MHS boys', girls' soccer teams win season openers

The Mitchell High School soccer teams each came away with a victory Saturday at the Pepsi Cola Soccer Complex in Mitchell.

The boys opened their season with a 3-1 win over Freeman Academy before the girls defeated Sioux Falls Christian 3-0. The win marked the first official victory for the Mitchell High School boys’ soccer team as it is playing its first season of sanctioned soccer.

“We couldn’t ask for a better opening weekend,” coach Ryan Perry said. Perry coaches both the boys’ and girls’ squads.

“Both teams came out ready with an energy that you need to win.”

The boys got a 1-0 lead in the first half as Peter Novak opened the scoring. Freeman Academy was able to tie the game at one in the second half, but two goals within five minutes by Zach Moen and Seth Vandenhook gave the Kernels a two-goal cushion that the team held on to for the win.

“We kept up the pressure and that’s something you have to do in soccer,” Perry said.

The girls’ team also led 1-0 at half and was able to keep the shutout intact with Kassondra Ptak and Kendra Brewster in goal.

“All the goalies that played had big saves,” Perry said.

Cole Carlson was in net for the boys’ team.

Kayla Stangeland scored the first-half goal for the girls while Erin Farnham and Emily Paulson tallied one goal each in the second half.

Perry said he was excited to see six goals from six different players on Saturday. He said he saw a lot of things that the teams had worked on in practice showing up on the field.

The teams return to action Friday as both squads take on St. Thomas More in Mitchell. The girls’ game begins at 6 p.m. with the boys to follow at 8 p.m.

Tags: sports, updates, mitchell, kernels, soccer