Titan boys defeat #2 Vermillion 2-1 to advance to State

The Tea Area High School boys’ soccer team is riding a wave of success as they head into the State A Championship title game, scheduled for this Saturday, Oct. 14, at Brandon. The #3 seeded Titans are set to take on the #1 seed, Sioux Falls Christian, in what promises to be an exhilarating showdown at 1 p.m.

The Titans’ journey to the State Championship game has been marked by impressive performances and fierce determination. In the playoffs, Tea Area first faced #6 James Valley Christian and delivered a commanding 5-0 victory. The team’s outstanding teamwork and skill were on full display as they dominated their opponent.

In the semi-finals, the Titans were up against #2 Vermillion in a closely contested match. The halftime score was tied at 1-1, with Vermillion’s Varun Kadarkaraisamy scoring in the 4th minute, assisted by Joel Dahlhoff, and Tea Area’s Gavin Reiners equalizing in the 11th minute. The game was a nail-biter until the very end when Tea Area’s Reiners struck again in the 78th minute, securing a 2-1 victory for the Titans.

The statistics from the semi-final game showcased Tea Area’s determination and skill, with the Titans recording 17 shots, 10 on goal, and a total of 17 fouls. Tea Area’s goalkeeper, Jon Schlunsen, made five crucial saves to help secure the victory.

With this impressive win, Tea Area High School’s boys’ soccer team is now set to face Sioux Falls Christian in the State A Championship title game this Saturday.

The Titans record currently stands at 8-8. Sioux Falls Christian brings a 14-0-2 record into the Championship game. The Titans were defeated in the Semi-final round last season by the Chargers who went on to defeat St. Thomas More, 2-0, to win the title. Tea Area has claimed the State title four times in school history (2013, 2017, 2018, 2019) and earned runner-up honors three times as well (2016, 2020, 2021).