The Pierre Governors came up one game short of the Girls AA State Championship a year ago on the road in Harrisburg by a final score of 1-0. The girls set out in this 2026 season to accomplish what they couldn’t less than 12 months prior, win in the semis and make it to the final game. Saturday ev ening, they got one step closer by winning arguably the greatest game ever played at PILC as the Governor girls outlasted 100 minutes of regulation, extra-time play and penalty kicks against the Brookings Bobcats. Greatest may be a strong word to use, even in a scoreless affair after 80 minutes. However, it was the most exciting scoreless soccer match anyone who attended had been a part of. There was certainly playoff energy around PILC, “standing room only” is about as best of a description as there is with very little space around the pitch to be had for patrons. An unmatched buzz surrounding what would turn out to be the game of the night across the quarter-final bracket. Brookings opened the match with two quick opportunities that were thwarted by junior goalkeeper Emlyn Swanson. That would become a theme throughout the rest of the match. Brookings carried the momentum throughout the first few minutes, but things settled evenly as the first half remained scoreless with multiple shots on goal from the Bobcats with just one from the Governors. The second half belonged to the Bobcats. They threw numbers forward and held a steady and consistent attack throughout the final 40 minutes of regulation. The Bobcats got on the doorstep of scoring the games first goal multiple times, Josie Hegerfeld supplying one moment and Davina Lafomo supplying the next. All of those golden opportunities were once again denied by Swanson who played arguably her best game of the season. One of the biggest moments in the game came on a Brookings shot-on-goal that got over the top of Swanson, but rang the crossbar and ricocheted back into the field of play. A true game of inches. The Governors outlasted the continuous onslaught provided from the Bobcats offense and forced extra-time. In the two 10-minute overtime periods, neither team was truly ever able to establish an advantage. Both found themselves free for scoring chances, but nothing would materialize. All of the intensity culminated to deciding penalty kicks, a perfect way to decide a match that kept everyone on the edge of their seats for the 100-minute battle. Brookings would lose the coin-toss and Pierre would opt for the second kick, meaning the Bobcats would lead off the penalty kick sequence. Lexie Erp would make her first kick which was quickly followed by the Governors. The Bobcats would again make the second, and again, were followed by a Governors make. The third attempt from Brookings was taken by Abbi Poppinga, but unfortunately for the visitors sailed high above the crossbar. Josephine Wurtz walked to the spot with a chance to give the Governors a huge advantage, and she blistered it into the net. On the following attempt, Swanson denied Rylee Briggs with a gorgeous diving save and handed her freshman cohort Myah Fravel the ball along with a chance to put the nail in the coffin. Fravel hammered it home and punched the Governors ticket to the semi-finals. In all, the Governors were perfect on the PK’s getting scores Wurtz, Cameron Larson, Ivy Flottmeyer and Fravel. Swanson earned Player of the Game honors with her gutsy performance. The Governors will advance to play O’Gorman, who beat Aberdeen Central earlier in the day 3-0. The semi-finals matchup will take place in Pierre on Tuesday, with the time still TBD. Radio and video coverage will be held on River 92.7 and www.DRGnews.com/river/. ...read more read less