PIRATE GIRLS SOCCER PLAYS TO A TIE WITH MELROSE

The Crookston Pirate Girls Soccer team was missing four starters but found a way to battle to a 1-1 overtime tie with the Melrose Dutchmen in a Section 8A matchup in Melrose.

It was an even first half, but Crookston wasn’t able to get the offense going.  Late in the first half, with three minutes left, Melrose scored the first goal of the game for a 1-0 lead. “We have seven players out for injuries/sickness resulting in a lot of people playing in different positions and giving more people opportunities to see varsity time,” said Pirate Coach Sarah Reese. “

In the second half, Crookston decided to take Cassie Solheim out of the net as the goalkeeper and moved her to create some offensive opportunities. The move worked 14 minutes into the second half when Solheim found the net with a nice kick into the top shelf to tie the game at 1-1.  “We had Cassie in the net and weren’t getting quality shot opportunities on the field,” said Coach Reese.  Neither team was able to score again in regulation, forcing overtime.  

In the overtime period, neither team scored and the game ended in a 1-1 tie.  “We wanted to go for the section win so we made a risky switch with our goalkeeper.  Tessa Weber stepped up huge with no formal goalkeeper practice time and she made two excellent saves,” said Coach Reese. “We played with three defenders instead of four and Dillynn Wallace had a rock-solid game and JoJo Wallace was moved up to a high-pressure midfield position to take time and space away from their key playmaker. Nashalie Tellez typically plays defense and four herself playing forward and she played poised and distributed the ball well.”

Crookston is 3-4-1 on the year.  “Despite limited subs and new roles for today’s game, we played as a team and got the tie,” said Coach Reese.
Melrose is now 0-5-1 on the year.  

Scoring
37:00 – Melrose – Elenoar Schwieters
54:00 – Crookston – Cassie Solheim