On August 22, the Fergus Falls Otters hosted a series of pre‑season scrimmages at Otter Stadium, bringing together girls' soccer squads from Fergus Falls, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, Pelican Rapids, Alexandria Area and Moorhead. The event featured four matches spaced an hour apart, running from nine in the morning until two in the afternoon with a brief break between each game, giving coaches a compact window to assess player performance.
Fergus Falls faced Pelican Rapids and maintained control of possession, while the final slot pitted Hillcrest against the Otters, a contest that saw Hillcrest dominate the ball and display greater comfort on the field.
Coach Paul Hicks, who leads the Otters, said the scrimmages were low‑stakes but invaluable for spotting strengths and weaknesses, especially in communication on defense and overall game awareness.
Assessing Talent and Gaps
He noted that several players surprised the staff with natural talent, yet the team will need to tighten defensive coordination before the regular season begins.
The Otters open their regular season at home against Willmar on Thursday, August 27, while Hillcrest and Pelican Rapids are scheduled to meet in Pelican Rapids on Saturday, August 29, marking the first official games of the year.
Overall, the pre‑season matches provided a clear picture of each squad’s current form and highlighted the areas that will require focused improvement as the 2026 campaign kicks off.