Fargo Davies returns to ND girls soccer title game after upending Red River in semifinals – Grand Forks Herald

MINOT — Last season, Minot defeated Fargo Davies for the North Dakota girls soccer state championship on the Eagles’ home field.

Now Davies has the chance to flip the script and do the same.

The Eagles blanked Grand Forks Red River 4-0 Friday in the state tournament semifinals at Minot’s home Duane Carlson Stadium, setting up a rematch of last year’s state title game with kickoff set for Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

Both teams are unbeaten this season, with Davies, the No. 1 from the East, sits at 15-0-1. Majettes, West no. 1, they are 19-0-0.

“I think it’s just believing in each other and staying confident,” Davies senior captain Madison Barnick said. “Just putting in 110% and working as hard as we can.”

Sean Arbaut/Arbaut Photography

Barnick did his part Friday, scoring the Eagles’ first two goals of the semifinal game in the 11th and 12th minutes.

The midfielder hit from about 17 yards on the first goal before hitting from about 26 on a free kick moments later to send the Roughriders into a quick 0-2 hole.

“They were really close and back to back,” Barnick said of the goals. “I think we tried that because it was early in the game, but we knew we had to put some back just to stay comfortable for the rest of the game.”

Sean Arbaut/Arbaut Photography

Quinn Skari scored Davies’ third goal in the 31st minute to make it 3-0 at the break, before Ava Dorsam added the insurance with her strike in the 57th minute.

Leighton Roberson assisted on Barnick’s first goal, while Bree Larson assisted on Skari’s goal.

Friday’s result was slightly different from the 2-2 tie the Eagles and Roughriders played in the regular season on May 9.

Despite the minor setback of the tie, not much has changed tactically for Nick Christianson’s side against Red River this time around.

“Not much,” Christianson said. “Obviously, we know how we want to play. (Red River) made huge strides as a program this year, so that was fun to see and it helps the (East Region) side of football. I’m excited for them going forward, they have some good pieces in place.”

Sean Arbaut/Arbaut Photography

The No. 1 seeded Roughriders. 3 in the East, fell to 8-4-4 and will face West No. 3 Mandan (12-5-1) in the third-place game at 1:15 p.m.

Red River head coach Jason Heydt politely declined an interview, but still wanted to tip his hat to the opposition.

“Davies played a great game,” Heydt said.

The unofficial shot totals favored Davies 12-2. The Eagles got nine corner kicks to Red River’s.

Davies is looking for its fourth state title and first of 2018. To do so, the Eagles are tasked with defeating a Minot team on its home turf that has allowed one goal this season and has an unbeaten streak of 69-0- 1 since June 1, 2019, all while winning the last three state championships in the process.

“I think both Minot and us showed that we deserve to be in the state title game the way we played this year,” Christianson said. “Now it’s just a little bit of going back to the drawing board and seeing what adjustments we need to make, getting ready for (Saturday) and being ready.”

Sean Arbaut/Arbaut Photography

Sean Arbaut/Arbaut Photography

Sean Arbaut/Arbaut Photography

Sean Arbaut/Arbaut Photography