This week hadn't gone well for the Grand Forks Red River boys soccer team. The Roughriders forfeited three wins because of an academically ineligible player, putting Red River at the bottom of the East Region standings.
So how big was Red River's match Tuesday against crosstown rival Grand Forks Central?
"Huge," Red River forward Will Schoen said. "It was our season."
In a near must-win situation, Schoen headed in a cross pass from Rick Lofthus to help the Roughriders squeak out a 1-0 victory over the Knights at South Middle School.
Red River improved to 1-3-1 in the conference and 3-6-1 overall. The Knights dropped to 1-4 and 7-4.
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On the game-winning goal, Schoen got behind Central defenders and Lofthus found him with a cross into the front of the net where Schoen headed the ball past Central goalie Curran Gause 28 minutes, 23 seconds into the match.
"We had a free kick, they passed short to Rick," Schoen said, "and no one on their defense ran with me."
Red River has five games left in its regular season schedule, including four at home.
"Obviously, with the situation, we can't get too anxious about our record," Red River coach Tom Steen said. "We have everyone but Shanley at home now. We could run the table and get 10 points."
Red River wasn't the only team concerned about its position in the conference standings.
"With the way our conference is, when we have opportunities to make plays, we have to make them," Central coach Mike Wilber said.
After Schoen's goal, the Knights didn't generate many scoring chances. When they did, they weren't able to connect.
"I thought we played well, I really did," Wilber said. "But when opportunities present themselves, we have to put the ball in the back of the net."
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Gause kept the Knights in the game. When the Knights brought attackers toward the Red River goal late in the second half, Gause made some leaping and sprawling saves.
"He's a very active goalie," Steen said. "He's big and rangy."
Red River goalkeeper Michael Slominski ended with nine saves for the shutout.
The Knights' last chance came on a corner kick with 30 seconds left. However, Logan Kuchera slipped as he kicked and the ball flew behind the Red River net.
"This was a game we had to win," Schoen said. "Hopefully, we can keep it going."
