PIERRE – Pierre scored two goals in the first 10 minutes to set the tone for its season-opening girls’ soccer win over Aberdeen Central on Friday afternoon. The Governors claimed a 3-1 Eastern South Dakota Conference victory over the second-rated Golden Eagles.

“They’ve been playing together for 3-4 years now, so they’ve been coming,” said Central coach Merle Aske of the Governors. “Every year they’ve gotten better.”

The Golden Eagles, who feature nine new starters this season, found the going rough early in the contest and were never able to get going.

“We had too many lapses where we gave them open looks or made a bad play or the ball didn’t go where it was supposed to,” Aske said. “Offensively, we just have to find a better rhythm. We just couldn’t get a rhythm going. We didn’t hold the ball long enough to put them under pressure so we could get that last pass off.”

Central scored in the 75th minute when Gracie Lozenski put one in the back of the net off a feed from Bri Fischer.

Aske said despite the setback it was good to get the season started.

“It was a learning experience,” Aske said. “It was nice to get that first game out there so you really know kind of where you’re at now, so we can move some pieces around and figure out how to do a little better.”

The Golden Eagles have their home opener on Tuesday when they host Sioux Falls Jefferson at 6 p.m. at Brownell Activities Complex.

“We’re going to need to be more organized than we were,” Aske said, “and hopefully a little better on the defensive end.”

Aberdeen Central 0 1 – 1

Pierre 2 1 – 3

First Half: 1, P, Lexi Hillmer, 5th minute; 2, P, Gracelyn Taylor, 9th minute.

Second Half: 3, P, Taylor, 63rd minute; 4, AC, Gracie Lozenski (Bri Fischer), 75th minute.

Shots: Aberdeen Central 20 shots, 10 on goal; Pierre 21 shots, 12 on goal.

Goalies: Aberdeen Central, Taylor Thorstenson (9 saves); Pierre, Emlyn Swanson (7 saves), Peyton Dillman 2 saves.