The Pierre Governor soccer teams will get the season underway this weekend as both teams will travel to face Aberdeen and Brookings on Friday and Saturday.
The Governor girls graduate just four seniors from last year’s squad and will return goalkeeper, Emlyn Swanson who had six shutouts in 15 games including allowing just one goal in the last five games of the season. After a 10-4-1 season, the Governors look to get off on the right foot again this year, but will do so against the team they want to get revenge on. Pierre lost 1-0 to Aberdeen Central in the first round of the playoffs in the 3-14 matchup, but did beat them 3-1 in the opener last year. Aberdeen Central went to the semifinals last season as the 14 seed in an incredible upset run, winning half of its games in the playoffs. Pierre will still be a young team with only Jasmine Jost and Natalie Flottmeyer being the two seniors who played last season. Kira Swenson, head coach of the Governors says a lot of girls are stepping up right away…
While they open the season with the team who beat them in the playoffs, Swenson says it’s business as usual and looking for two wins to start the season regardless of who the opponent is…
Swenson says they need to possess the ball and play as a unit to get two wins…
On the boys side, the Governors are looking to build on its most successful season since the sport was sanctioned. The Govs finished 10-4-2 and nearly beat the eventual champions on the road as the Govs lost 2-1 in overtime to the Lincoln Patriots in the quarterfinals of the playoffs. However, nine seniors graduate from last year’s team including the goalkeeper in Jacob Leiferman. But, most of the offensive scoring returns from last season, something head coach Sean Blanchette says this group is ready to step up to the challenge…
This group has tasted the success of last year, and Blanchette says the hunger is driving them to the next step…
And going into the first games, Blanchette says these are two tough games to start…
The Governor girls will kickoff first at 4:00 Friday and the boys game to follow in Aberdeen and then starting at 11:00 AM Saturday in Brookings for the girls game and the boys game will follow. Pierre’s home opener will be at Hollister Field on Thursday, August 21 against Yankton. A total of four of the seven home games will be at the football field this year.
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