After back-to-back years of playoff frustration, the Aberdeen Central boys’ soccer team experienced jubilation Tuesday night.

The Golden Eagles shutout Watertown 2-0 in Class AA playoff action at Brownell Activities Complex. The game marked the final home contest of the season and was a completely different scenario of the past two years when Central had its season end at home on a last-second goal two years ago and in a shootout last season.

“It feels great,” said Central’s Tyler Bain of the playoff win. “We kind of went out early the last two years and we came back this year and we showed everybody that we’re in this tournament.”

He said the squad was motivated not to have a repeat of the past two seasons.

“We talked a little bit about it, about how we’re ready this year and that we’re not going to let anything like that happen again,” Bain said. “And now it’s behind us.”

Unlike a game two weeks ago against the Arrows that was scoreless until the final 21 minutes, the Eagles jumped in front in the first half when Manuel Munoz spotted Gus Bjerknes for a goal in the 22nd minute. The contest remained 1-0 until Munoz added an insurance goal on a penalty kick in the 71st minute.

“We scored a fantastic goal, which was huge for us, in the first half to give us that cushion,” said Central coach Lance Mohr. “It totally changed our mindset. It honestly gave the confidence in the second half to hold on and ultimately finish the game with the second (goal).”

While Central played with a lead, the Arrows played with a sense of urgency in the second half, pressuring the hosts at every opportunity. The Eagles played a bit more defensively and lost of bit of aggressiveness in the final 40 minutes.

“We kind of slowed down the second the half, which in the future we cannot do that. We cannot slow down in the second half,” said defensive captain Jordan Grieben. “Really it was just our back line keeping our menatilty. We know that we have to keep our mentality for the entire team and us boys, we talk all game to each other. We keep each other strong.”

While Central may have slowed down a bit on offense, it did not mean the pace of play got slower. In fact, action was fast and furious as Watertown was playing to keep its season alive.

“It’s a lot more intense ” Bain said of the difference of playoff soccer. “Everybody is always running at the ball 100 miles per hour. You just have no room to breathe, so you have to play really quick and be at the best of your game.”

The Central defense was up to the task, blanking the Arrows for the second time this season.

Grieben said the team just needed to stay positive and maintain its focus.

“Nerves do come, but they also go. You have to play with confidence and I really emphasize that to the boys, because when you play with nerves, that’s when the simple mistakes come out,” Grieben said. “So we had to constantly reassure each other, ‘We’re good, we’re good, keep your head up, keep it strong,’ and we fought all the way through.”

The Eagles were able to do that and for the first time in three years were able to celebrate their final home game.

“We’ve had tough results at home when we’ve faced adversity and today they went out and they battled,” Mohr said. “Now, we didn’t play a clean game. We didn’t do a lot of things we wanted to, but it’s also part of playoff soccer. It’s going to be different. You’re going to have to ride out adverse moments, and they battled and grinded and fought through those moments.”

Mohr said the Eagles learned a few things in the second half and now will be able to use them.

“That’s a great learning lesson,” Mohr said, “and the best part is we learned it with a win.”

As a result, the Eagles are moving on, heading on the road to take on top-seeded Sioux Falls Lincoln on Saturday.

Watertown (7-5-3) 0 0 – 0

Aberdeen Central (9-4) 1 1 – 2

First Half: 1, AC, Gus Bjerknes (Manuel Munoz), 22^nd minute.

Second Half: 2, Munoz (penalty kick), 71^st minute.

Shots on Goal: Watertown 3; Aberdeen Central 9.

Goalies: Watertown, Owen Muller (7 saves); Aberdeen Central, Camden Fauth (3 saves).