Both the Mitchell Kernels girls and boys soccer teams are gearing up for their SoDak16 matchups on Tuesday, with the winners advancing to the state tournaments.
The girls team, seeded No. 14 in Class AA, will face a tough challenge against No. 3 seed Pierre, with the game set for Tuesday night. The two teams met earlier in the season, when Pierre claimed a 2-0 victory in Mitchell on September 25th. Despite finishing the regular season with a 5-9 record, the Kernels are determined to upset the higher-seeded Governors and secure a spot in the state tournament. Pierre heads into the game with an 11-2-1 record.
In boys’ action, the No. 16-seeded Mitchell team will face the top-seeded Sioux Falls Lincoln Patriots in their own SoDak16 matchup. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. at SF Lincoln. The two teams did not meet in the regular season, but Mitchell, with a record of 2-9-3, will have their work cut out for them against a dominant Patriots squad that finished the season 11-1-1. Like their female counterparts, the boys are hoping to pull off a surprise win and continue their postseason run.
The winners of both matchups will advance to the Class AA state soccer tournaments later this month.