The key word for this season this year is effort.
The Garretson High School/Dell Rapids High School girls soccer team started off with a hard-fought loss to Vermillion on a hot, muggy evening, but the team turned around the next day and beat Groton Area for the first time ever. The team came out strong the next week with a win over Huron, but fell flat against Tea Area a couple days later. The team did their best to bounce back from the loss, but came up short the next week against Sioux Falls Christian. Later that week, the team drove down to Dakota Valley, ready to turn the season around. The girls fought hard on the uncharacteristically warm Saturday and came out on top. However, that next week brought more heartache as the team succumbed to a loss against Mitchell.
The girls put forth a tremendous effort in their next game against West Central, but the second half was ultimately their demise as they fell once again. However, the team was able to regroup and pull together for a win two days later against Worthington, MN. After having five days of rest from games, the girls came out ready to play Vermillion the next week. With 110% effort for the full 80 minutes, the girls avenged their first loss of the season with a 0-0 tie. The high from this tie carried over into the next game of that week, and the team once again beat Groton Area, this time on their own field. The final game of the season was against Sioux Falls Christian. The girls played their hearts out, but unfortunately came up short in a 1-2 loss to the Chargers to end the regular season.
However, it was enough to land the team the #5 seed in the playoffs – – a feat which has never before occurred in the history of the Garretson soccer program. On Tuesday, October 2nd, the team will have one final opportunity to defeat Vermillion. With 100% effort, the team can bring forth strong passes, good runs, and lots of shots, which could land these girls with their first playoff win against a team who has created in this program motivation and a desire for more.