Crookston Pirate Boys Soccer scores late to knock out EGF, advance in section tournament

The Crookston Pirates boys’ soccer team got a goal from Peter Wiersma in the final seven minutes to keep their season alive as they beat the East Grand Forks Green Wave 1-0 in the first round of the Section 8A Boys Soccer Tournament played at KROX Radio Stadium in Crookston.

FIRST HALF –
From start to finish, Crookston dominated the match on offense. They consistently pushed and pressured EGF, getting many shot attempts, although missing wide primarily. Makoti Weber had a couple of great chances in the half, but he kicked one through the uprights and then off the crossbar. Carter Fee also hit one off the crossbar. The Pirates had corner kicks in the 14th and 31st minutes, but those amounted to nothing. EGF got a corner kick in the 32nd period, but the ball hit off the side of the net, and that was the closest that EGF would get in the half, as the half would end scoreless.

SECOND HALF –
The second half was a lot crazier than the first half. The officials were much more vocal in the second half, and more whistles translated to red cards. Grant Funk had the first golden opportunity of the half, but his shot hit the bottom of the crossbar and stayed out. Then, at the 58th minute, Weber was dragged down in the box, opening up a penalty kick chance, but it was pulled wide to the left. After that, the EGF offense began to push, but they left a wide-open gap for a breakaway, and after a corner kick, Peter Wiersma kicked it off his thigh and into the net with 6:27 left to put the Pirates up 1-0. Then, a minute later, after an EGF corner, Jay Reese was assessed a red card with 5:02 remaining, and the Pirates had to play a man down. Despite that, the Pirates prevented the Green Wave from getting a shot on goal, and Crookston held on to win 1-0.

Crookston has won three games in a row and improves to 4-7-2 on the year. The Pirates will take on Fergus Falls Hillcrest Academy on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. East Grand Forks ends the season with a 1-12 record.

Click below to listen to Coach Lon Boike’s postgame comments-