Note: This story has been udpated with additional details.
Watertown's boys, Aberdeen Central's boys and girls and Groton Area's girls each recorded first-round victories Tuesday in the South Dakota High School Soccer Playoffs .
In Class AA boys' games, fifth-seeded Watertown (12-2-1) posted a 3-0 win over No. 12 Sioux Falls Washington in a match played at the ANZA Soccer Complex. In Aberdeen, sixth-seeded Aberdeen Central (10-2-3) moved on with a 4-0 win over No. 11 Tea Area.
In Class AA girls' games, 14th-seeded Aberdeen Central upset third-seeded Pierre 1-0 in a match played at Pierre and 16th-seeded Watertown (4-11) saw its season come to a close with a 5-0 loss to No. 1 Harrisburg on the Tigers' home field.
Groton Area's split in Class A games. Second-seeded Groton Area's girls (8-1-1) moved into the semifinals by rolling to an 11-1 home win over No. 7 Vermillion. Top-seeded Vermillion got even on the boys' side, moving into the semifinals with a 12-0 home win over the No. 8 Tigers (2-8-4).
Second-round Class AA playoff games are slated for Saturday along with Class A semifinals.
Watertown's Games
Watertown's boys struggled for much of their first half against Washington before Patrick Bednarczyk scored with 13 seconds left to give the Arrows a 1-0 lead. Riley Fischer assisted on the play.
"It was huge," Fischer, one of 11 Watertown seniors, said. "We needed it, otherwise it was going to be a tough second half. It started us up."
Fischer scored at the 25:08 mark of the second half and Ty Meidinger tacked on the final goal on a free kick with 20:36 left. Skyler Stanton assisted on both goals and goalkeeper Owen Muller recorded six saves.
They followed much the same pattern as Watertown's regular-season 2-0 win over Washington.
"Honestly, it was very similar to the first time we played them. It was a very slow first half and in the second half, we picked it up and started going," Fischer said.
Watertown visits fourth-seeded Rapid City Stevens (12-1-1) on Saturday at 7 p.m. Central at the Sioux Park Complex. The two teams did not meet during the regular season.
"We can compete with anybody. We've got it this season," Fischer added. "We can take it all the way this year ... confidence in the team."
Watertown's girls were no match for top-seeded Harrisburg. Mya York recorded 18 saves for the Arrows.
STATE SOCCER PLAYOFF PAIRINGS: Watertown and Aberdeen Central boys each set to host first-round playoff games on Tuesday
Other Class AA Scores
Keyana Stillman's goal in the 77th minutes lifted Aberdeen Central's girls to their victory. Kamryn Arnesen assisted on the goal and goalkeeper Ava Beck made 10 saves. The Golden Eagles vist Sioux Falls Roosevelt at noon on Saturday.
Tyler Bain, Linus Johnson, Bryson Burgard and Gavin Yost each scored for Aberdeen Central's boys. Bain also had an assist. The Golden Eagles visit Sioux Falls Jefferson at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Brooklyn Hansen, Laila Roberts, Jerica Locke and McKenna Tietz each scored twice and Faith Traphagen, Kayla Lehr and Kennedy Hansen once each for Groton Area's girls. Tietz added three assists, Locke two and B. Hansen, Traphagen and Jaedyn Penning one apiece. The Tigers host Dakota Valley at noon Saturday at the Groton Soccer Complex.
In other Class AA boys' matches, it was No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian 8, No. 16 Brandon Valley 7; No. 8 O'Gorman 1, No. 9 Sioux Falls Roosevelt 0; No. 4 Rapid City Stevens 5, No. 13 Brookings 3; No. 2 Sioux Falls Lincoln 6, No. 15 Sturgis 1; and No. 3 Sioux Falls Jefferson 8, No. 14 Mitchell. No score was posted from the No. 10 Spearfish at No. 7 Pierre game.
On Saturday, Christian will host O'Gorman, Lincoln will host the Pierre-Spearfish winner and Jefferson hosts Aberdeen Central.
In other Class AA girls' matches, it was No. 8 O'Gorman 3, No. 9 Sioux Falls Lincoln 0; No. 4 Tea Area 5, No. 13 Rapid City Central 1; No. 5 Sioux Falls Washington 1, No. 12 Mitchell (Washington wins penalty kick shootout); No. 2 Rapid City Stevens 5, No. 12 Brookings 0; No. 10 Brandon Valley 3, No. 7 Yankton 0; and No. 6 Sioux Falls Roosevelt 4, No. 11 Spearfish.
On Saturday, Harrisburg hosts O'Gorman, Tea Area hosts Washington, Stevens hosts Brandon Valley and Roosevelt hosts Aberdeen Central.
Other Class A Scores
In other Class A boys' matches, it was No. 5 Belle Fourche 7, No. 4 Rapid City Christian 1; No. 2 James Valley Christian 3, No. 7 St. Thomas More 1; and No. 3 Freeman Academy 6, No. 6 West Central 0.
In Saturday's semfinals, Vermillion hosts Belle Fourche and James Valley Christian hosts Freeman Academy.
In other Class A girls' matches, it was No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian 10, No. 8 Belle Fouche 0; No. 4 West Central 3, No. 5 St. Thomas More 0; and No. 3 Dakota Valley 4, No. 6 Garretson 0.
Groton Area hosts Dakota Valley and Sioux Falls Christian hosts West Central in semfinal games on Saturday.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Watertown and Aberdeen Central's boys; Groton Area and Aberdeen Central's girls win soccer playoff games
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