SIOUX FALLS – Aberdeen Central put the pressure on second-seeded Sioux Falls Lincoln and produced a dominating victory in the semifinals of the State AA girls’ soccer playoffs Tuesday night.

The third-seeded Golden Eagles set the tone early with a pair of goals and rolled to 6-0 victory at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls, earning a trip to the state championship contest on Saturday.

“We’ve been playing pretty well the last few games. We just keep talking about putting pressure on the other teams right away and not letting them get into a rhythm,” said Central coach Merle Aske, “and finding our rhythm and getting forward. They just did a really good job of doing that.”

Senior Taryn Hettich used her speed to get behind the Patriots’ defense and pounded in the first two goals of the contest.

“The girls just did a good job of hanging in there and finding the spots where we could get forward. Once we got forward, we just went forward with pace,” Aske said. “Those first two goals by Taryn were just really great goals by her.”

Kailyn Poppen assisted the first goal and Deshani Peters assisted the second.

Central added two more goals – one by Peters assisted by Hettich, and one by Abby Witte assisted by Poppen – in the opening half despite playing into the wind.

Poppen and Kamryn Arnesen found the back of the net in the second half for the Eagles.

Meanwhile, the Central defense continued to be stellar. The squad has allowed just one goal in its past seven contests.

The Eagles were prepared for Lincoln’s ability to shoot from the perimeter.

“They like to shoot from outside and we talked about stepping out to the 25 and 35 and not giving them any open looks,” Aske said. “They didn’t have many good looks from outside.”

Not only that, but Central did not give the Patriots any extra opportunities elsewhere, either.

“Lincoln is really good off set paces and corner kicks,” Aske said, “and I don’t think we gave up a corner kick all game. That was a big target as well.”

The Eagles are now back in the state title game where they finished runner-up to Yankton in 2019.

Central, 13-1-1 on the season, will take on top-seeded Harrisburg in the state championship contest at 1 p.m. Saturday in Tea.

“We know Harrisburg will be prepared for us. They’ve got some talent just like we do,” Aske said. “It’s just a matter of getting them matched up, and whoever gets the break here or there and puts the most pressure on the other team and finds a way to score, will have the advantage.”

Aberdeen Central 4 2 – 6

Sioux Falls Lincoln 0 0 – 0

First Half

1, AC, Taryn Hettich (Kailyn Poppen), 11^th minute; 2, AC, Hettich (Deshani Peters), 23^rd minute; 3, AC, Peters (Hettich), 29^th minute; 4, AC, Abby Witte (Poppen), 39^th minute.

Second Half

5, AC, Poppen; 6, AC, Kamryn Arnesen (Addison Hauge).

Shots on Goal: Aberdeen Central 16; Sioux Falls Lincoln 9.

Goalies: Aberdeen Central, Ciara Frank (9 saves); Sioux Falls Lincoln, Cassidy Jennings (4 saves), Kyla Syverson (6 saves).