BRANDON – A flurry of late-game scoring ended in a 2-2 draw between Aberdeen Central and Brandon Valley Saturday afternoon in Eastern South Dakota Conference girls’ soccer action. 

The Golden Eagles gave up a dramatic game-tying goal in the final minute of action after taking a 2-1 lead with about four minutes to play in the game.

“We’re in a dramatic part of the season, I guess,” quipped Central coach Merle Aske.

After a scoreless first half, Brandon Valley snagged the lead with a goal in the 56th minute of play. Central responded with back-to-back goals from Gracie Lozenski in the 60th minute and Keyana Stillman in the 76th minute to take its first lead of the day.

The Golden Eagles, however, couldn’t hold the lead, as Brandon Valley’s Chloe Erickson scored the tying goal with less than a minute to play.

“We were a little out of position in the goal,” Aske said. “We could maybe have been a little better there, but they just put it in position, and it just went over (the goalie’s) head.”

While the game goes down as a draw, Aske noted that there were plenty of chances for the result to swing in favor of either team.

“They had a couple of chances in the first half,” he said. “It could have been 2-0. They had a couple of corner kicks that could have gone in.”

Still, after getting the lead late, Aske said it’s important to be able to hold onto it.

“You live and learn,” he said. “These are the games we have to figure out how to win.”

Central is now 4-3-1 on the season, and will host Sioux Falls Roosevelt on Tuesday to begin a 3-game homestand.

“We have Roosevelt, Tea and Lincoln coming up,” Aske said. “They’re all ahead of us in the standings. We have an opportunity to make up ground.”

Aberdeen Central 0 2 – 2

Brandon Valley 0 2 – 2

First half: No scoring.

Second half: 1, BV, Kinsley Terveer (Madison Pederson), 58th minute; 2, AC, Gracie Lozenski, 60th minute; 3, AC, Keyana Stillman (Lozenski), 76th minute; 4, BV, Chloe Erickson, 80th minute.

Shots: Aberdeen Central 20 (9 on goal); Brandon Valley 19 (10 on goal).

Goalies: Aberdeen Central, Taylor Thorstenson (8 saves); Brandon Valley, Regan Brunkow (6 saves).