Sports roundup: Former Presentation College soccer coach returns to knock off Northern

Former Presentation College head women’s soccer coach Jacob Plocher made his second return trip to Aberdeen leading Missouri Western University Sunday, Aug. 30 at the Northern Athletic and Recreation Fields.

He left with a 3-2 victory over Northern State.

During his first trip to his old stomping grounds two years ago, the Wolves and Griffons played to a 1-1 draw.

Plocher was the head coach of the Saints from 2012 to 2017 when he left to become the head coach at Eastern Oregon University. He’s had that same job at Missouri Western since 2023.

Missouri Western head women’s soccer coach Jacob Plocher watches during the second half of his team’s 3-2 win over Northern State on Sunday, Aug. 30. He used to be the head women’s soccer coach at Presentation College. Aberdeen Insider photo by Robb Garofalo.

“It still seems like yesterday I was here,” he said. “I can tell you how to get to my first apartment, the house we rented, restaurants … I mean it’s still pretty fresh. PC was my first head coaching job, and so there’s always going to be that sentimental value to it. I’m a big people person, so to see former players who are still here and former co-workers who have things going on in their lives really means a lot to me.”

Plocher said that when visited the former Presentation campus and saw what’s left, it left him with an eerie feeling.

MORE: Kraft cooks as Northern State rolls past Chadron State in season opener

“Oh yeah, you notice, but it also helps you relive some of your better memories, whether it was on the field or even just around campus. It’s a different feel for sure, but I’m glad the Strode and the dome and, of course, our soccer field is still there. Sad, but there’s some happiness mixed in with it, too,” he said.

Presentation College closed in 2023, and the main building has since been razed. The Strode Center, dome and athletic fields were bought by the city.

As for Sunday’s match, Plocher’s squad jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half, only to see Northern tie it in the second half.

Jazlene Alanis scored the game-winner for the Griffons over the outstretched hand of Wolves goalie Audrey Burns.

“The old joke is that a 2-0 lead is the worst lead to have in soccer. We do have a young group, and I think up 2-nil, we let our foot off the gas pedal. Hopefully, we use this as a learning experience and not put ourselves in that position. Kudos to the girls — they dug deep and found a way to win,” Plocher said.

Northern State’s Chloe Voss turns to gather the ball during the second half of the Wolves soccer match against Missouri Western on Sunday, Aug. 30 at the Northern Athletic and Recreation Fields. Voss scored a second-half goal, but Northern fell 3-2. Aberdeen Insider photo by Robb Garofalo.

Northern got on the board in the 63rd minute on a goal scored by Lauren Youngquist. The Wolves then drew even in the 67th minute on a header by Chloe Voss.

“We weren’t ready to give up yet,” Voss said. “Greta (Brooks) sent the ball across, and I saw their defender flick it up in the air, and I was able to connect the ball with my head. I saw it kind of head to the net and was like, ‘Here we go, here we go,’ and got caught up a little in the moment and seeing the ball cross the line … woo, it felt great.”

Northern head coach Bob Casper said his team’s ability to control space and ball possession were keys in the second half.

“We really had players make the touch, and we got in control in the second half much better than the first, and when you’re in control of that you can do a lot of really cool things. We had 14 shots in the second half. It’s a hard loss, but a game like this shows up in November in your character and willingness to continue to work hard,” he said.

The Wolves defeated Northwest Missouri 1-0 Friday, Aug. 28 to open their homestand. Ella Johnson had the tally.

“That goal against Northwest was opportunistic, but it showed them when you do the right things, put the ball in the right areas, good things happen,” Casper said.

Northern returns to the pitch Friday, Sept. 11 at Concordia-St. Paul in Minnesota.

Selby’s Dawson Zabel stays to the lower part of the track heading into the fourth turn at the Brown County Speedway during a race earlier this summer. Zabel won the Midwest Modified feature Friday, Aug. 28 to clinch the 2026 the division’s season points championship. Aberdeen Insider photo by Robb Garofalo.

Brown County Speedway crowns 2026 track champions

Brown County Speedway crowned its season track champions Friday, Aug. 28.

Aberdeen’s Jodie Michaelson took third in the Street Stock feature Friday to hold off Huron’s Jayden Bough by a point and win the track title.

MORE: Aberdeen’s Pfeiffer finds success behind wheel in Legends Division’s inaugural season

The inaugural INEX Legends track championship went to TJ Pfeiffer of Aberdeen. He placed fourth in the feature, but still won the division by 73 points over Gettysburg’s Rayson Sheehan.

Aberdeen racer and track promoter Kent Arment finished second in both the Late Model and Modified season track points races.

This year’s track champions include:

• Chad Becker, Late Models.
• Mike Stearns, Modifieds.
• Dawson Zabel, Midwest Modifieds.
• Trevor Nelson, Super Stocks.
• Michaelson, Street Stocks.
• Pfeiffer, Legends.

Sports news and notes

• Northern State running back Hank Kraft was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference offensive player of the week. He rushed for 232 yards and four touchdowns in the Wolves 42-17 win against Chandon State on Thursday, Aug. 17.
• The Northern State volleyball team went 3-1 to open the season in Golden, Colo. The Wolves dispatched Flagger College 3-0, Colorado Springs 3-1 and California State Dominguez Hills 3-0 before losing to Colorado Christian 3-2. Northern’s Ava Nillson is the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference setter of the week, while teammate Linnea Nesheim earned offensive player of the week honors and was named most valuable player at the Oredigger Classic.
• The Aberdeen Central girls soccer team improved to 6-0 with a 2-0 win at Yankton Friday, Aug. 28. Brianna Fisher scored both goals for Central and has six goals in her last two matches. Goalkeeper Ava Beck had eight saves in handing the Gazelles their first loss of the season.
• The Central boys soccer team shut out Yankton 3-0 on the road Friday. Linus Johnson scored twice in the second half for the Eagles.
• Aberdeen Central runners took first and second in both the girls and boys races at the Pierre Invitational cross-country meet Friday, Aug. 28. Allie Novstrup won the girls race in 15:29.01 and was followed by her sister Evie Novstrup in 16:26.75. In the boys division, Tate DeVries crossed the finish line first in 13:00.05, ahead of teammate Max Nelson in 13:28.47.
• The Aberdeen Roncalli girls-cross country team opened its season by winning the Milbank Breathe Easy meet Thursday, Aug. 27. Addison Cassady placed first in 16:03.99. Teammate Taylor McComskey was fifth and Hazel Kannegieter was sixth for the Cavaliers.
• The Groton boys soccer team got a hat trick from Ethan Kroll to down Dakota Valley 7-2 on Saturday, Aug. 29 in Groton.
• Roncalli swept all three doubles matches en route to a 7-2 girls tennis victory at Milbank on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
• The Aberdeen Roncalli girls tennis team won a pair of matches against Class AA schools on Saturday, Aug. 29 in Brookings. The Cavaliers downed Yankton 6-3 and Brookings 8-1. Roncalli head coach Ryan Bohle said, “We talked all week about how we had an opportunity to show we were real. I think we did that (Saturday).”
• Aberdeen Central went 4-1 in girls tennis matches last weekend. The Eagles won two of their three duals Friday, Aug. 28 in Brookings, knocking off the host Bobcats 8-1 and downing Yankton 6-3, but lost 8-1 to Harrisburg. Central took all three doubles matches against the Gazelles, and got singles wins from Sarah Knie, Estelle Riggs and Mady Holman. On Saturday, Aug. 29, the Eagles upended Watertown 8-1 and Huron 6-3.