State soccer championships: Penalty kick pushes Harrisburg girls past Aberdeen Central

The South Dakota high school state soccer season wrapped up Saturday with four championship games at Tea Area High School.

A recap of the action follows.

Harrisburg bumps Aberdeen Central to claim first-ever Class AA girls title

Harrisburg junior forward Hailee Christensen had been in a lot of these game situations this season. But before taking a penalty kick in the biggest moment of the season — tied 1-1 with 11:20 left in the Class AA girls state championship game — she thought about practice.

"We've been practicing these for weeks," she said. She took a deep breath and "just tried to put it in the back of the net."

And she did.

The goal was the difference in a 2-1 victory over Aberdeen Central as Harrisburg won its first Class AA girls state soccer title in school history. The Tigers scored a lot of goals this year. They scored three-plus goals in 13 of their games, five-plus goals in nine of their games and 10-plus goals in three of their games. Christensen is one of the most dangerous scorers in all of South Dakota, netting 35 of Harrisburg's 94 goals on the season.

That wasn't the way they would win the game Saturday.

The Tigers had never beaten the Golden Eagles before in school history, and Central downed Harrisburg 2-0 in the regular season on two penalty kicks. The Tigers had to win Saturday in "a whole different environment," Harrisburg head coach Eric Christensen said.

"They rowed the boat all day long and they hit some pretty heavy waves," he said. "But they come out on top. So, feels great."

Harrisburg's goals were scored by junior midfielder Ella Weide and Hailee Christensen, while senior midfielder Taryn Hettich notched Aberdeen Central's goal.

Eric Christensen said following the loss to Central earlier in the season, he was encouraged. His team controlled possession, but the Eagles scored on two set pieces. If that's how the Tigers had to win the game Saturday, that's how they would do it.

And that's what happened in the end.

Harrisburg scored quickly with a strike from Weide, but for much of the remainder of the half, Aberdeen Central threatened. The Golden Eagles spent a lot of the final 30 minutes before the break creating chances and shooting shots wide or too high of the goal. Then, in the second half, they got their chance. Central junior Deshani Peters shot a free kick off the crossbar, but the ricochet went right to Hettich, who finished the goal to tie it at 1-1.

"It was pretty stressful," Hailee Christensen said. "But I knew we were gonna be able to figure it out at the end."

It came with just under 12 minutes to go on a penalty in the box that set up her winning kick.

"The hard part was after we scored then being able to keep it that way for (11) more minutes," she said.

But the Tigers did, and they walked away as state champions for the first time ever.

Tea Area knocks out No. 1 West Central in sudden-death shootout

Tea Area outlasted No. 1 West Central in a sudden-death shootout to win the Class A girls state soccer title 1-0. Tea Area senior Sydney Sherwood put in the game-winning penalty kick to win the state championship after the shootout was tied at four through each team's first five shots.

The game went to two overtimes before the shootout. The last overtime Class A girls state title game was in 2015, a 1-0 win by Tea Area over West Central.

Tea Area nearly scored with under 10 minutes left in regulation to win the game, but a player in front of the net narrowly missed knocking it into the net before the clock ran out. Midway through overtime, West Central junior midfielder Sadie Berg had a chance against only Titans goalkeeper Jessica Nelson, and Nelson made a big save to keep the game scoreless.

The Trojans and Tea Area each had consecutive chances in double overtime on a West Central corner kick that bounced around the front of the net before getting cleared then a Tea Area free kick that was knocked away by Trojans goalkeeper Cambell Fischer.

West Central had successful penalty kicks from sophomore midfielder Rayna Goehring, senior defender Tessa VanOverbeke, senior forward Molli Thornton and senior goalkeeper Cambell Fischer. Tea Area had successful attempts from sophomore midfielder Chloe Wilson, senior defender/forward Kendra McKinney, junior midfielder Aftyn Murray, senior forward/defender Kara Knutson and Sherwood, who gave the Titans the championship.

Rapid City Sevens boys cap run from No. 6 seed to state champs

Rapid City Stevens has been the No. 1 seed before, and this run was definitely different from that.

"It gets some pressure off our backs," Raiders senior forward Zack Williams said. "And we came in, and we're scary."

