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Apr. 9—GRAND FORKS — Both Grand Forks girls soccer programs have goals of making the North Dakota state tournament this spring.
On Tuesday in the sport's opening night, both Red River and Central displayed reasons to believe those programs are on the right track to finish in the top four of the Eastern Dakota Conference.
Central beat West Fargo 8-0, while Red River pulled away late to beat West Fargo Sheyenne 4-2.
In recent years, Fargo Davies and Fargo Shanley have been the top two programs in the EDC. Red River and Central are hoping to also challenge in the top half of the league this year.
"I think we have a strong defense and a good transition offense to get our top players involved," Red River coach Jason Heydt said. "I think we have a variety of players with strong skill and shooting, so we should be able to put some goals in this year."
Red River advanced in last year's state quarterfinals in a shootout victory, then finished fourth.
"A goal is to make it back and finish higher than we did last year," Heydt said. "We need to stay healthy and have things fall right for this group to do it."
Heydt liked his team's resilience in the season opener as the Riders fell behind early, then gave up a tying goal after building a lead.
"(Sheyenne) scored with 11 minutes left and that could be a real downer," he said. "The girls fought hard and popped in two more. That shows they'll keep working hard."
Freshman forward Alexia Giannopoulos scored twice for the Roughriders in the opener.
"She's a stud," Heydt said. "We have a lot of really good kids, and she was willing to come off the bench for us. She has great foot skills and is quick. Her teammates also put her in a good spot."
The Riders have one returning all-state player in freshman Taylor Hodny.
"We told her that teams know about her, and she's not an unknown anymore," Heydt said. "We'll have to play as a team. That'll make her successful, too. She has an unbelievable work ethic and drive."
Red River hosts Fargo Shanley at Cushman Field on Thursday to provide an early indicator of the top of the EDC.
Central doesn't play Thursday and the coaching staff will be at Cushman to keep tabs on two programs expecting to be jockeying with the Knights in the EDC standings.
Knights coach George DuBois is happy with his balance, evidenced by seven different goal scorers in the season opener against West Fargo, a young team expected to struggle this season.
DuBois said the Knights are motivated by missing out on the state tournament in 2024.
"We had lots of kids do good work in the offseason," DuBois said. "They know this is the time to take what they want to get back to where they want to be."
Central has two midfielders and three defenders readying for a fifth season of varsity soccer for the Knights.
On defense, Emily Common, Mae Dickelman and Madisyn McLaughlin have all played varsity since eighth grade. The same can be said for midfielders Lauren Reardon and Aubriell Kraemer.
"In terms of new faces, there aren't a lot of new faces," DuBois said.
Coach: Jason Heydt.
2024 record: 8-5-4, fourth place at state tournament.
Key returners: Fr. F-MF Taylor Hodny (second team all-state); sr. D Addison Fargo (all-EDC); jr. F-MF Reese Remz; fr. MF Reagan Hodny; sr. F-MR Payton Bergeron; sr. MF Madelyn DeLong; sr. D Alexis Geffre; jr. MF Addison Kotrba.
Top newcomers: Fr. MF Alexia Giannopoulos; eighth-grader F-MR Ella Bry; sr. D Annika Pedersen; sr. G Lexi Schindler.
Coach Heydt says: "They've put in a lot of work in the offseason and are continuing to work hard now."
Coach: George DuBois.
2024 record: 6-6-2.
Key returners: Sr. M Lauren Reardon (second team all-state); sr. D Madisyn McLaughlin (all-EDC); sr. D Mae Dickelman; sr. M Aubriell Kraemer; sr. D Emily Common; jr. M Rowan Olmstead; jr. F Jacie Reardon; fr. F Lauren Malott; jr. GK Hailey Anderson-Tibiatowski; fr. F Addison Lamb.
Top newcomers: Sr. F Charli Kulack; soph. M Kelsie McLaughlin; jr. M Elizabeth Malott; fr. F Jocelyn Field; jr. F Ava Walsh.
Coach DuBois says: "I think it's a group that is focused on the goals they want to accomplish. I think there was a lot of reflection based on last year's missing out on the state tournament. What can we do to fix what needs to be fixed? There's a lot of positive work in that direction."
