East Ridge girls soccer: Stillwater ends Raptors’ season in shootout

The East Ridge girls soccer team staged a dramatic comeback Thursday against Stillwater in the first round of the Section 4AA playoffs, but didn’t come away with a victory.

After falling behind 2-1 with 8 minutes left to play the Raptors tied the game with one second left in regulation on a shot from Payton Goulding that trickled over the goal line. Neither team scored during the two overtime periods and it ended with a shootout. Stillwater won the shootout 4-1 to end East Ridge’s season.

Third-seeded Stillwater (12-4-2) went on to beat Woodbury 3-2 and will face White Bear Lake Tuesday for the section title.

The Raptors (6-9-2) came into the match on a six-match unbeaten streak and had been playing their best soccer of the year. But after a scoreless first half the Ponies struck first midway through the second half. Senior Katelyn Bergloff tied it up later in the game on a ball inside the 18-yard box.

Despite the loss East Ridge head coach Mark Abboud found the season rewarding. The Raptors started the season 1-8-1 before winning their next five consecutive matches.

“It was a really challenging and rewarding season from my perspective,” Abboud said.

East Ridge graduates just four seniors this season and Abboud will have 19 returners next season.

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