sports

PIRATE BOYS SOCCER SHUT OUT IN LOSS TO EAST GRAND FORKS

September 23, 2021

The Crookston Pirate Boys Soccer team hosted the East Grand Forks Green Wave looking for that elusive first win, but instead, the Green Wave used an early goal to propel themselves to a 1-0 road victory in a game played at the Crookston High School soccer fields. “These boys deserve a win, and it’s just so disappointing because they work so hard,” said the Pirates Head Coach Lon Boike.

FIRST HALF
The Green Wave used the light wind at their back in the first half. The Pirates defense was busy in the first 40 minutes running down Green Wave pressure for most of the half. East Grand Forks broke through 10 minutes into the game to grab an early lead on a shot from Conner McGaughey that rolled up the arm of the Pirates goalie Caden Boike, hit off the left post trickled in for a 1-0 lead. “It took a little hop on him, and so he didn’t play it correctly and just rolled in,” said Coach Boike. “If you look at that, it could have been a 0-0 game, and we could be in overtime.” After that, the Pirates limited the Green Wave to just a couple more shots in the first half and only one other shot on goal. The Pirates generated six shots in the first 40 minutes, with four being on goal but could not find the net. “We gotta put the ball in the goal, and we had some opportunities,” added Coach Boike. In the first minute, they had an opportunity that resulted in a save and another chance late in the half on a corner kick that was deflected towards the net but kicked away at the last moment from an East Grand Forks defender to maintain a 1 0 lead for the Green Wave.

SECOND HALF
The Pirates came out in the second half with a lot of aggressiveness on the offensive end, trying to tie things back up. Time after time, the Pirates would send balls into the offensive third of the field with multiple Pirates running down the passes, but they could not break the seal. They took ten shots in the half, five of which were on goal. “We can’t get the ball to bounce our way, and it’s tough,” said Coach Boike. “We just have to keep playing through it.” Their best chance came with a little over ten minutes remaining in the half when Alex Longoria got the ball 5 feet in front of the goalkeeper, but the shot was nearly right at him, and the ball was saved. “I felt like we had an advantage with some of our speed with a lot of guys, but we couldn’t get that goal,” explained Coach Boike. The Pirates’ defense kept them in the second half while allowing minimal offensive chances for EGF. They allowed just four shots, and only one of the shots was on goal. “I thought Thor Harbott had one of his better matches of the year. He was all over, and we turned him loose a bit today,” said Coach Boike. “We also had Evan Christensen and Nathan Kelly back there, and I think both of them played super today and Gavin Winger coming off the bench… I thought he played great today as well.” Crookston had one more chance to tie the game with under ten seconds left on a breakaway, but they were called for offsides as EGF held on for a 1-0 win. “The good news is that we get to play these guys in about a week and a half over at their place, and so we have a chance to win that one,” added Coach Boike.

Crookston falls to 0-8 this season. They will look to pick up their first win of the season on Monday when they go on the road to face Grand Forks Red River.
East Grand Forks improves to 1-7 this year.