OT Own Goal Sends #4 Eagan On
Eagan 1-0 Centennial
The first game of the Girls Class 2A State Quarterfinals at Park High School in Cottage Grove featured the 4th seed Eagan (18-2-1) against 5AA champion Centennial (15-2-2). This year’s is the first State tournament appearance for Centennial while Eagan has participated 3 times before, but not since 2001.
In the early minutes of the match Eagan and Centennial traded off early attacks sending direct balls from their back-lines and midfield to their forwards, but each attempt was picked up by the goalie before the forward could get a touch.
As the game progressed the two sides settled into their offensive plans. Eagan continued to send direct balls to their forwards hoping to use their forwards’ speed and skill to their advantage, however Centennial defender Becca Roberts proved to be a tough player to get around.
The first dangerous attack came from 40 yards out when Centennial forward Anna Kouba fired a shot that started to dip too late and just passed over the crossbar. Eagan tried to answer with their own shots from distance coming from forward Molly Sparks and midfielder Stephanie Jacobson, but neither found the back of the net.
The second half did not provide the game’s first goal despite flurries of activity in front of both goals. Becca Roberts came to Centennial’s rescue once again by clearing out a dangerous corner kick that bounced in front of the goal. While on the other side Centennial midfielder Courtney Nase found herself with a header at the far post, but the ball fell just wide.
Despite the variety of chances from both teams during the run of play throughout the game, it took a free kick in overtime to bring the game to a close. Eagan defender Becky McCoy sent a free kick from the left side of the field to the top of the six yard box where it deflected off one Centennial player before coming off Becca Roberts into her own goal.
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