SIOUX FALLS – Sixth-seeded Aberdeen Central came within a breath of storming into the Class AA boys’ soccer title game, but second-seeded Sioux Falls Lincoln snuffed out the Golden Eagle bid with a pair of second-half goals, taking a 2-0 victory over Central Tuesday evening in the semifinals.

Central, which had upended third-seeded Sioux Falls Jefferson in double-overtime just three days prior in order to reach Tuesday’s semifinal contest, played with the host Patriots nearly step for step.

But it was a pair of second-half set pieces that ultimately proved to be the Golden Eagles’ undoing.

“I was hoping we’d get the break before they did, because the longer the game went on, the more impactful a goal becomes,” said Central coach Lance Mohr. “We couldn’t find that break before they did.”

Lincoln used a free kick with a little over 20 minutes remaining to score its first goal. The Patriots blasted a shot from about 45 yards out, then picked up the rebound from the in-box scrum and fired home the go-ahead goal.

Lincoln netted its second goal off a corner kick opportunity about six minutes later, and Central, despite at least two solid chances in the final five minutes of action, could not recover.

Central finished the year with an 11-3-3 record with two of three setbacks coming to Lincoln, which scored a 1-0 victory in Aberdeen late in the regular season.

The loss ends the season for the Golden Eagles, who collected 11 victories and an Eastern South Dakota Conference crown along the way. Central will bid farewell to seven seniors.

“Special group of players that had a special season,” Mohr said. “We just fell short of our final step.”