Friday, the day before the match, provided mixed emotions for the Vikings as it was announced that midfielder Khadar Ibrahim had been named to the Minnesota All-State 1st team.  Ibrahim is the first Viking player  to earn such an honor.  Ibrahim led the Vikings in twelve games played this season with fourteen goals and tallied four assists. 

However, this news was buffered by the team learning on Friday during practice that standout defender and captain Oscar Pedroza, would be ruled out for the match still dealing with an injury from the win over Bemidji.  This meant the Vikings would go into the game without a Centerback in the line-up.  So it was, with a lineup consisting of Midfielders and Strikers, the Vikings took to the Viking Bank Stadium field to try the unthinkable, winning the school's first ever Section Title. 

The first half hour of play elapsed with the Vikings and Tiger playing to a stalemate with both teams having opportunities but neither team able to convert.  Sebastian Rosiles was outstanding all day for the Vikings in goal making saves and distributing the ball as the Vikings looked to find a way through.  However, with less than five minutes remaining in the 1st half, Tiger striker Ethan Miller kicked a loose pass to an oncoming Ahmedrabbi Ismail who struck the ball perfectly from 25 yards into the upper corner of the net to push the Tigers into the lead 1-0. 

With just a minute left in the half, Khadar Ibrahim severely sprained his ankle, twisting it during a challenge on the ball with Ismail.  Time expired in the half with the Vikings down 1-0 and Ibrahim being examined by the on-site training staff as they tried to evaluate if he could continue. 

During halftime, the Vikings adjusted to a tactical scheme that would look to play down the outside channels more, but it was unclear if Ibrahim would be able to continue to play and as the second half started, it was clear the Ibrahim was unable to continue.  Suhayb Farah saw his first action of the playoffs as the Vikings shifted more players to different positions to account for the injuries facing them.  At this point, only three players of the eleven Vikings on the field were playing in their "normal" starting positions as the Vikings continued to try and tinker with the line-up and search for the tying goal. 

With just under ten minutes remaining the Vikings pushed their players forward in desperate search of the equalizer.  Just how desperate that search was could be seen when Head Coach John Peter turned to the crowd with eight minutes left, gesticulating as he screamed at them to "cheer for your team Pelican! They need your support!" 

After the match, Head Coach John Peter said, "The support offered by our small community is one of the greatest features of Pelican Rapids or any small town for that matter.  We are from Pelican, the best community and school around.  We all know each other and care about one another on such a deep level.  It's something that big schools like St. Cloud or Bemidji will never be able to fully understand.  I figured I had done everything tactically at the point that I could, but had one last card to play; incite the crowd and hope they could push us to extending the game."

The crowd roared to life and for the next five minutes cheered without ceasing as the Vikings turned up the pressure on Tech and peppered the Tiger's goal with shots including a header from Sebastian Centeno that just missed the mark.  With 2:45 remaining, and the score still 1-0, Tiger midfielder Ahmedrabbi Ismail was able to get the ball and start a counterattack that led to the Tigers gaining a corner kick where Garrett Mueller was able to strike a ball perfectly out of the air and hit it into the back of the net devastating the Vikings hopes of equalizing and assuring victory for the Tigers.  Less than a minute later, with the Vikings reeling, the Tigers struck again, this time Ismail again hitting a long bomb from twenty-five yards out to seal a 3-0 victory for the Tigers. 

The Vikings finish the season 10-3-0 and reflect on their most successful season to date with the realization that they have only three seniors on a squad that will never again have to face giants like St. Cloud Tech, Bemidji or Alexandria in the playoffs.  Next season, the Minnesota State High School League will move Soccer to three classes and the Vikings will be placed in the smallest class where they will face schools closer to their own size in all post-season action. 

"For the guys, this year was about proving that any success in the future wasn't just about having an easier path in the playoffs due to playing smaller schools.  It was about proving that they could swing with anybody, regardless of their size or previous history," said Coach Peter.  "We are extremely proud of all we have accomplished this season and the boys should feel nothing but pride for their performances."