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On Tuesday in the sport's opening night, both Red River and Central displayed reasons to believe those programs are on the right track to finish in the top four of the Eastern Dakota Conference.
Central beat West Fargo 8-0, while Red River pulled away late to beat West Fargo Sheyenne 4-2.
In recent years, Fargo Davies and Fargo Shanley have been the top two programs in the EDC. Red River and Central are hoping to also challenge in the top half of the league this year.
"I think we have a strong defense and a good transition offense to get our top players involved," Red River coach Jason Heydt said. "I think we have a variety of players with strong skill and shooting, so we should be able to put some goals in this year."
Red River advanced in last year's state quarterfinals in a shootout victory, then finished fourth.
"A goal is to make it back and finish higher than we did last year," Heydt said. "We need to stay healthy and have things fall right for this group to do it."
Heydt liked his team's resilience in the season opener as the Riders fell behind early, then gave up a tying goal after building a lead.
"(Sheyenne) scored with 11 minutes left and that could be a real downer," he said. "The girls fought hard and popped in two more. That shows they'll keep working hard."
Freshman forward Alexia Giannopoulos scored twice for the Roughriders in the opener.
"She's a stud," Heydt said. "We have a lot of really good kids, and she was willing to come off the bench for us. She has great foot skills and is quick. Her teammates also put her in a good spot."
The Riders have one returning all-state player in freshman Taylor Hodny.
"We told her that teams know about her, and she's not an unknown anymore," Heydt said. "We'll have to play as a team. That'll make her successful, too. She has an unbelievable work ethic and drive."
Red River hosts Fargo Shanley at Cushman Field on Thursday to provide an early indicator of the top of the EDC.
Central doesn't play Thursday and the coaching staff will be at Cushman to keep tabs on two programs expecting to be jockeying with the Knights in the EDC standings.
Knights coach George DuBois is happy with his balance, evidenced by seven different goal scorers in the season opener against West Fargo, a young team expected to struggle this season.
DuBois said the Knights are motivated by missing out on the state tournament in 2024.
"We had lots of kids do good work in the offseason," DuBois said. "They know this is the time to take what they want to get back to where they want to be."
Central has two midfielders and three defenders readying for a fifth season of varsity soccer for the Knights.
On defense, Emily Common, Mae Dickelman and Madisyn McLaughlin have all played varsity since eighth grade. The same can be said for midfielders Lauren Reardon and Aubriell Kraemer.
"In terms of new faces, there aren't a lot of new faces," DuBois said.
Coach: Jason Heydt.
2024 record: 8-5-4, fourth place at state tournament.
Key returners: Fr. F-MF Taylor Hodny (second team all-state); sr. D Addison Fargo (all-EDC); jr. F-MF Reese Remz; fr. MF Reagan Hodny; sr. F-MR Payton Bergeron; sr. MF Madelyn DeLong; sr. D Alexis Geffre; jr. MF Addison Kotrba.
Top newcomers: Fr. MF Alexia Giannopoulos; eighth-grader F-MR Ella Bry; sr. D Annika Pedersen; sr. G Lexi Schindler.
Coach Heydt says: "They've put in a lot of work in the offseason and are continuing to work hard now."
Coach: George DuBois.
2024 record: 6-6-2.
Key returners: Sr. M Lauren Reardon (second team all-state); sr. D Madisyn McLaughlin (all-EDC); sr. D Mae Dickelman; sr. M Aubriell Kraemer; sr. D Emily Common; jr. M Rowan Olmstead; jr. F Jacie Reardon; fr. F Lauren Malott; jr. GK Hailey Anderson-Tibiatowski; fr. F Addison Lamb.
Top newcomers: Sr. F Charli Kulack; soph. M Kelsie McLaughlin; jr. M Elizabeth Malott; fr. F Jocelyn Field; jr. F Ava Walsh.
Coach DuBois says: "I think it's a group that is focused on the goals they want to accomplish. I think there was a lot of reflection based on last year's missing out on the state tournament. What can we do to fix what needs to be fixed? There's a lot of positive work in that direction."
Continue reading...
