HURON, S.D. — After coming close to finding a breakthrough through the first three games of the season, the Spearfish Spartans girls soccer team left little doubt Saturday.
Sophia Cid-Kern-Mohr scored five goals as Spearfish overwhelmed the Huron Tigers, 9-0, to earn its first victory of the 2026 season and cap a weekend road trip with a split.
The Spartans entered Saturday looking to bounce back from a hard-fought 2-1 loss to the Mitchell Kernels on Friday night. Instead of allowing another close loss to linger, Spearfish responded with its most complete performance of the young season.
“It’s really a testament to the girls and the hard work that they put in,” Spearfish head coach Brianna Warnemunde said.
Spartans Fall Short in Mitchell
Spearfish opened the weekend Friday in Mitchell and struck first.
Gabrielle Ranek gave the Spartans an early advantage, finding the back of the net with 30:26 remaining in the first half to put Spearfish ahead 1-0.
The Kernels responded before halftime. Taryn Thomas scored with 10:24 remaining in the opening half to even the game at 1-1.
Thomas struck again early in the second half, scoring with 34:36 remaining to give Mitchell a 2-1 advantage.
Spearfish refused to go away.
The Spartans generated multiple scoring opportunities late and put several shots on goal while searching for the equalizer. Mitchell held off the late push, however, handing Spearfish its third consecutive loss to begin the season.
The 2-1 defeat dropped the Spartans to 0-3 following season-opening losses to Tea Area and Aberdeen Central. Odrix Sports previously covered Spearfish’s opening weekend against the Titans and Golden Eagles.
Cid-Kern-Mohr Leads Offensive Explosion in Huron
Less than 24 hours later, the Spartans flipped the script.
Spearfish controlled Saturday’s matchup against Huron from start to finish, with Cid-Kern-Mohr leading an offensive attack that produced nine goals.
Cid-Kern-Mohr opened the scoring before Ranek continued her strong weekend, scoring with 33:43 remaining in the first half to help Spearfish build its early advantage.
Grace Bordewyk joined the scoring with 19:11 remaining in the half.
Then Cid-Kern-Mohr took over.
She scored with 10:18 remaining to make it 4-0 before adding another goal with 6:57 left in the half. With only 24 seconds remaining before halftime, Cid-Kern-Mohr found the net again as the Spartans carried a commanding advantage into the break.
Spearfish continued attacking in the second half.
Bordewyk delivered one of the highlights of the afternoon with 20:45 remaining, connecting on a shot from approximately 25 yards out.
Cid-Kern-Mohr added her fifth goal of the game with 17:45 remaining, giving Spearfish an 8-0 advantage and putting the finishing touches on a dominant individual performance.
The Spartans weren’t done.
With 3:25 remaining, Arleigh Cain connected from approximately 20 yards out for the final goal of the afternoon, completing the 9-0 victory.
First Win Brings Momentum
Saturday’s victory improved Spearfish to 1-3 and gave Warnemunde her first win as the Spartans’ head coach.
More importantly, Warnemunde said the result gave her young team tangible evidence that the work it has put in is beginning to show on the field.
“This gives us really good momentum under our wings a little bit to make sure that we can keep pushing and make sure our hard work is paying off, so they see those results of everything they’ve been putting in over the last three weeks,” Warnemunde said.
After scoring three total goals through their first three games, the Spartans erupted for nine in Huron.
For a young Spearfish team still finding its identity under a new head coach, Saturday wasn’t simply the first mark in the win column. It was a glimpse of what the Spartans’ work can turn into when everything comes together.
And after three difficult games to open the season, Spearfish finally had the result to show for it.