STURGIS, SD – The Sturgis Scoopers hosted the Watertown Arrows in the fall soccer season opener at Woodle Field on Friday night and dropped both matches. The Watertown girls downed Sturgis, 4-1 and the Arrow boys squad edged the Scoopers, 2-1.
The Watertown girls netted two goals in the first half, as Brittany Randall scored with 7:45 remaining before the half and Katie Fischer scored four minutes later to give the Arrows a 2-0 lead at intermission.
Head coach Paul Smith changed strategy in the second half, putting more offensive pressure on the Watertown defense. Avery Marler used her speed to outrun the Arrow back line, scoring a goal just over six minutes into the second half. Watertown added two goals late, one by Khloe Landmark and another by Fischer to earn the 4-1 victory.
Watertown (1-0) finished with 27 shots on goal, six corner kicks and three fouls. Sturgis (0-1) had 10 shots on goal, one corner kick and four fouls.
The Watertown boys won the possession battle in the first half of their match with Sturgis, controlling the tempo and taking a 1-0 lead on a goal by Riley Fischer with 23;57 left before halftime. The Arrow defense held the Scoopers scoreless in the first 45 minutes.
Sturgis had a golden opportunity as Carsen Wolter had a penalty kick with 24:42 left in the match because of a Watertown foul in the penalty box. Wolter’s PK went wide left and the Arrows held on to their 1-0 lead.
Watertown’s Braxton Endres blasted a 40-yard shot through the hands of Sturgis senior goalkeeper Christian Lemcke, giving the Arrows a 2-0 lead with just under 14 minutes left. Wolter redeemed himself with just 3:40 left as he beat Watertown goalkeeper Owen Muller to cut into the Arrow lead. The Scoopers had chances late but couldn’t convert a goal and lost to Watertown, 2-1.
Sturgis (0-1) finished the match with 16 shots on goal, six corner kicks and seven fouls. Watertown (1-0) had 19 shots on goal, three corner kicks and 10 fouls.
The Scooper boys and girls are in action next on Friday, Aug. 23 as they host the Sioux Falls Lincoln Patriots at Woodle Field.
