Titan girls advance to State

By Anne Homan,

Sports Reporter

Titan girls soccer team celebrates Saturday, Oct. 8 after the punched their ticket to the State A Championship game. Photo: Courtesy of Katie Sherwood

With a 1-0 victory over Sioux Falls Christian last Saturday, Oct. 8 the Tea Area High School girls’ soccer team punched their ticket to the State A Championship game to be played this Saturday, Oct. 15.

The road to State began with a bye in the first round of playoffs for the Titans, before facing off against Sioux Falls Christian.

“Saturday’s game was exactly what we thought it would be,” said Titan head coach Mark Anderson. “Fast and aggressive, Sioux Falls Christian plays to stop you from scoring by putting a lot of players back when teams are attacking their half of the field. They don’t push very many players up offensively.”

Anderson noted this made it hard for the Titans to get quality scoring chances.

“We played quick but patient and were able to earn some corner kick plays,” said Anderson.

Around the 26-minute mark of the game, Tea Area was awarded a corner kick. Kendra McKinney took the kick and placed it very well. It hit several players and bounced to the left of the goal

area where Kara Knutson took the ball out of the air and put it toward the goal, sending it through.

The goal put the Titans up 1-0.

“The rest of the half we generated a couple more good shots but ended the half with a 1-0 lead,” said Anderson. “The second half we looked to score but just couldn’t connect. Sioux Falls Christian started sending the ball over the defense hoping for a mistake by our defense or goalkeeper but we’re not successful.”

Sioux Falls Christian decided to put pressure on the Titan goalkeeper by creating contact. Anderson was not happy with this move.

“On several plays, they committed what I would call a ‘cardable’ foul by running into and over our goalkeeper but no foul was called either time,” said Anderson.

Despite the no-call, it looked like Tea Area would get their second goal late in the game but it was ruled offsides.

But the Titans fought hard until the final seconds and defended their goal, taking the 1-0 lead to ensure their trip to the State Championship.

The Titans will take on familiar foe West Central at 7:00 p.m. in Tea on Oct. 15 with the winner claiming the 2022 State A Championship Title.