sports

LUCAS MILLER GOAL GIVES PIRATE BOYS SOCCER THE WIN OVER EGF

October 4, 2022

The Crookston Pirate Boys Soccer team had 18 shots on goal and it is was the 16th shot on goal that was the difference as Lucas Miller scored on an outstanding pass from Carter Trudeau. Crookston held on for a 1-0 victory over the visiting East Grand Forks Green Wave in a game played at the Crookston High School soccer field.

FIRST HALF –
In the first meeting of the season, East Grand Forks scored a goal with about five minutes left in the game to edge the Pirates by a goal. The teams were evenly matched in the regular-season finale, which showed in the first half.
Both teams coaches expressed a lot of frustration as neither team’s defense allowed many scoring opportunities.
Crookston outshot EGF 8-5 in the first half, but the first high-quality scoring chance for the Pirates came with about five minutes left in the first half as the Pirates missed the net on a kick from about 15-yards away from the net. East Grand Forks couldn’t break the Crookston defense, and the teams were scoreless going into halftime.

SECOND HALF –
Crookston came out strong in the first half and had three solid scoring chances in the first five minutes of the half. Caden Boike kicked the ball wide right and wide left in his two opportunities, and Jack Everett had a kick on goal from 25-yards out, but the Green Wave goalie made the save, and the teams were still scoreless five minutes into the half.
Crookston continued to put relentless pressure on the East Grand Forks defense and had shot after shot, but the Green Wave goalie either made the save or the Pirates missed the net. Crookston had another golden opportunity with 13:24 left, but a shot missed the net and was still scoreless.
Play was stopped with 12:54 remaining when Caden Boike went down with cramps in his leg. After a few minutes, he was able to walk off the field.
Crookston finally got on the board with a beautiful two-pass goal. It all started with a kick up the field from Kadin Edwards that traveled half the field along the sideline. Carter Trudeau caught up with the rolling ball and turned the corner and chipped the ball past the defender and kicked the ball in front of the net. Lucas Miller was sprinting to catch up with the play and his hustle paid off when he caught up with the ball and kicked it into the net for a 1-0 lead with
One minute later, Crookston had a wide-open net but got too excited and missed the net to the right and the Pirates led 1-0.
Crookston outshot East Grand Forks 18-8, but they had another 10 to 15 shots that missed the net.

Crookston end the regular season with a 5-9 record and will start the Section 8A playoffs on Tuesday, October 11.