The Mitchell High School girls soccer team couldn’t find the equalizer.
Libby Castelli gave Sioux Falls O’Gorman a 2-1 lead with 11 minutes, 16 seconds to play on Tuesday at Joe Quintal Field, and like most of the night, the Knights’ defense couldn’t be broken during the Class AA state tournament first round. O’Gorman (8-4-1) stopped Mitchell’s (8-4-2) attacks in a one-goal win.
“We had some good chances, but unfortunately the balls didn’t go our way and we just missed a couple of opportunities,” MHS coach Bob Lemon said. “Sometimes a game of soccer is literally a game of inches. It was unfortunate, especially for this group of seniors that this is how it ended. But I can’t say anything about the effort they gave.”
Castelli provided the first scoring in over 50 minutes. Ella Bender gave the Knights a 1-0 lead 2:15 into the contest, but Mia Mullenmeister answered just over a minute later. What looked to be a high-scoring game turned into a defensive match, as neither team could find the back of the net.
O’Gorman had numerous chances in the first half, as it won the possession battle for the final 20 minutes before the break. Its shots went just high of the net or Mitchell goalie Caroline Titze would make a diving or tip save to keep the game tied at 1-1.
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“Normally I’m just thinking, ‘Don’t let this go in,’ ” Titze said about her saves. “... O’Gorman is a good high-scoring team and we really held them today.”
Mitchell started to possess the ball more in the second half, but couldn’t find the back of the net. Still, led by Brooke Brewster and Kyah Escobin, Mitchell’s defense held strong and gave it a chance.
“We played a solid defensive back,” Lemon said. “We kept them in check and made them take some longer shots. It was the type of defense I knew these girls could play.”
Castelli finally broke through for the match winner to send O’Gorman to the second round against No. 1 Aberdeen Central on Saturday.
