Tanager boys’ soccer team places eighth at state tourney

Tanager boys' soccer team places eighth at state tourney By: Parker Knox
Sports Writer The boysâ�?�? varsity soccer season for the Vermillion Tanagers ended with an eighth-place finish in the state tournament in Aberdeen last weekend. Considering that boysâ�?�? soccer wasnâ�?�?t instituted in Vermillion until last season, qualifying for the state tournament can�? nevertheless be considered a substantial step. Unfortunately qualifying as the No. 8 seed meant a first-round matchup against the top seed.�? That was Sioux Falls Christian, and the Chargers, undefeated throughout the regular season, hung a 10-0 loss on the Tanagers and went on to stay unbeaten and win the state â�?�?Aâ�? crown. Relegated to the consolation semifinals, the Tanagers lost to Custer, the eventual consolation champs, 4-0, but held the Wildcats to half as many goals as they scored when they played in Vermillion in August. In the seventh-place match Saturday, Vermillion took on a Huron team they had beaten earlier by a 2-1 score.�? This time the Tigers turned the tables on the Tanagers in a 3-2 game. Tim Tigert had both of Vermillionâ�?�?s goals.�? Sharing goalkeeping duties for the Tanagers were Andrew Meyer and Andrew Kost. During the regular season the Tanagers won five times, lost six games and tied two prior to last weekendâ�?�?s three losses at the state Toyota Cup Classic.�? They posted regular-season wins over Hot Springs,�? Douglas, Belle Fourche, Huron and Mitchell Christian and tied with St. Thomas More and Harrisburg.�? The six clubs which managed to beat Vermillion were Custer, Sturgis, James Valley Christian, Sioux Falls Christian, Freeman Academy and Groton.