

Central, 10-2 on the season, hosts Watertown on Tuesday and then plays at O’Gorman to close out the regular season before heading into the playoffs.

“We’ve been not struggling, but just needed a little boost,” Peterson said, “and this win definitely did that for us tonight.”

The Golden Eagles are in a battle for key power points to determine position for the playoffs. Hanley said it is a loaded field of teams this season.

“We talk about how honestly the top eight teams are all phenomenal teams. It can go one way or another,” Hanley said. “It’s whoever is going to show up, put the work in, and tonight we did that. And it felt really good and it felt good for the girls to have that.”

Central hosts Watertown at 4 p.m. on Tuesday before heading to O’Gorman on Thursday. Both teams have winning records and are among the top eight squads in power points.

“Again, they’re both solid soccer teams,” Hanley said. “It’s whoever is going to show up, so we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing, put our nose to the grind, and get the job done.”

Pierre 0 0 – 0

Aberdeen Central 0 2 – 2

First Half: no scoring.

Second Half: 1, AC, Chloecherie Heagley (Brianna Fischer), 60th minute; 2, AC, Keyanna Stillman.

Shots on Goal: Pierre 0; Aberdeen Central 14.

Goalies: Pierre, Emlyn Swanson (12 saves); Aberdeen Central, Ava Beck (0 saves).