An incredibly successful season for Pierre Governor soccer came to a frustrating end for the girls Saturday afternoon at the hands of the Harrisburg Lady Tigers in a 2-0 final in Watertown. The Governors were not only battling a heaving wind, key injuries and tired legs after an exhausting quarter-f inal and semi-final stretch. There was also the component that they were facing a Harrisburg team that had won the final game of the season for four straight seasons. The Governors came off of 200 minutes of game play in their combined matches against Brookings and O’Gorman to get to the State final. The physical exhaustion was certainly evident, but the emotional and mental batteries were drained as well. Not only did their two games prior go to extra time, they extended all the way to penalty kicks in those matches. All of that in the span of less than a week would drain any team. The game started and stayed consistent with those two matches, both teams remaining scoreless throughout the first half and most of the second half. However, even with a 0-0 score, Harrisburg was in firm control of the momentum of the match. A rough estimate would say that Harrisburg controlled anywhere from 70 to 80 percent of the time of possession clock. That estimate showed up in the shot totals as Harrisburg was able to mount 25 shots in the match to the Governors 1. Harrisburg’s first goal came with about 15 minutes left in the second half on a foul that set Bria Miller up with a penalty kick opportunity. Even though Governors goalkeeper Emlyn Swanson had been a brick wall throughout the regular season and postseason, Miller was able to get enough pace behind it to get it by the fingertips of the Governors last line of defense. The offensive onslaught continued with more shots from Harrisburg, and they were able to earn a massive insurance policy in the form of a Rylee Gallagher goal in the 74th minute. Harrisburg would hold on and raise the championship trophy for the fifth straight year, a Pierre football type of dynasty continues their dominant run. However, Pierre has nothing to hang their heads about with a prosperous future ahead. Not one senior was listed on this year’s Pierre roster, which means they will be back in 2027 with the same crew of ballers who will have one thing and one thing only on their mind. Playing in this game again. The Governors finish the season 11-1-1. ...read more read less