RAPID CITY – A memorable postseason run came to an end for the Aberdeen Central girls’ soccer team Tuesday evening.

The Golden Eagles, who knocked off the third seed and sixth seed to start the playoffs, fell to second-seeded Rapid City Stevens 1-0 in the Class AA semifinals.

“The girls played really hard. They were doing the things the right way. We just couldn’t find a way to pop one in,” said Central coach Merle Aske. “We had a couple of good looks where we just didn’t quite hit the ball the right way or didn’t hit it hard enough. We probably had more corners today than in any game we’ve had all year, we just couldn’t find a way to finish.”

Meanwhile, Stevens took advantage of a rare opportunity in the final minute of the opening half for what proved to be the game-winning goal.

“We gave up one clean look the entire day,” Aske said. “They put it in late in the first half.”

The Golden Eagles appeared to be on the verge of scoring in the closing minutes of the half, before Stevens executed a counter attack which resulted in a goal by Breanna Reagen in the 39th minute.

“That’s a tough thing about soccer. We were all over them late in the half. We had a corner and we had numbers forward. We had 2 or 3 opportunities and then all of a sudden we got caught, scrambling, back on our heels, trying to get people back,” Aske said. “We stopped a couple and all of sudden the ball kind of floated in front of that girl and she stopped. She made one touch and nobody stepped to her in time. She got the ball in a perfect shot, and she just made a great shot.”

Central did not play deflated in the second half, though. The Golden Eagles pressured Stevens and had numerous chances, perhaps their best one when Gracie Lozenski worked the ball along the back line, fired a shot and a rebound, but was turned away.

“After the first one it would have been nice if we had somebody to lay it off to. Nobody had time to get that run to the penalty spot where she could just lay it off, but she had an incredible game,” Aske said. “Probably the best game she played all year. She was just all over them, just couldn’t find one.”

As a result, Central’s strong postseason surge came to a difficult close.

“We came all the way out here and the girls played a great game,” Aske said. “That’s soccer sometimes. That’s athletics sometimes. You’re just not going to find what you needed.”

The Golden Eagles entered the playoffs as the 14th seed, but a group of eight seniors did their best to make sure the team didn’t go away quickly or quietly.

“They made a deep run in the playoffs that nobody expected,” Aske said. “They did a great job of taking on every opponent that we faced. … It was a good year, and these girls, especially the seniors, did a great job.”

While Central went through a rough stretch late in the regular season, Aske said the seniors stepped up and provided the leadership needed to weather the storm.

“That’s the thing, they just never quit on each other, they didn’t quit on their teammates, and their teammates didn’t quit on them,” Aske said. “They just kept fighting, trying to figure out a way to get things done.”

The setback marked the second straight season that the Golden Eagles came up just short in the semifinal round, one game away from playing for a state championship.

“We were right on that doorstep again and we just couldn’t find a way to get that goal,” Aske said, “but these seniors just did a great job.”

Aberdeen Central (6-8-3) 0 0 – 0

Rapid City Stevens (15-0) 1 0 – 1

First Half: 1, RCS, Breanna Reagan, 39th minute.

Second Half: no scoring.

Shots: Aberdeen Central 21, 9 on goal; Rapid City Stevens 23, 12 on goal.

Goalies: Aberdeen Central, Ava Beck (9 saves); Rapid City Stevens, Norah Tucker (4 saves), Emmit Hofer (5 saves).