CROOKSTON GIRL’S SOCCER LOSES CLOSE BATTLE AT PELICAN RAPIDS

The Crookston Pirate Girl’s Soccer team played a solid game, but ultimately lost at Pelican Rapids, 2-1, on Monday afternoon. The Vikings got payback after losing 5-1 at Crookston back on September 8.

FIRST HALF –
The Pirates got off to a solid start and scored the first goal of the game 14 minutes in. Freshmen striker Cassie Solheim scored her fifth goal of the season off of an assist from senior striker Makenze Epema to give Crookston a 1-0 lead. Epema now has a team-high four assists in the 2020 season. The Vikings responded just one minute later however, as Ariona Villagomez tied the game with a goal of her own. The game remained tied 1-1 at halftime.

SECOND HALF –
After a scoreless, back-and-forth start to the second half, Villagomez put the Vikings ahead for good with her second goal coming at the 72-minute mark. The Pirates had a number of chances offensively throughout, finishing with 10 shots-on-goal, but ultimately, they were unable to get one more goal into the net. “The girls played 100 percent today,” Crookston head coach Sarah Reese said. “We had lots of shots, which kept their goalkeeper busy. We just had some unlucky shots that wouldn’t fall. Jocelyn Leach and Maddie Harbott, both midfielders, had great games today. Ultimately, just a tough loss.”

The Pirates, who lost their fifth in a row, fall to 2-7 on the season, while Pelican Rapids improves to 3-5. Crookston will close out the regular season on Tuesday afternoon in Walker, facing the Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Wolves. The match is set to start at 4:30 p.m. The Pirates beat the Wolves to open the season on August 27, 7-2, in Crookston.