Season Overview
The 2026 South Dakota high school soccer season opened with teams from Watertown, Aberdeen Central and Groton Area competing in both Class AA and Class A divisions, setting the stage for a year marked by early momentum and emerging storylines.
Watertown’s boys squad began with a 4‑1 win over Rapid City Stevens and followed with a 7‑0 triumph against Rapid City Central, showcasing the defensive reliability of Xane Fligge, Roger Carranza and Owen Mueller while Madi Enstad posted key saves in goal.
The girls team fell 5‑3 to Stevens but rebounded with a 7‑0 victory over Central, where Katie Fischer scored three goals and the midfield displayed depth with contributions from Madi Enstad.
Aberdeen Central’s girls opened the season with a 10‑2 rout of Sturgis and a 6‑1 win over Spearfish, highlighted by hat‑trick performances from Keyana Stillman and Ava Beck, while the boys posted a 3‑0 shutout of Sturgis and a 1‑1 draw with Spearfish, featuring two goals from Linus Johnson.
Groton Area faced early setbacks, losing 10‑2 to Dakota Valley and 5‑0 to Sioux Falls Christian, but the boys earned a forfeit win and held Sioux Falls Christian to a 2‑2 draw, indicating pockets of resilience.
Coaching Experience
Watertown’s head coach Jesse Hauck enters his fifth year, supported by assistants Cody Collier and Skyler Stanton, while Shannon Elverud, in her second season with the girls, relies on returning stars Katie Fischer and Sophia Gallardo.
Aberdeen Central’s Lance Mohr, now in his sixth year, counts Linus Johnson and Gus Bjerknes among his key returnees, whereas first‑year coach Kendra Hanley guides the girls with Keyana Stillman and Ava Beck leading the attack.
Groton Area’s Ryan Olson, in his fourth year, leans on TC Schuster and Easton Weber, while Matt Baumgartner, in his third year with the girls, looks to McKenna Tietz and Brenna Imrie to drive progress.
The Eastern South Dakota Conference features Aberdeen Central as the preseason favorite, with Sioux Falls Lincoln and Rapid City Stevens among the top contenders in Class AA, setting up a competitive race for conference honors.
Playoffs are slated for October 6, 10 and 13, culminating in the state finals on October 17 at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex, where Watertown will host the championship matches and teams will battle for the ultimate title.