In yet another matchup where, based on seed Rapid City Stevens was the underdog, the Raiders dominated, winning the Class AA boys state championship against No. 4 Sioux Falls Lincoln, 4-1. Rapid City Stevens was the lower seed in all but one of its matchups, beating No. 3 Jefferson, No. 2 O'Gorman and No. 4 Lincoln en route to its second Class AA state soccer title.

Williams led the team with two goals, and junior forward Gabe Cox put in a goal midway through the second half.

“I was confident from the start, to be honest,” Williams said. “We were ready for this.”

The Raiders got an early goal with Williams via a penalty kick around midway through the first half, then scored again almost immediately via a goal from Cox. Rapid City Stevens was on the verge of pulling away entirely, but then a ball snuck through the defense and senior defender Keegan Blaha (who won defensive player of the game) just narrowly missed a goal-saving clearance that was scored as an own-goal.

That was the first and last time that the Patriots would score. Williams put in another and Lincoln hit in an own goal to give the Raiders a comfortable 4-1 lead. Soccer is “interesting,” Rapid City Stevens head coach Jeff Fiero said. He didn’t feel “comfortable” until there were about 20 seconds left. All championship teams feel different, but one thing remains.

“It's an amazing feeling,” Fiero said. “This is a really special team.”

Sioux Falls Christian caps undefeated season with third-straight Class A boys soccer title

Sioux Falls Christian finished off an undefeated season with a 2-0 win over St. Thomas More of Rapid City to win its third-straight Class A boys state title. Just three ties separate the Chargers from a perfect season.

Sophomore defender/midfielder Boston Gerdes scored the first goal of the game on a corner kick to give the Chargers a 1-0 lead midway through the first half. Sioux Falls Christian only allowed a goal in three games all season won every game it scored two goals or more in this season. And in the second half, it added its insurance goal.

Sophomore forward Emerson Brazones got ahead of the defense on a breakaway and put a shot into the back of a vacant net.

Six Aberdeen Central players named to all-state teams

Class AA boys

First Team: Camden Fauth and Sekou Gogue, Aberdeen Central; Ronaldo Pineda, Huron; Nick North, Sioux Falls O'Gorman; Rylan Derry, Pierre; Andrew Hirsch and Byron Ochoa, Sioux Falls Jefferson; Simon Woods, Sioux Falls Lincoln; Evan Johnson, Sioux Falls Washington; Zack Williams, Rapid City Stevens and Jaxson Fiechtner, Watertown.

Second Team: Gabe Johnson, Aberdeen Central; Noah Chan, Brandon Valley; Junior Eberline, Brooking; Sha Sher, Huron; Carter Hanson and Wesley Zimprich, Sioux Falls O'Gorman; Rikhav Thakker, Sioux Falls Lincoln; Riley Roe, Rapid City Central; Ryan Gaughan, Rapid City Stevens; Ryan Roby, Watertown; and Braylen Beitz, Yankton.

Honorable Mention: Justin Vest, Brandon Valley; Max Bates, Harrisburg; Moo Gay, Huron; Henry Eckert, Sioux Falls Lincoln; and Kellen Scott, Spearfish.

Class AA girls

First team: Taryn Hettich and Deshani Peters, Aberdeen Central; Tyreese Zacher, Brandon Valley; Hailee Christensen and Elsie Odney, Harrisburg; Mia Mullenmeister, Mitchell; Trinity Reagan, Rapid City Stevens; Cassidy Jennings, Mali Van Meeteren and Mariah Siem, Sioux Falls Lincoln; and Cameryn Wilkenson, Sioux Falls Roosevelt.

Second Team: Kailyn Poppen, Aberdeen Central; Mara Nelson, Brandon Valley; Maddix Archer, Brookings; Jaylee Hofer, and Sophia Smithback, Harrisburg; Ryann Barry, Pierre; Libby Castelli, Sioux Falls O'Gorman; Lanie Weaver, Rapid City Central; Ellie Hurt, Sioux Falls Lincoln; Madison Donotan, Spearfish; and Katelyn Hanson, Watertown.

