STURGIS, SD – The Scooper boys and girls soccer teams hosted the Spearfish Spartans on Tuesday night at Woodle Field, with Mother Nature playing a part in the nightcap.
The Scooper girls came into the game with two wins and seven losses and hoped to notch a win against their crosstown rival.
Spearfish scored first, as Auna Taglioli booted a missile from more than 20 yards out, beating Scooper goalkeeper Ariana Burke to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead with 35:50 left in the first half. The rest of the first half turned into a defensive battle and Spearfish led 1-0 at the halftime break.
With 15:38 left in the match, Scooper striker Avery Marler blasted a shot from the right side of the goal and it deflected off Spearfish defender Hollie Wise, resulting in an own-goal for Spearfish, tying the game at 1-1.
Neither team could find the back of the net for the rest of the match and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
Sturgis finished with eight shots on goal, one offside penalty and five fouls. Burke had seven saves and gave up one goal. The Scoopers are now 2-7-1 on the year.
The Spartans had 12 shots on goal, 10 fouls, five offside penalties and one corner kick in the match. Spearfish goalie Lauren Peotter finished with eight saves. The Spartans had two yellow cards as Daniela Rodriguez and Sevana Thompson were penalized for egregious fouls, both in the second half. Spearfish is now 3-3-4 on the season.
The boys match also turned out to be a defensive battle and both squads were scoreless midway through the first half until Caleb Verhulst found space at the top of the frame over the head of Scooper goalkeeper Christian Lemcke, giving Spearfish a 1-0 lead with 19:03 left in the first half.
Scooper striker Carson Wolter netted an equalizer with 2:50 left before the half, scoring on a pinpoint pass from Ty Ferguson in the penalty box, tying the game at 1-1 at halftime.
Trey Ludens gave Spearfish a 2-1 lead on a goal with 34:35 left in the match as he found the back of the net on a strong kick from 20 yards out. Then Mother Nature had a say in the outcome, as rain and lightning pelted the players and fans midway through the second half. The game was postponed with 20:37 left and will be continued at a date to be determined.
The next game on the Scooper’s schedule is against Belle Fourche on Sept. 24 at Woodle Field.
