SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Lincoln University of Missouri scored the lone goal of the game in the fourth minute to upend the University of Minnesota Crookston soccer team 1-0 Friday, September 6 at Bob Young Field in Sioux Falls, S.D. The game was the season opener for the Golden Eagles, and the program opener for the Blue Tigers, who are in their first season as a team.
Minnesota Crookston opened the season with an 0-1 mark, while Lincoln improved to 1-0.
The Golden Eagles played a strong second half, outshooting the Blue Tigers 7-6, with five shots on goal to test Lincoln. Minnesota Crookston finished with seven shots, five on goal, while the Blue Tigers notched 14 shots, with seven on frame.
The Golden Eagles were guided by Tyler Chernecki (Fr., F, Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Emmah Burnes (So., MF, Tulare, Calif.) with two shots on goal. Sarah Burgum (Jr., F, Mandan, N.D.) added a shot, while Brooklyn Fischbach (Sr., F, South St. Paul, Minn.) notched two shots, with one on the frame.
Lincoln looked to Carolina Dos Santos, with a goal on three shots, two on frame. Grace Larson had four shots, with two on goal.
In goal, Emma Stempien (Sr., GK, Plymouth, Mich.) allowed one goal, and tallied six saves. Kanon Dehama put up a clean sheet, with five saves.
The Golden Eagles generated more offensive chances than they did the majority of the 2023 season, as they showed growth building from the back. Minnesota Crookston had more shots than all but two of their games in 2023. Defensively, the Golden Eagles were also strong as they limited the Blue Tigers to just one goal. Minnesota Crookston only had one game in 2023 where they allowed one goal.
The future is bright for the Golden Eagles as they started seven freshmen and sophomores, and played 11 freshmen and sophomores.
Lincoln got on the board in the fourth minute when Dos Santos got the ball off a defensive turnover on Minnesota Crookston's back end, leading to the goal. The Blue Tigers held the momentum for the first half, as they generated four more shots on goal, all put away by Stempien.
The momentum shifted in the second half as the Golden Eagles went on the offensive. Minnesota Crookston had two great chances in the 61st minute started by Chernecki who put a shot on Dehama, who deflected it back out to Fischbach, who put another opportunity on frame, also saved by the Lincoln netminder.
Minnesota Crookston continued the pressure with a Fischbach shot that went wide, and another shot on goal in the 69th minute by freshman speedster Chernecki.
The Golden Eagles built on their momentum, with another flurry of opportunities in the 77th and 78th minutes. Burgum's shot went wide, while Burnes placed a pair of shots on target, both put away by Dehama.
The Blue Tigers had their only opportunities of the second half in the final 10 minutes of action. Ivanna Faris had a chance, saved by Stempien. She also had a penalty kick miss, while Larson's ball was put aside by Stempien.
Minnesota Crookston was unable to cut into the deficit, as the Blue Tigers won the game 1-0.
The Golden Eagles will look to build on the positive momentum of the second half, as they face the University of Nebraska Kearney in Sioux Falls, S.D., Sunday, September 8 at 2 p.m.
