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Journey to the Dome
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The East Ridge Girls Soccer team has come very far. Beginning of their season was a struggle, starting with 3 loses. As the season progressed it picked up to wins and loses intermixed, and ended with a streak of straight wins. They were connecting as a team and showing the cities around us they were a force to be reckoned with; they proved that by making it to state.
When regulation season ended and sections began, the girls just kept winning. The upset against Moundsview was most impressive, by the Raptors defeating the defending section champs 2-1. Then they played Simily for the section title and became the new section champs, defeating them 3-1.
So they became the first East Ridge team to go to state. Thursday’s game against Cloquet would determine if they got to go to the Dome. The first half of their game was a brawl. Both teams had trouble, and the first half ended with a 0-0 tie. The East Ridge girls felt like they weren’t playing to their potential, and some felt like it was back to the beginning of the season. Although, they were keeping up with the other team, and they were definitely still in this game. Coach Mark Abboud had no inspirational speech in store, just a to the point here’s what we need to do, and its all ours.
The girls went out there and did that. For the second half, the intensity was picked up by the Raptors-and the opposing team. It was very evenly matched, but you could tell the Raptors wanted this. Into the first five minutes of the game, goalkeeper Maegan Larson was injured in play and had to sit out the rest of the game. Kim Clinch took over the net for the game.
After 76 long minutes, the Raptors scored on a play, with Anna Bygrave who had the finish on an open net. Cloquet came back on fire. They crashed the net and scored with 46 seconds left in the game. So the game was tied 1-1 in the end, and they went into overtime. It would have two ten minute halves, and the first team to score would win the game.
Try as they might, neither team could get the goal. So a shoot out would decide the game. Defender Bianca Diaz stepped up and took up goalie against the Cloquet shooters, who would shoot first. Theirs was in. First up for East Ridge was Aileen Scheibner, whose shot was blocked. Cloquet’s second shot was good, and Raptor’s Anna Solheim’s shot was completed as well. Cloquet’s third was good, and Bianca’s was good. 2-3 in the shoot out so far. Cloquet’s fourth was completed, as was Noelle Arcand’s. Then Cloquet’s next shooter went wide right and missed the net. If Lauren Reid’s shot made it, they would tie it up. And she did. So the teams picked 5 more shooters and continued on. Cloquet’s sixth in and Anna Bygrave went up for East Ridge. Unfortunately, blocked.
So the game was over, 5-6. The team had come so far-farther then anyone would have ever thought or expected of them. It’s quite an accomplishment in itself, and we are all very proud of them. They showed that we don’t need seniors or legacy to prove anything. This inaugural season is one for the books and we just have next year to look forward to, which will most certainly be just as great or better then this year. “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” –Pele
-Emily Springer
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