The Crookston Pirate Girls Soccer team hosted the Mesabi East Area Giants on Saturday afternoon on Senior Day. The Pirates were celebrating their four seniors Kailee Magsam, Hannah Leckie, Megan Haugen, and Zara Baig. Crookston got an early goal from Madeline Harbott and it ended up being the difference in a 1-0 victory.
FIRST HALF –
The first half got off to a slower start with the teams both trying to get into a rythme. Twelve minutes in the Pirates would find their rhythm and open up the scoring. Madeline Harbott would take a great centering pass from Katelyn Christensen in front of the net and knock it home for an early 1-0 lead for the Pirates. Crookston would have a few other good chances the next twenty minutes including two corner kicks, but the Giants were able to turn the Pirates away. In the final ten minutes, Mesabi East would have a couple of excellent scoring chances including a breakaway. Cassie Solheim would charge out of the net and make a sliding save to keep the Pirates in front, and Crookston was able to escape the first half with a 1-0 lead.
SECOND HALF –
Each team had a couple of nice chances early in the second half but both goalkeepers stayed strong to keep it a 1-0 contest. As the clock approached around 25 minutes remaining in the match, Mesabi East started to ramp up the pressure as they looked for the equalizing goal. The Giants would have several opportunities including a clean look on goal with seven minutes remaining but Cassie Solheim continued to turn each shot away. With two minutes remaining Solheim would sprawl out one last time for a beautiful save keeping the Giants off the scoreboard. The Pirates were able to maintain their 1-0 lead as the final seconds ticked off, securing a victory to wrap up the regular season.
Crookston finishes the regular season with a final record of 4-8-3. They will now begin preparations for the Section 8A Tournament which starts on October 13.
FOR PIRATES COACH SARAH REESE’S COMMENTS, CLICK BELOW
Audio Player
| 1st | 2nd | Final | |
| Mesabi East | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| CROOKSTON | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Scoring
12:18 – Crox – Madeline Harbott (Katelyn Christensen)
| SAVES | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Cassie Solheim – Crox | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Marissa Anderson – Mesabi | 6 | 4 | 10 |
