A pair of top-ten teams squared off on the soccer pitch Thursday as rivals Spencer and Spirit Lake Park-Okoboji battled on the Tigers home field. In overtime and all square at two goals each, senior Zubeen Azari fought his way through the defense to net the game-winner in the 82nd minute, handing the fourth-ranked and undefeated Tigers their first loss of the season. Tenth-ranked SLP-O controlled the match early, as Brett Cochran-Bray set up both Kade Heikens and Azari for first half goals. Spencer found the back of the net not to long after halftime and it was Tanner Viedenkamp that delivered. With just a three minutes remaining in regulation, the Tigers connected on the equalizer off the foot of Carter Gerdeman. Spirit Lake Park-Okoboji improves to 6-1-1, while Spencer drops to 7-1-1.
The girls’ matchup featured much less drama, with Spencer rolling to a 6-1 decision over Spirit Lake Park-Okoboji at the Bedell YMCA. Ashley Williamson and Kim Shabino each had a pair of goals for the tenth-ranked Tigers. Hannah Marsh put in the lone SLP-O goal on a header in the first half, making it a 2-1 differential at intermission.