Honorable mention: Caley Murphy, Douglas-Rapid City Christian-New Underwood; Htee Htoo, Huron; Makenzie Nelson, Sioux Falls Jefferson; Ashlyn Kelliher, Sioux Falls Roosevelt; and Brooke Peotter, Spearfish.

Class A boys

First Team: Anthony Staley, Belle Fourche; Landon Wager, James Valley Christian; Andrew Witt and Elijah Anema, Sioux Falls Christian; Tom Solano, Jason Albertson and Aaron Lemon, St. Thomas More; Nick Loof and Tobin Hoffman, Tea Area; and Luke Knutson and Sully Gautier, Vermillion.

Honorable mention: Brennen Hood, James Valley Christian; Liam Ortman, Freeman Academy; Tark Griebel and Landon Groen, Sioux Falls Christian; Will Green, St. Thomas More; Ashdan Farrell, Tea Area; and Varun Kadarkaraisamy, Vermillion.

Class A girls

First team:Joely Sterud, Garretson; Maggie Preuss, Hot Springs; Alexandra McCauley and Ava Schock, Sioux Falls Christian; Gabby Robbins, St. Thomas More; Aftyn Murray and Sydney Sherwood, Tea Area; Megan Brady, Vermillion; and Cambell Fischer, Mara Schultz and Tessa VanOverbeke, West Central.

Honorable mention: Isabella Mijangos, Dakota Valley; Moriah Harrison, Sioux Falls Christian; and Sadie Berg, West Central.

