The Aberdeen Central girls' soccer team has scored 29 goals in just seven games so far this season.
The remarkable thing is that the Golden Eagles are actually behind last year's pace. Central is the two-time state champions.
"We're probably down a goal (per game) from last year," Central coach Merle Aske. "We scored 75 goals last year."
After a win at Groton Tuesday, Central has six wins with no losses and one tie. Aske feels a number of factors have contributed to the team's success, including keeping active on the field and getting players into the right places.
"The biggest thing for us has been fluid motion and our midfield getting into the attack," Aske said. "We focus on the girls getting in the right positions, getting the other team back on its heels and keeping pressure on them. The more we do that, the less they can attack and the more opportunities we get."
Aberdeen's defensive players have done their part as well, as the Golden Eagles have four shutouts among those six wins.
Good depth has also helped, because some of the girls playing this season were backups last season, and watched and learned from players who had success before them.
"They have learned to compete against the girls on our team," Aske said. "Having to compete every day in practice has made them better."
The team's warm-up attire sums up what the current and future players are trying to accomplish, both on and off the field.
"The senior girls have a shirt for warm-ups and the logo says, "Leave a legacy," said Aske. "The rest of the team have warm-ups that say, "Continue the legacy."
The state tourney will be Oct. 10-11 at Swisher Field in Aberdeen.
Twitter: @ShawnWerre
Welcome to the ESD
It is only early September, and Mitchell has sent the newest member of the Eastern South Dakota Conference a very direct message.
Every moment, point and play counts in the ESD.
On Friday night, Mitchell defeated Harrisburg 21-14 when the Kernels blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone for the game-winning score with 30 seconds left. On Saturday night in volleyball, Mitchell defeated Harrisburg 16-14 in the fifth set.
Sports editor John Papendick
Strong Pheasant finish
When the Redfield-Doland Pheasants exploded for 17 points in the final three minutes last Friday night, it not only reversed their fortunes against Sisseton, but it might have saved their season.
After losing its season-opening game the week before, Redfield-Doland was staring at a second straight defeat before it rallied for a 41-26 win against the Redmen.
"It was like the season was on the edge," said Redfield-Doland coach Keith Gall. "You go 0-2 and the kids start hanging their heads and it could turn into a long year."
Instead, the Pheasants came to life and soon a 26-24 deficit turned into a 15-point victory.
It started on a Collin Klebsh field goal with 2:54 remaining. Then, following a Sisseton turnover, Landon Rohlfs broke free for a 66-yard touchdown run, keyed by a pair of blocks from Ephram Albrecht.
"That was an exciting play," Gall said.
Then after another Sisseton turnover, the Pheasants lined up in the same formation as the Rohlfs run, only this time Jake Baloun got the handoff and ran the other way for an 80-yard touchdown.
Gall said he had never been a part of such a scoring outburst in his years of coaching.
"I don't think points have ever come in that big of a bunch," Gall said. "Football is an emotional game and that was definitely a lot of emotion that night. That was a big game. We needed that win."
Not to be lost in the come-from-behind triumph was the fact that the Pheasants hung together even when times were tough.
"That was the most important thing is that they actually displayed mental toughness and fought through adversity and came out on top," Gall pointed out. "Hopefully, we can carry it on through the rest of the season."
Sports writer Dave Vilhauer
Ex-SFW coach honored
Former Sioux Falls Washington High School football coach Brian Hermanson will be honored with the South Dakota State Ralph Ginn Award for Coaching Excellence during the 2013 Hobo Day celebration in Brookings.
Hermanson led Washington to six consecutive State 11AA title games from 2007-12. The Warriors won titles in 2009, 2010 and 2012, compiling a 47-3 record along the way.
Hermanson lettered in football for the Jackrabbits from 1978-80 and was a member of South Dakota State's NCAA Division II playoff team his junior season. He coached football in some capacity for 33 years, before stepping down following the 2012 season.
Hermanson will be honored with four Jackrabbit hall of fame inductees - including former SDSU track star Kim Fordham Lien of Aberdeen - at a morning luncheon on Oct. 26 on the Brookings campus. The group also will be recognized at halftime of that afternoon's homecoming football game between SDSU and Northern Iowa.
Sports editor John Papendick
Quickly
- A big high school football game looms in Linton, N.D., Friday when Linton-Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock (1-1) hosts Oakes (2-0) at 7 p.m.
- Speaking of successful North Dakota high school teams, the Ellendale volleyball team is off to a 3-0 start.
- Stanley County hosted a triangular Tuesday night, losing both volleyball matches in five sets to Timber Lake (15-8 in fifth) and White River (16-14).
- Sioux Falls O'Gorman (1-1) and Sioux Falls Washington (1-1) will hook up in the 35th annual Bob Burns Football Dakota Bowl at 8 p.m. Saturday at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls. The Knights will unveil new, green uniforms.
- St. Thomas More topped Rapid City Stevens 7-2 in girls' tennis Tuesday for the Cavaliers' first-ever dual win over Stevens.
- National champions from Rapid City are competing today in the International Triathlon Union's World Championships in London. Tamara Gorman is a senior at Rapid City Stevens and Tony Smoragiewicz a sophomore at the University of Michigan.
If you have an idea for Prep Plus, please send an email to jpapendick@aberdeennews.com.