BIG OFFENSIVE DAY LEADS CROOKSTON GIRLS SOCCER TO VICTORY OVER PELICAN RAPIDS

The Crookston Pirate Girls Soccer team had three players score to beat the Pelican Rapids Vikings 4-2 in a Section 8A matchup in Crookston. 

FIRST HALF –
Both Crookston and Pelican Rapids had even possession for the first few minutes. The Vikings had a corner kick in the 3rd minute, but Crookston was able to clear it. After the five-minute mark, it was all Crookston for a while. They began to put pressure on the Pelican Rapid’s goal, first with a shot from Emily Boucher. Then, in the seventh minute, Madeline Harbott received a pass from Josyln Wallace in front of the Vikings net, and Harbott blasted it right over the goalie’s hands to score the game’s first goal.
After a Park Rapids breakaway was saved by Reese Swanson a few minutes later, Crookston again began to dominate offensive possession. The Pirates would again break through for a goal when Katelyn Christensen received a pass from Harbott, and she dribbled it right past the goalie for the score. Cassie Solheim would have a shot on goal a few minutes later, and after that, the possession became a lot more even.
Park Rapids would have an open look in the 21st minute and go wide. Reese Swanson would make a save in the 26th minute to keep the Vikings off the board. Swanson would again make an excellent save in the 32nd minute before the next five minutes saw even play. Crookston would another chance with a free kick in the 38th minute, but no one got a shot off, and the Pirates took a 2-0 lead into halftime.

SECOND HALF –
Crookston immediately came out with the hot foot, as they got a corner kick in the first two minutes. Madelyn Knutson had a shot saved before Madeline Harbott passed it to Cassie Solheim, who buried the attempt to put the Pirates up 3-0. The following five minutes would see even play before Pelican Rapids’ Sadie Funk would slip past the defense and find the back of the net to put the Vikings on the board in the 50th minute.
Pelican Rapids did not have the momentum for long, as just a minute later, Cassie Solheim would again score, this time off of a pass from Miryah Epema to further Crookston’s lead to 4-1. The following five minutes saw neither team dominate possession.
Pelican Rapids would start seeing ever more chances as the game went on. Anahi Garcia attempted two corner kicks in the 56th minute, but the Vikings could only get a shot on one. Pelican Rapids again had a corner kick and a free kick in the 62nd minute, but neither resulted in a good shot. After a Crookston corner kick in the 71st minute resulted in no shot, Pelican Rapid would find themselves with an opportunity. Emily Ahmed attempted a shot, but Swanson made the save and all but eliminated any chance of the Vikings getting back into the game. The Pirates would have a couple more corner kicks in the last seven minutes, including shots from Harbott and Christensen, before the Vikings would get themselves on the board one more time with another unassisted Sadie Funk goal. With only two minutes left, Crookston just played safe and let the time wind down towards a 4-2 victory.

Crookston improves to 3-3-1 on the season and heads to Melrose on Saturday. Pelican Rapids falls to 3-3.

The JV game was canceled in the first half due to rain and lightning.

To listen to Sarah Reese’s post-game comments, click below:

Scoring –
7:43-Crox-Madeline Harbott (Joslyn Wallace)
13:44-Crox-Katelyn Christensen (Madeline Harbott)
43:30-Crox-Cassie Solhiem (Madeline Harbott)
50:05-PR-Sadie Funk
51:33-Crox-Cassie Solhiem (Miryah Epema)
78:18-PR-Sadie Funk