High school girls volleyball

Saturday

Aberdeen Central def. Yankton, 24-26, 25-18, 25-11, 25-15

Bison def. Todd County, 25-11, 25-4

Brandon Valley def. Rapid City Stevens, 25-19, 25-18, 25-8

Douglas def. Bennett County, 25-6, 25-11

Douglas def. Bison, 25-17, 19-25, 25-23

Sturgis Brown def. Red Cloud, 25-16, 23-25, 25-22, 25-11

AC/DC Thunder Nation Tourney

Lakota Tech def. Menno, 25-15, 25-16

Menno def. Crow Creek, 25-19, 25-13

Viborg-Hurley def. Menno, 25-18, 25-17

Dakota Valley Conference Tournament

Castlewood def. Arlington, 25-14, 25-22

Castlewood def. Deubrook, 25-16, 25-12

Castlewood def. Elkton-Lake Benton, 27-25, 23-25, 25-22

Colman-Egan def. Arlington, 25-20, 25-15

Colman-Egan def. Castlewood, 25-13, 19-25, 25-23

Colman-Egan def. Deubrook, 25-21, 25-17

Dell Rapids St. Mary def. DeSmet, 25-18, 25-23

Deubrook def. Arlington, 26-24, 25-22

Elkton-Lake Benton def. Arlington, 25-14, 25-15

Elkton-Lake Benton def. Colman-Egan, 25-18, 25-21

Elkton-Lake Benton def. Deubrook, 25-16, 25-15

Estelline/Hendricks def. DeSmet, 25-8, 25-21

Estelline/Hendricks def. Dell Rapids St. Mary, 26-24, 24-26, 25-22

Estelline/Hendricks def. Iroquois/ Lake Preston Co-op, 25-14, 25-20

Estelline/Hendricks def. Oldham-Ramona/Rutland, 16-15, 25-9, 20-25

Iroquois/ Lake Preston Co-op def. DeSmet, 25-18, 25-21

Oldham-Ramona/Rutland def. DeSmet, 25-17, 25-19

Oldham-Ramona/Rutland def. Dell Rapids St. Mary, 25-15, 25-12

Oldham-Ramona/Rutland def. Iroquois/ Lake Preston Co-op, 15-25, 25-14, 25-11

Dakota XII Conference Tournament

Dell Rapids def. Tea Area, 25-21, 27-25

Dell Rapids def. Tri-Valley, 23-25, 25-14, 25-19

Elk Point-Jefferson def. Dell Rapids, 27-25, 9-25, 28-26

Douglas Invitational

Belle Fourche def. Jones County, 25-14, 25-20

Bison def. Jones County, 16-25, 25-16, 27-25

Douglas def. Jones County, 25-6, 25-11

Douglas def. Kadoka Area, 25-23, 25-20

Douglas def. Todd County, 25-7, 25-8

Jones County def. Kadoka Area, 28-26, 27-25

Jones County def. Lemmon, 25-16, 25-14

Jones County def. New Underwood, 25-12, 25-6

Kadoka Area def. New Underwood, 25-16, 25-21

Lemmon def. Wall, 27-25, 25-16

Wall def. Harding County, 18-25, 25-23, 25-13

Wall def. Pine Ridge, 25-16, 25-22

Sioux City Heelan Invitational

Sioux Center, Iowa def. Sioux Falls Jefferson, 25-23, 21-15

Sioux Falls Jefferson def. Bishop Heelan Catholic, Sioux City, Iowa, 21-15, 23-21

Sioux Falls Jefferson def. Cherokee, Washington, Iowa, 21-14, 21-17

Sioux Falls Jefferson def. LeMars, Iowa, 21-12, 21-15

Lakeville North Tournament

Jackson County Central, Minn. def. Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 25-19, 25-23

New Prague, Minn. def. Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 25-20, 25-16

Sioux Falls Roosevelt def. Hill-Murray, Minn., 25-17, 25-23

Milbank Tourney

Great Plains Lutheran def. Sisseton, 25-19, 25-15

Groton Area def. Beresford, 25-19, 22-25, 25-18

Mobridge-Pollock def. Hamlin, 28-26, 22-25, 25-23

Sioux Valley def. Milbank, 25-18, 17-25, 25-14

Gold Pool

Groton Area def. Great Plains Lutheran, 25-20, 25-16

Hamlin def. Great Plains Lutheran, 25-7, 25-8

Hamlin def. Groton Area, 25-7, 19-25, 25-22

Hamlin def. Sioux Valley, 27-29, 27-25, 25-21

Sioux Valley def. Great Plains Lutheran, 25-18, 25-12

Sioux Valley def. Groton Area, 25-16, 25-17

Maroon Pool

Beresford def. Mobridge-Pollock, 20-25, 26-24, 25-23

Beresford def. Sisseton, 22-25, 25-11, 25-19

Milbank def. Beresford, 25-11, 25-19

Mobridge-Pollock def. Sisseton, 25-10, 25-19

Sisseton def. Milbank, 26-24, 25-23

Panhandle Conference Tournament

Edgemont def. Sioux County, Neb., 25-14, 23-25, 25-17

Rustler Invitational

Aberdeen Roncalli def. Dupree, 25-19, 25-9

Aberdeen Roncalli def. Langford, 25-8, 25-17

Aberdeen Roncalli def. Sioux Falls Lutheran, 25-20, 25-18

Britton-Hecla def. Takini, 25-6, 25-23

Langford def. Takini, 25-6, 25-13

Miller def. Aberdeen Roncalli, 25-14, 25-14

Miller def. Britton-Hecla, 25-13, 25-7

Miller def. Sully Buttes, 25-19, 25-17

Miller def. Takini, 25-1, 25-8

Sioux Falls Lutheran def. Dupree, 21-25, 25-22, 25-22

Sioux Falls Lutheran def. Langford, 25-17, 25-9

Sioux Falls Lutheran def. Sully Buttes, 18-25, 25-15, 25-17

Sully Buttes def. Takini, 25-6, 25-13

College volleyball

Saturday

Southwest Minnesota State 3, Northern State 0

Friday

Northern State 3, Sioux Falls 1

Tuesday

Presentation College 3, Mayville State 2

College soccer

Women

Sunday

Northern Sate 1, Winona State 1

Saturday

Dordt 2, Presentation College 1

Friday

Northern State 1, Upper Iowa

Wednesday

Presentation College 2, Dakota Wesleyan 0

Men

Saturday

Dordt 4, Presentation College 0

Wednesday

Dakota Wesleyan 5, Presentation College 1

College swimming

Saturday

South Dakota State 118, Northern State 75

Northern State 111, Central Iowa 80

North American Hockey League

Saturday

Aberdeen Wings 5, Austin Bruins 3

Friday

Austin Bruins 2, Aberdeen Wings 1 (shootout)

This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Harrisburg beats Aberdeen Central to win Class AA girls soccer title