Oct. 6—MITCHELL — Often unheralded yet rarely wavering, the back line of defenders has stood resolute at the heart of the Mitchell High School girls soccer team’s success.
A crew anchored in the middle by center backs Kamryn Thelen and Kassedy Knippling and flanked by outside backs Maddie Kempf, a senior team captain, opposite a combination of Jessica Gerlach and Katie Stahl, the Kernels have been among the best in the state at denying opponent chances.
“We just know each other so well,” Kempf said. “If I get beat, I know someone is going to cover me. We’re just always hustling back to stop the ball because we don’t like to get scored on.”
In Tuesday’s 4-1 first-round win over Brookings, Mitchell’s defense was nearly impenetrable, shutting down the Bobcats for the first half-hour and the entirety of the second half. Though Brookings found some footing in the late stages of the first half, the Kernels still didn’t allow a goal in the run of play, as the Bobcats only found a goal directly off of a free kick.
For the season, Mitchell has allowed less than a goal per game average (0.8) while maintaining clean sheets in eight of 15 matches. Further, the Kernels have yielded multiple goals just four times and never in a defeat.
Mitchell didn’t allow a first-half goal until the eighth match of the season, a 6-3 win at Watertown. That same match, the script flipped. Since facing the Arrows on Sept. 5, the Kernels have gone seven straight matches without conceding a goal in the second half, displaying a certain composure in closing out games worthy of a state title contender.
“I’m super proud of the back line,” said MHS head coach Scott Mullenmeister. “They’ve been playing really good defense all year long and that is one of the real strengths of our team.”
Though Tuesday night was the third time in program history Mitchell had hosted a first-round playoff game, it marked the first playoff victory in program history. The cherry on top? The Kernels enjoyed solid fan support despite enduring an 80-minute weather delay and rain-drenched conditions throughout.
The loyal bunch of umbrella-donning supporters weren’t taken for granted after the match, as senior defender Maddie Kempf noted they helped make a mark on the contest.
“I thought our crowd really showed up for us,” Kempf said. “It was really nice to see the community showing its support.”
Kempf and company are hopeful that Saturday’s quarterfinal meeting with Pierre brings an even better turnout to Joe Quintal Field, a venue where the Kernels have been at their best this season.
Mitchell is a perfect 8-0-0 in home matches this season, winning by a combined margin of 40-5. Only once has an opponent stayed within one goal (a 1-0 win over Spearfish on Aug. 19), as the Kernels have won six of eight by at least three goals.
Though the Kernels’ home record includes a 5-0 defeat of Pierre on Sept. 16, the win-or-go-home stakes add an extra layer that should lead to a more competitive rematch. Mitchell and Pierre played twice a season ago (once in the regular season and a first-round playoff), with the Governors winning both matches by one goal, both in Pierre.
“It is fantastic to be here,” Mullenmeister said. “We have played extremely well at home, so to have home-field advantage through the playoffs is fantastic.”
Having already made program history, an Eastern South Dakota Conference rivalry rematch with Pierre stands between Mitchell and a state semifinal berth.
As owners of the No. 1 seed and a one-sided prior defeat of the Govs, Mitchell enters as the favorite, but advancing past eighth-seeded Pierre doesn’t figure to be easy.
Pierre’s No. 8 seed was the product of a deep Class AA field that produced six 10-win teams this season (and the Governors could become the seventh with a win on Saturday.) As such, the Kernels aren’t looking past Saturday’s opposition, who Mullenmeister describes as “very dangerous and really talented.”
The Governors are one of four teams (top three seeds Mitchell, Harrisburg and Rapid City Central are the others) in Class AA averaging at least four goals while allowing one or fewer per match. So, in many ways, Pierre is on par with any potential semifinal side, and are one of the few programs that match up with Mitchell on paper.
However, Mullenmeister feels the Kernels are reaching their highest level of play of the season at the right time, too, saying: “I told the girls when we were done with the first round that I think our best soccer is still ahead of us, so I’m looking forward to taking on Pierre.”